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“It makes sense.” He climbs over me on the bed and slides under the covers.
I roll over so I’m facing him, and he wraps his arms around me as I cuddle my head into his shoulder and breathe him in.
My body relaxes, but my heartbeat picks up. It’s like it’s beating for him. Only him.
I want to be closer to him. I feel like I need him. Not in a sexual way. In an everything way.
Shit, did I really think that? I need him in aneverythingway?
There’s definitely a lot of everything all around me right now. Every emotion I’ve kept locked inside from pain to love is tumbling out of me. It’s overwhelming. But he feels like he always does—safe.
“You’re worrying me,” he says, gently rubbing my back. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“No. I want to be in your arms,” I whisper.
He tilts his head and looks down at me.
My breath catches.
I can’t help it. I reach up and place a slow, gentle kiss on his lips.
He pulls me in closer and kisses me back.
It’s a slightly open mouth kiss, no tongue, but powerful. Energy and electricity are radiating through us.
He gently pulls his lips from mine, then kisses my forehead.
“Come here.” He wraps his arms tightly around me. “Let’s get some sleep, Beautiful.”
I squeeze him back, feeling like the rest of the world has washed away. There’s only us, as we always are. Connected. Best friends. Something more. Unspoken and uncomplicated. Full of safety, comfort, and love. And exactlyeverythingI need right now.
I wake up to Aaron stroking his hand through my hair. He’s looking at me with concern.
“Hey,” he says softly.
“Hi,” I say, giving him a weak smile.
“How are you feeling?”
“I don’t know.”
I try to sort through the array of things on my mind and figure out what I’m feeling.
Aaron.
Being sexually assaulted.
Fuck.
“It’s been… hard. So much harder than I thought it would be,” I manage to get out before burying myself back against his chest.
He squeezes me tightly.
“You went through something traumatic, Rae, that’s not surprising. We’re all here for you.”
“I know,” I mutter against his chest. “But it isn’t easy for me to talk about. I love you all so much, but with something this heavy, it’s hard to let anyone in.”
He pulls back from me slightly and scrunches his head down so his eyes meet mine. “I’m not anyone,” he whispers before kissing my forehead. “I love you, you know.”
