AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Birdy…”
She turns to me, nibbling at her lip. “Touch is something extremely personal for me. It’s the way I connect with other people. I can’tseeyou, but if I touch you, I can feel you. I can feel the lines of your face and your body and form an image in my mind. My hands are the closest thing I have to my sight. There is an intimacy in touching another person like that. I would never want to invade your privacy by touching you without your permission.”
I just stare at her, letting her words sink in. I guess I could see where she was coming from. And when I think back, I can hardly ever remember her touching somebody except Henry. Yes, there were some passing bumps and quick grazes, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen her touch another person for the sake of it.
How lonely it must be for her?
Not only is she isolated because she can’t see, but also because she doesn’t allow herself to touch other people freely.
“What if I want you to touch me?”
Penelope blinks a few times, her mouth falling open in surprise at my question.
Gently, I take her hand and lift it to my face. “You never have to be afraid to touch me.”
Her throat bobs as she swallows. Half of me expects her to pull back, but she doesn’t. Instead, her fingers cup my cheek, and she runs the tip of her thumb over my skin.
For a second, my eyes fall shut at the connection, a shudder going through my body.
So fucking soft.
Then her finger slips lower, rubbing my stubbled jaw and sliding over the underside of my lip.
My eyes fly open to find her staring at me. My mouth parts as her gaze zeroes in on it. It’s almost like she’s transfixed.
And she’s not the only one.
Just when I think there is nothing else this woman can do to surprise me, she shows me how wrong I am.
I couldn’t remember the last time somebody took care of me. Not since I was a kid but having her here with me made this whole thing a little bit easier.
My fingers curl around the edge of the tub as I lean forward. “Birdy…”
Penelope blinks, color spreading through her cheeks as she pulls back. “I think this was enough.”
“Shouldn’t you check my temperature?”
Although I’m bone tired, I can feel the corner of my mouth twitching upward.
She can hear the amusement in my voice because her eyes narrow at me, but she doesn’t back down from the challenge. Her fingers brush against my forehead.
“It seems a bit better.” Dropping her hand, she turns off the faucet. “Let’s get you out of here.”
With Penelope’s help, I get to my feet. She grabs a towel and dries me as best as she can before helping me out of the bathtub.
“Let’s get you to bed.”
I lean against her as we make our way back into her room. Henry is sleeping in the middle of the bed. The damn dog peeks one eye open but otherwise doesn’t move an inch.
“Lie down, and I’ll—”
“Umm… Birdy?”
“Yes?”
“I can’t really go to bed in my wet boxer briefs.”
I watch her reaction as my words sink in.
