Chapter 4
He stopped her just before their lips met. "I don't want to be lonely anymore, Alex," he breathed. "When I'm with you..."
She followed through with the kiss. It was closed-mouthed and lingered for just a moment. "The loneliness isn't quite so bad." She knew that loneliness.
His hands moved down her sides to her hips, where they rested quietly. He leaned his forehead against hers. "We...we can just talk?" He knew that whatever was happening here, they couldn't rush this. Not that they had. It had taken them almost twelve years to get here.
She nodded. "Just talk. I promise." Her hands were against his cheeks now. "Come inside..." She stepped away then, out of his reach and extended her hand again.
This time he grabbed it and held onto it like a lifeline. He let her lead him inside, and to the couch. She sat down, facing him and pulled her knees up to her chin and watched him.
Then they talked. They talked about everything long into the night until her head rested on his shoulder and she dozed off. Not wanting to disturb her, he leaned his head against hers and for the first time in a long time, he slept through the night.
She woke before him, shivering slightly in the morning chill. She reached for the blanket on that lay over the arm of the couch and pulled it to her. She gently unfolded it and covered them both. She lifted his arm and snuggled against his chest.
When he shifted, he pulled her tighter to him and shifted their position to lying down. He rubbed her back gently. "Let's not get up yet..." he whispered.
Her hand moved up his chest and rested just against where his heart lay under his ribs. "Okay..." she whispered. She would be content to lie there all day. She lifted her head and saw him looking down at her. "Hey..."
"Hey..." he gave her a sleepy half-smile. "You comfortable?" When she nodded, he rubbed the patch of her back where her shirt had ridden up. He kissed her, sending a shiver down her spine.
The kiss lingered and intensified. Her hand cupped his stubbled cheek as she parted her lips. Savoring the sensations, her eyes drifted closed again.
When the kiss finally ended, he whispered, "I could get used to this..."
Meeting his eyes, she whispered, "Me too..." She laid her head on back on his chest as she gently caressed him saying, "The bed would be...more comfortable."
He kissed the top of her head. "I like how close you are here. So...don't you wanna stay?"
