Here's the next chapter. Sorry it's shorter than the others. Excuse any different behavior. It'll be explained soon.
I found Liz in the library the next day. She must have been reading, because she put down what was in her hand as I walked up.
"Hello, Liz," I said.
"Hi, Laura. What can I do for you?" she asked.
"Not get mad at me."
"For what?"
"I need to tell you something…about last night."
"It's fine. Red told me. I told him to talk to you… I hope that's okay."
"Yeah, it's fine." I paused. "So, you know what happened?"
"Yes. From what he told me, I thought, since you were both slightly tipsy, it might go further. I think you made the right decision."
"Okay. Good. I thought you would be mad."
"No, I'm not mad. I might have been upset if something else had happened, but nothing did, so…" It was her turn to pause. "You wanted it to, didn't you?" The shock must have shown on my face because she leaned closer to console me. "It's okay. I trust him, and I have begun to trust you. Your decision only strengthened that trust."
"Thanks."
"I'm going to talk to Red. I think you should both talk about it, since you made him leave."
"No, it's fine. You don't have to…" She put her hands on my shoulders.
"Laura, I trust you both now. And Red says he enjoys it when you read to him. If I had known he wanted to hear stories, I would read to him. Instead, he asked you." There was a small note of sadness when she said this. "That means he trusts you, so I do as well. Think of it as a way of thanks."
"That's what he said, but—"
"Shhh. No buts. Must I say again that I trust you both?" I shook my head. "Good."
"Thank you, Liz."
"No problem." She left and I was alone with the books.
--
Abe entered the library not long after Liz had left.
"Hello, Laura."
"Oh, hey Abe."
"What are you up to in here?"
"I was talking to Liz."
"Okay. Do you need my help with anything? A book, perhaps?"
"Sure."
"What type today?"
"How about poetry? We haven't read any of that yet."
"All right. Poetry it is." He picked a book and began reading.
--
I sat in front of the window, waiting and listening. The window was open again and I felt the slightest of breezes. It hadn't been long when I heard a knock on my door. I opened it this time, an unusual thing for me. Red was there, so I moved out of his way and back to the window. I didn't sit and he didn't turn on the light. He just closed the door and stood beside me.
"We're going to just sit and talk like friends…right?" I asked quietly.
"We could."
"Would you let me feel what you look like?" I turned my head slightly.
"How do you mean?"
"If I feel of your face, I can bring an image to my mind." I turned back. "I would have asked before, but it seemed rude. It still does…to me, anyway."
"It's not rude. May I close the window?" I nodded. When he had closed it, he took my hands and placed them on his cheeks. "Go ahead."
"Be sure to close your eyes." I felt him nod and I moved my hands up his face. His horns were smooth under my fingers and I moved my hands back down over his face; he had thick facial hair that I ran the tips of my fingers over. I ran my left hand down to his right shoulder and stopped. He wasn't wearing a shirt and it felt like there was something cut into his shoulder. "What's this?"
"It's a kind of birthmark." I followed the swirls that traveled across his shoulder and down his arm.
"It's so intricate!" I moved my hands down to his and put our palms together. My hands were tiny against his. I felt like they were on fire, so I moved them. I stepped behind him and felt him twitch when I touched his back. "Don't be so jumpy."
"It just feels weird because you're barely touching me."
"I know. That's all it takes." He's very muscular, and I could feel every movement beneath my fingertips. I stepped back in front of him.
"Are you finished?" he asked.
"No." I put my right hand over his heart. "I know it belongs to her, so I won't ask anything of you." He placed his left hand over mine so I couldn't pull away.
"Do you remember what she said?" I nodded. "What did she say?"
"That she trusts us both."
"Uh-huh."
"But wouldn't this break that trust?" I had his image in my mind and that would have to do. He put a rocky finger under my chin to lift my face up.
"What else did she say?" he asked quietly, knowing the answer.
"It was fine. She knew the circumstances."
"See?"
"But would we be fine with it?"
"I don't know. We'd have to find out."
"I tried to back up, but Red had wrapped his tail around me again to hold me to him.
"But—" He put a finger to my lips.
"Didn't I tell you that you think too much?" He moved his hand.
"Actually, you said I talk too much."
"Same thing." He sighed and caressed my cheek. "What do you want to do? It's your choice and I need an answer." My hand was still over his heart, so I moved it up to the back of his neck and took the initiative. I kissed him that time…and he didn't stop me.
TBC
What's happening?
What will the consequences be?
Find out next chapter!
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