He pulled his lips back, taking a deep breath and resting his forehead against hers. He felt her body shudder and opened his eyes, lifting his forehead to look at her. Her eyes remained closed as her arms made their way around his waist. He could feel her grab her own wrists, as her hands pressed gently into the small of his back. Laying her head gently on his chest, she relaxed into him as she squeezed tightly.
Her voice was soft, almost pleading. "Please don't let go."
Let go? He never wanted to let her go. Did she really think that he did? He had to tell her. He had to tell her how he felt before it was too late. Before she could think that last night was a mistake.
He had been afraid to open his eyes this morning. Last night, after they had laughed together nervously, her bright eyes a neverending pool of satisfaction and bliss, she had curled into his side. Unable to figure out what had suddenly made him so confident, he had boldly wrapped his arm around him as she relaxed into him, her naked body pressed against his. He had never felt so sure of anything, so happy. He remembered the feel of her hair against his hand as he gently stroked her back. Her breathing had slowly become even and he could somehow tell the exact moment when she had completely melted into him as she fell asleep. It had taken him so long to fall asleep himself, because he was afraid that when he woke up he would realize it all had been a dream.
This morning, as his room had started to brighten, he had forced himself to keep his eyes closed. He was so sure he felt an emptiness next to him, no longer feeling her weight on his chest. He wanted to remember everything about last night, but especially her falling asleep in his arms. He had finally taken a deep breath, resolved to the fact that she had gone back to her room to avoid the awkwardness that he was so good at with her. Opening his eyes, he had remained fixated on the ceiling before finally turning his head for the inevitable disappointment. What he saw had made him gasp out loud.
She had stayed.
She had slept in his bed. She could have run away and pretended that this never happened. She could have simply gone back to her room across the hall, in her comfortable bed full of fluffy pillows on fresh smelling sheets.
But she had stayed with him instead.
He remembered touching her, and kissing her, and the way her sleepy eyes had sparkled with her first morning laugh.
Brought back to the rooftop with a cool breeze now blowing, he opened his eyes and started to rub her back.
"Are you cold?" He felt her shake her head against his chest, her grip unwavering. His hands didn't stop their methodical pace up and down her back. "We should go back downstairs." They both remained motionless until her arms slowly relaxed. She leaned her head back and smiled sleepily at him, before she raised up on her toes and placed a kiss on his cheek.
Without another word, she grabbed his right hand in her left. After quickly bringing it to her lips to kiss his knuckles, she smiled at him and started to walk toward the stairs pulling him behind her. Silently, they made their way back down the stairs to the loft. Once inside, he quietly pulled the door shut behind him as the latch softly clicked. They walked toward the hallway and he stopped suddenly when he realized Bob was asleep on the floor.
He closed his eyes and shook his head. Turning to look at Jess, he tried to muster a weak smile, but she only stared back at him with a blank look on her face. This was it. This was where they had to say good night and he would go back to his cold, lonely room, probably waking up tomorrow to find that she had finally let her dad's words sink in and this would be over. He started to relax his hand to let go of hers and he turned toward his door.
But she didn't let go.
Shocked, she had gripped his hand harder and he whipped his head back around, his eyes meeting hers. There was something about the way she stared at him and tilted her head that gave him a glimmering hope that she didn't want this to end either. He thought he caught the faintest shaking of her head before she turned and started pulling him toward the living room. Unable to breath and wondering if this was really happening, his body unconsciously followed hers to the couch.
When she reached the couch, she turned to sit down, still holding onto his hand. As she looked up at him, she lowered her back slowly onto the couch. All he could do was stare directly into her eyes as she pulled him down with her. Closing his eyes for a brief second, he took a deep breath as his body sunk behind hers. Pressing her back against his chest, he felt the warmth of her body as she pulled his arms around her. Without even knowing what he was doing, he pressed his lips into her hair, inhaling the smell of her strawberry shampoo and kissing the top of her head.
She moaned softly, relaxing her body into his before whispering, "good night, Nick."
He tightened his arms around her and let his body sink into the back of the couch as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.