Page 29 of SnapShot

fifteen

Snack For One?

Haedyn

A few hours of working with the devil made my muscles ache for reprieve. A nice soak in the bath with some essential oils and some Epsom salt should do the trick. Charlie was insistent that he stay with me again today and cook me lunch because apparently me not eating is a problem for him.

But I did go outside today, so I’ve got that going for me. Baby steps. Though I do feel bad that he feels the need to make sure I’m doing the bare minimum. That can’t be fun for him. Not that it’s any fun for me either. Damn trauma response.

Stepping into the tub feels orgasmic, the hot water making my skin tingle in the best way. I lean my head back, basking in the temporary bliss. I almost doze off until I startle from a soft knock on the door as it slowly cracks open, and Charlie pops his head in.

“Can I come in? I have snacks.”

“Well in that case, I think it’s necessary that you do. What kind of snacks?”

His mouth curves into a delicious crooked smile that floods his sea green eyes. Before I realize it, I’m mimicking him with my own smile. I like this peacefulness that encompasses the two of us when we’re together. The small fairy tale moments of perfection.

“I have chicken nuggets, cheese dip, french fries, and oatmeal creme pies. Oh, and sweet tea, of course.”

“That sounds like lunch, not a snack.”

“I’m sorry, I actually meant that I am the snack. Everything else is just a nice bonus.” He throws me a playful wink.

I can’t help but laugh at his cheesiness. I secretly love it.

“Don’t let it go to your head, chef.”

“Too late. That laugh inflates my ego tenfold every time it graces my ears.”

“You’re such a dork. Can I have some food now?”

“Manners, little brat.”

“Bring me food, please.”

“Better. We’ll work on your delivery later. Right now, I’ll give you just about whatever you want if you’ll actually eat something.”

“Thank you.” I blow him a kiss as he places the food on the edge of the tub before lowering himself to the floor beside me.

The joy of each other’s company wraps us in the softest security blanket while I inhale the food he brought, barely allowing him a bite even though I’m fairly certain he meant for us to share the plate. My stomach has been empty for far too long. A natural born foodie can’t live that way. I guess I’m trying to make up for all the meals I missed recently.

“It was great to see you outside today even if I didn’t particularly enjoy seeing you hit the ground so many times, or at all really. I have missed you, Haedyn.”

The pressure in my chest and in my throat is almost enough to make me jump from the tub and run away to hide from the overflow of feeling. I’ve never had a man love me this way. Not romantically. I don’t know how to deal with this. Grabbing the back of his neck, I pour all of my love and overwhelming fear into my kiss when we crash together, hard and fast at first, then soft and sweet. I hope he feels it all because this is the only way I know how to tell him right now.

When our lips release, I can’t bear to look into his eyes the way he’s begging me to with his, so I focus on the beads of bath water traveling from my hand down the side of his neck. The tears that I refuse to free from the inside of my heart find other ways to release themselves.

An onslaught of another feeling takes over my bloodstream, leading my arm away from Charlie and beneath the water until it reaches my thigh. I know it’s likely an escapism tactic from my emotionally stunted brain, but I couldn’t care less right now. I need this.

The heat from Charlie’s gaze settles in the blush of my cheeks, chilling the rest of my body into goose bumps and shivers. I swear his eyes take note of each individual one as he devours my wet, naked form bared before him.

“Touch yourself for me. I want to watch you break for me by your own hand.”

Gasping slightly, I let him command my hand with only his words. How he knows that he can’t touch me this way yet is beyond me. Somehow, though, I feel freed from some of my grief by allowing him to watch me. I have all the power here.

Lazily, I drag my fingers between my lips beneath the scalding water, focusing on the sensation it brings instead of his eyes on me. Having him directly in front of me and not on a screen feels entirely different. Increasing the pressure, rubbing circles on my heated clit, a moan falls from my lips before I enter myself.

“Don’t move,” he commands as he rises and leaves the room.

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