Page 38 of Love, In Balance

The T-shirt is plain black and again, it’s snug. I don’t usually wear tight clothing, so this is a first. It definitely leaves nothing to the imagination.

Likeseriously, nothing.

“Ouch. shit”. I hear her mutter under her breath.

“Are you ok?” I ask, concerned. Still making sure to keep my eyes away from her.

“Yeah, I think some of the glass came off my shirt whilst I took it off. I can feel a sore spot on my upper back and on my collar bone”.

“Do you need me to take a look?” I say hesitantly.

“Erm, if you could, please” she says.

I can feel her blushing from here. I turn to see her lifting her top and exposing her back. She has the most incredible tattoo down her spine, from the base of her neck, going past the waistband of her joggers that hug her waist. I assume it reaches the bottom of her back.

There are whisps of ink peering from around her ribs. I can just see them slightly. I want to kiss them.

Shit,I can’t be thinking like this. She trusts me, and I’m her friend before anything else. But fuck, she’s insanely beautiful.

Her body is a powerhouse. An hourglass with scars and stretch marks that paint her history on her skin. It’s breathtaking.

I touch her upper back delicately with my fingertips, brushing away loose strands of hair.

She winces when I lightly graze over the sore area where a shard of glass has stuck in her skin. I pick it out and place it in the bin to the side.

“I’ve taken out that piece. Feel any better? Let me check for others”.

She nods in reply. I smooth the edge of my finger over the surface of her back. She shivers as I move across a sensitive part, goosebumps raising over her skin, under my fingers. Both of our breathing gets deeper.

“Your back is all good” I say, as I unroll her top, covering her back up.

I move around to face her.

The front of her top is low cut and held up, over her shoulders by thin spaghetti straps, exposing her chest and neck.

“Let me check your collarbone” I say, gently, worried I might scare her off. She stretches up slightly to close the distance between us, as I bend down. She gathers her hair and moves it over to one shoulder, allowing me to see her skin clearly. I lean my head towards her right side, but the light is blocked.

“I see the clothes fit you… just about” she says, biting her lower lip and letting out a brief low laugh as she tilts her head down, giggling into her chest.

I laugh through my smile and pinch at her arm.

“Stop distracting me, Miss Harper” I say.

Without even thinking, I place my hands on her waist and move her with me until she’s under the light.

I sit on the bed so I’m closer to her in height, and my head is able to line up better to her neck and collarbone.

I look up at her and our eyes meet.

“I’m so sorry. I did that without thinking. I should’ve asked you to walk over to the light–.”

She interrupts me by placing a finger to my lips gently.

“It’s fine Quin. I’ve told you I trust you”.

She moves her finger across my jaw and settles It back by her side. I place my bandaged hand at the nape of her neck to steady her whilst I check her collarbone thoroughly for any remnants of glass.

As I search for any shards, I notice her breathing getting heavier.

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