Page 54 of What Is Love
My exposed skin tingled as he drank me in inch by inch.
“You know I’m not a saint, right?” he said, his voice sounding strained.
“It’s okay. I’m not, either.” I walked back to his bed and pulled the covers back. I climbed in and scooted over until I was lying on the side closest to the wall.
He hadn’t moved as he watched me.
“Are you coming to bed or are you just going to stand there all night?” I asked him.
He reached behind his neck and pulled his shirt off, revealing a big tattoo that took up his whole side. From below his armpit to his hipbone was a big tree. Exactly half of it was burnt to black while the other half was healthy. It was breathtaking, but I could see sadness.
He had other tattoos. One by his collar and another by his other hip. I couldn’t make them out because they were small and I got distracted by him unbuttoning his pants. I didn’t look away as he removed them. In only his black boxer briefs, which also left very little to the imagination, he put his clothes in a laundry basket in his closet. He went over to the light switch and flipped it off. I listened as he made his way over and felt the bed dip as he got in next to me.
As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could just barely see him lying on his back, his arm thrown over his eyes.
“Goodnight, Roe,” I whispered.
“Goodnight, Lottie.”
Chapter Fourteen
Sunlight woke me.I blinked a couple of times before giving up and keeping my eyes closed. I felt so warm and comfortable that I just wanted to go back to sleep. I tried to adjust my head to snuggle deeper into the pillow, but the side of my face pressed up against something firm.
My eyes had no trouble opening then. I was lying on someone’s chest. It took me a second, but I realized it was Roe. The more I woke up, the more I was able to take stock of every part of me that was touching him. He was flat on his back, breathing evenly beneath my cheek. I had my leg thrown over his hip. He had an arm around my back with his hand resting on my ribs. The crop top had ridden up. My bare breasts were pressed against him.
Memories from last night replayed in my head. I had done and said things I normally wouldn’t. I didn’t regret any of it. Had I been with anyone else, I might have. I was very sober now. I couldn’t blame my position on anything. Not that I would. I was exactly where I wanted to be.
The burnt part of the tree tattooed on his side was closest to me. I slid my hand across his muscled stomach to touch it. I ran the tip of my finger along a branch that looked moments fromcrumbling. The detail and talent that had gone into the piece inked across his smooth skin made me itch to draw.
I felt him go rigid, then relax. His hand on my ribs moved down, then back up until the tips of his fingers brushed along the side of my breast.
My breath hitched and my body arched a little. His hand moved back down my side as his other hand found my thigh resting over his hardening cock. The feel of his calloused hands moving over my skin made me squirm against him. His hand on my thigh moved up until it was sliding over my buttcheek.
Uncontrollably, my mind was pulled to Brandon and the way he touched me.
I squeezed my eyes to push the unwanted thoughts away.I wouldn’t let Brandon ruin this moment.
I opened my eyes with conviction that Roe was not Brandon and Brandon could never be Roe. Brandon could never make me feel this way. I wanted Roe to touch me. I liked how his touch felt and how it made me feel on the inside. Other than buzzing with arousal, I felt safe and just…me.
Roe’s fingers pressed into my skin and pulled me against his hip. It was hot, but he’d missed the part I most wanted him to touch. Need took over me. I rolled the rest of the way, bringing myself on top of him, and sat up.
The crop top took its time dropping back over my breasts and Roe, staring up at me, got a glimpse. During my shift to straddle him, his hands went to my hips and mine went to his abdomen.
If he wanted to push me against him, I’d rather it be this way. Where I could feel him warm and hard between my legs.
I waited for him to do just that, but all he did was stare at me like I was a dream he didn’t want to wake up from.
Maybe this was a dream.
Anything this good couldn’t be real.
“Roe,” I whispered, and rolled my hips just to make sure.
He inhaled as his fingers dimpled my skin.
I moved again, grinding myself against him.
His hips bucked up to meet me. “Fuck, Lottie.” He slid one of his hands up my stomach and under the crop top until he cupped my breast.
