What It Seems | Wattys 2023

Chapter 57

When I awoke, the space beside me was empty and cold. The room was bright, I felt awake and alive. But I knew my hair was like a tumbleweed and my mouth was very dry. All I had covering me was a white sheet.

As I got up, I untangled the sheet from around me and grabbed some clothes that Baylor had laid out on the sofa. On the pile of clothes, there was a white piece of paper with black words.

Went to grab breakfast. Be back soon :)

-B

I smiled and laid the paper on the table and slid on my bra and underwear. Before I put on some shorts and a t-shirt, I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

I fixed my messy hair and combed it tied it into a bun. There on the side of my neck was a pink/black spot that looked like a bruise on the side of my neck. Another one was spotted on the top of my breast. And then one was on my collarbone.

I had payed too much attention to the marks on my body to realize that Baylor was standing at the door, gazing at me.

"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

He stepped into the bathroom and stood behind me as he looked in the mirror. He pressed his chest to my back and he ran his fingers along my neck over the bruise.

"How do you feel?" he questioned, staring at me through the mirror.

"Wonderful," I smiled and turned to face him.

"Okay, you've gotta get out mister." I poked his chest.

"Why?"

"'Cause I've gotta get a shower."

"We can shower together," Baylor notified with a toothily grin.

"I don't think so."

He frowned. "Well can I at least sit on the toilet while you're showering?"

I sighed. "I guess. No peeking though."

I turned my back towards him as I fixed the water temperature. I then felt chilly fingers reach under my bra strap. It came unhooked and it was thrown to the side. I quickly covered my breasts and Baylor clasped his hands around my elbows.

"You're not insecure around me, are you?" I didn't speak to answer his question. Because I was insecure, even when he saw all of me last night.

"You're very beautiful, Rose." He ran his hands down my sides and I rested my arms.

"You know those marks you hate on your waist?" he asked and I nodded.

"I love them." He kissed the base of my neck.

"Baylor," I whispered.

His hands wound up pressing onto my stomach softly. I lulled my head back onto his shoulder and left a little peck on his tan skin.

"Mhm?" He hummed in my ear. I turned around in his embrace.

"Do you know how much I love you?" I queried and he nodded his head slowly against the side of mine.

"You're so careful around me and responsible of my feelings. You're never rough, and whenever you are, you're either mad at someone who tried flirting with me or you're the soft kind of rough whenever we wrestle with pillows. You know how to be generous and considerate when it comes to us. You're such a dork at times but I love you for that. You have an amazing personality and I consider myself lucky - very lucky because guys like you are hard to come by and I'm so happy I found the one who makes me whole. You know how to make me the happiest girl in the world, and I thank you so much for knowing how to put a smile on my face. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. That's why I wanted you to make love to me, because I know that you love me and you know that I love you."