A/N: i started writing this and then it went in a completely different direction than what i expected so i apologize if it's shitty, i just kinda went with the flow
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"y/n," paul spoke smoothly and barely above a whisper, readjusting the sheet that covered the bottom half of his nude body so he didn't accidentally flash her.
she hummed in response, to busy looking for her other sock to pay anymore attention to the man lying on the bed. this clearly wasn't enough for paul, as he repeated her name once more, this time slightly louder and with more vigor.
"what," she huffed, stopping in her tracks and looking towards him, annoyance lacing her tone. she stood at the corner of the bed frame nearest to paul, she was about to look under the bed before he distracted her.
she watched closely as he grabbed his boxers from the night stand, sliding them back up his legs so that he could approach her without risk of his nudity making her uncomfortable. once he closed the space that separated the two of them, he placed his hands on her shoulders, sliding them down her arms and to her hands. the contact caused her skin to breakout in goosebumps and she shivered slightly. she dropped the sock she was holding in her left hand so she could hold his without hinderance.
"stop," he stated sternly yet gently, "i don't know why you're in such a hurry, it's not like you've got anywhere to be." he finished off, his eyes cradling her gaze comfortingly. he was entirely truthful in his words, she had no one waiting up for her at home and she had fed her cat before she left for paul's.
she knew what was coming, it happened every time they did this despite the fact that she continuously turned down his request. he was persistent, she would give him that. she appreciated that he never pressured, simply letting her go when she responded with the usual; paul, you know i can't.
"stay."
for the first time, she actually considered it. paul was especially intriguing tonight, and not in a sexual way. the look in his eyes was attempting to coax her back in his bed and his arms for the night, and was incredibly hard to resist. she snapped herself out of it after a second though, opening her mouth to say something but she closed it again before any words came out.
paul could tell she was conflicted, deciding that he would try to convince her to stay for the first and last time, simultaneously deciding that if she rejected he would never ask again.
"look," he paused momentarily, searching for the correct phrasing. "he's away, probably sound asleep by now, and i know you hate sleeping alone. just for tonight, i'll take you home in the morning." he finished, the look in his eyes growing ever needier.
him. suddenly her mind flashed to her fiancé, who was away on business. guilt flooded her mind as she thought of him, his sweet face, his smile. he had trusted her, and now here she was, standing in another mans room while he was asking her to stay the night.
paul watched the regret wash over her and immediately knew he had chosen his words incorrectly. he knew trying to make it sound like it was for her and not his own benefit was the wrong choice, but he had done it anyway. he should have just said what he was thinking; stay, i need you. stay with me because i love you, more than he does. guilt overtook him as well, it had finally hit him, he was sleeping with someone else's woman. he was in love with someone else's woman. she wasn't his to love and after this, probably never would be.
he dropped her hands and backed up to sit down on the edge of his bed, letting his head fall into his hands. he rubbed his scalp attempting to stop the headache he knew was coming from doing so, to no avail. he dropped his hands, looking up at her. she remained still, almost frozen in place, as his now cold eyes met hers. she had never seen him like this and is scared her.
"what the hell are we even doing?" he asked, letting out a breathless and entirely unhumorous laugh. "what am i doing, you're engaged for fucks sake, and here i am asking you to stay." his words grew with urgency as he spoke, sounding less angry and more panicked. none the less, it was alarming to y/n.
she crossed her arms over her chest defensively, as an instinct to self soothe and protect herself from any daggers he was about to throw her way. but to her surprise, he didn't. he returned his head into his hands as his shoulders began to shake. it took her a moment to realize, he was crying. the parts of her mind that still lingered on her fiancé quickly averted their attention to paul, urging her to comfort him, the man she was unknowingly in love with.
she listened to those parts of her mind, joining him on the bed and placing a hand on his back. she felt him tense slightly under her touch before relaxing again. when he didn't protest, she wrapped her arm fully around his back and slipped her other arm under his arms and around his waist. he remained in the same position for a moment, expecting her to pull away. when she didn't he quickly clung to her, her embrace calming him almost instantly.
"i'm sorry," he apologized, slightly embarrassed at his sudden outburst of emotion. she didn't respond, pulling back and letting her hands rest on either side of his neck. the look in her eyes said enough; don't be.
"i'll stay," she began, paul wanting to cut her off, not wanting her to stay for his sake; because she pities him. "no, listen before you say anything. i'm staying because i want to, and when he gets back, i'm breaking up with him." she finished, leaving paul slightly shocked.
"what, why? why would you do that?" he asked, not being able to muster up anything better. he had so many other things to say but he couldn't manage to make his mouth conceptualize what he was thinking.
"you know why. you know exactly why, paul." the stern yet tranquil tone she used when she spoke his name sent a chill dancing across his skin. again, he couldn't seem to say anything, just stare back into her eyes silently begging for her to say it out loud just so he could be sure he wasn't crazy.
instead, she slipped one of her hands around to the back of his neck pulling him slightly before he did the rest, connecting his lips to hers. the kiss was hungry and needy, paul trying his very best to pull her even closer despite the fact that their torsos were flush against one another, paul having pretty much pulled her into his lap. she wasn't complaining though, wanting to be so close to him that it felt as if they got any closer, their beings would merge and they would be come one in the same way their minds and souls already had.
pulling away, both breathless, she finally muttered those words he had wanted to hear from the very first moment his eyes met hers.
"i love you, paul."
——— A/N: the first time i proof read this i hated it, but now i'm literally obsessed.
