Holding On

Seven

Amelia

The warmth from the sun on my closed eyes forces me awake. I turn my body slowly, not getting too far because of the weight around my waist. Dante's arm is curled around my hip, his legs entangled with my own. I smile at the feeling of having his large body pressed into mine.

I turn slowly, maneuvering myself out of his strong grip to run to the bathroom. I quickly wash my hands and brush my teeth before heading back to the bed.

Dante's long body, practically unmoved, is completely on display from the sheets being torn from his body by my departure. I admire the man in front of me shamelessly checking him out. I don't think I'd ever get used to this, that's for sure.

"You done." His voice muffled from the pillow as he speaks.

"Never." I smirk.

Getting back into bed, I crawl over his body straddling his legs and sitting back on my heels. He shifts so that he's facing me, his torso on display in front of me. Our hips meet and I'm greeted by his morning erection between my legs.

"Well good morning to you too." He smiles.

He reached forward moving so his hands grip my waist, fingers trailing up and down my sides. I shiver at the feeling, reveling in the way it brings chills down my spine. His body and mine are now so familiar to one another yet every time we touched it was as if they'd never met.

"Good morning." I lean forward, placing a closed peck on his lips before pulling back. His hair is disheveled from sleep and from my own doing all last night.

"Good morning love."

He smiles his signature smile and pulls me down into a bear hug. I hug him back resting my head on his chest listening to the beat of his heart. His body is warm from sleep and it reminds me of laying out in the sun on a hot summer day.

"I'm sorry about yesterday." His words muffled into my hair.

I stiffen at the thought of Catie. Reminded of the real world and the problems I face that aren't cuddled up with Dante in the morning. The foster family that ruined my life... right.

"It's okay. Like I said last night. You should've told me immediately when you were going to see her. We can do these things together." I turn my head, finding his eyes.

We look at each other and I bring my hand up to his cheek dragging it across his jawline. Strong and sharp with a subtle stubble of hair.

"I know. I know."

His arms squeeze me tighter and he rolls me on my side, spooning me from behind and tucking his neck into my shoulder. "I need you to know that I thought it'd be a way of protecting you. I'm sorry."

I knew from the moment he told me he was only doing it in a way to protect me. We worked through so much shit this last year, I knew he wouldn't have kept it from me if it would hurt me. I was just disappointed. But at the end of the day without him having my back every step of the way I wouldn't have gotten here.

I curl my arms around his that are right around my waist. His arms smooth with muscle and legs tangle with mine. I smirk at the feeling of him behind me on my ass.

"Can I ask you about something." I say softly.

"MhM." He murmurs. I bet if I turned around right now his eyes would be closed and a smile on his face. He told me once how much he loved mornings with me. Just the feel of me there with him, in his arms, it is the most content he would ever feel. Which is why it killed him getting up every morning leaving me there in the sheets.