Athena

36. No Takebacks

During the dim grayish hour before sunrise, I wake up before Cruz. My bedroom is mostly dark, but traces of light begin to slip through the window. I'm groggy as hell. Stuck somewhere between dreams and consciousness. Here, thoughts form and take shape in lazy, unhurried increments.

My conversation with Cruz from the night before drifts through my mind. Everything that Cruz shared with me about his mom feels so raw. So heavy. In spite of all the fucked up things that have happened to us, however, I'm grateful that fate brought us together. I get the feeling Cruz doesn't open up to people often. Just like me. It makes our bond all the more precious. It makes me want to protect him from getting hurt again by his parents.

Last night, Cruz and I fell asleep. Spooning. Similar to the way we slept the other night, my ass is tucked snugly into his crotch. Behind me, his breathing remains slow and steady. He's asleep, but his hand has been under my sleep shirt all night, clutching my braless boobs like they're his personal teddy bears or something. Naughty X-rated teddy bears.

Outside my room, the house sounds silent. His dad and my aunt are probably still sleeping, too. But Ron's shift at the hospital will start soon.

"Hey," I whisper, nudging Cruz's chest gently with my shoulder.

He stirs with a grunt, "Hmm?"

Reluctantly, I remind him, "You should probably go before..."

Ron catches us in bed and loses his shit again.

Instead of readying himself to leave, though, Cruz's arms wrap around me. Tighter than before. He nuzzles my neck and mutters, "But it feels so good to wake up with you. I just wanna stay here and..."

Cruz uses his fingers to illustrate what he leaves unsaid. Beneath my shirt, he begins to play with my nipples as his other hand slides towards my panties. His touch sends a flutter of desire through me, and I struggle not to give into it.

"Not now," I gasp. "Later."

He continues to tease me. "Later?"

Through no small effort, I will myself to shuffle away from him, urging, "Come back to my room. Tonight."

Cruz's hands grow still even while his cock grows harder on my ass. "Tonight?"

My skin feels hot. Flushed. "Yeah."

Cruz rolls me over on the mattress to face him. He kisses me then, and my heart jumps a beat as his lips press against mine.

When he pulls away, I'm dizzy and very turned on, and it takes all of my willpower to tell him, "Now... go."

"Fine," Cruz agrees with a heavy sigh, "have it your way, but..."

I turn to face him. "Yes?"

"From now on, at night, each and every fucking night," he informs me with a wicked smile, "I'm gonna start sleeping here, okay?"

My breath shorts. All I can do is nod in agreement and stammer like an idiot, "O-Okay."

Finally, he gets his fine ass out of bed and creeps away from my room like some kind of stealthy secret agent. I don't even hear his footsteps. My nerves are on edge until I hear the light clicks of his bedroom door opening and closing. Only then do I relax.

A breath of relief exits my lungs.

We did it again.

We didn't get caught.

Later that morning, when Cruz and I finally make it downstairs to the kitchen, Ron's already at the hospital. Breakfast with Aunt Katrina feels strained and awkward. My aunt keeps a bright, fake smile on her face throughout the meal. She peppers us with shallow, superficial questions about my schoolwork and Cruz's soccer games.