Ipê Branco

Better this way.

Rick went back to his room but couldn't sleep. His mind revisiting the conversation he had with Prim, or better yet, the monologue he had with her. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! Cursing, he once again walked out of his room.

Not long after, he stood in front of Prim's door. His hand, uncertain, hovering over the wood, gathering the courage to knock. With nothing to lose, he went ahead and waited for her to answer it.

"Who is it?" Her voice small on the other side.

"It's me, Rick. I came to apologize." His forehead touching the door. "You don't need to open. Go back to bed. We can talk more in the morning." He sighed and turned to leave but stopped when he heard the door opening.

"You don't need to apologize, Mr. Colonel Flag." She leaned on the doorframe. "Want to talk about it?" She made way for him to come inside.

Rick gave her a good look. His eyes rose from her feet to her exposed legs. They landed on the shoulder strap of her red lace nightgown, and continued their way up to her eyes, briefly stopping on her lips. "I didn't know they allowed it in Belle Reve," he said, looking at anywhere but her.

"They don't." She chuckled. "Harley stopped by a store on our way here and bought one for her and one for me." She caressed the fabric. "I wish I could take it with me." She sighed, and Rick silently agreed with her. "It's simple but feels really good on the skin." She went inside for a moment, and Rick raised his brow and wondered how it would feel on his fingertips. "Anyway. Want to come inside?" She came back with a robe over it.

He looked around, pondering if he should go in or not. His mind screaming at him not to, but his heart pleading him to yes.

"It won't be necessary." Was it disappointment in her eyes Rick had seen before she averted his gaze? "I want to apologize for my behavior. After what you told me," he sighed, "I guess I'm just trying to keep you safe." Prim chuckled. "I know it's stupid, it's that Boomer-"

"It's not stupid, Mr. Colonel Flag." It's just too adorable. "I feel the same way." She walked to him and nudged his boot with her bare foot. "We have a deal, don't we? I protect you, and you protect me?"

Rick chuckled, and she smiled at him. Her hands rested on his chest, and her fingers made their way up to his neck. Her thumbs caressing his jaw. "Can I tell you another secret, Mr. Colonel Flag?" His fingers curled around hers, and he held her hands by the wrists, feeling her pulse point on his skin. His eyes searched hers before she leaned close and whispered in his ear. "I've never felt so safe as when I'm with you." Her fingers softly ran over his hair, and she kissed his cheek, smiling at him when she backed away to look into his eyes.

They gazed at each other. Feeling the warmth of the other's body under their fingers. The heady sensation of belonging filling them with hope. The undeniable attraction pulling them together.

Her voice cut the silence, and his eyes fell to her enticing lips. "Mr. Col-"

"Rick," he said, placing his hand on her jaw. Caressing her chin right below the curve of her lower lip. "Please, Prim." He closed the space and whispered in her mouth. "Call me Rick."

From the small distance between them, he could see the specks of dark green in her eyes. Feel her breath on his lips. He weaved his finger on her hair. Waited for her to accept him.

She smiled and brushed her fingers on his cheek. Her thumb over his lips. "Rick," she whispered, only for him to hear.

He didn't know if it was him who kissed her or if she kissed him. He only knew her fingers on his t-shirt pulling him down to deepen the kiss elicited a moan from him. A temptation he couldn't resist. He pushed her against the wall and pulled her up, crossing her legs around his hips.