Enough Courage

☆Chapter 14

After my shower I get dressed in the clothes Collins gave me. I feel very comfortable, and even more tired.

But I think above all else, I'm a bundle of nerves.

What is Collins expecting from me tonight?

I rake my fingers through my wet hair in an attempt to make it look less rough. It kind of works.

When I step out of the bathroom Collins still isn't back from downstairs so I sit on the bed.

A couple of minutes later he comes back holding a mug, and the contents of the mug is steaming.

"Tea." He says answering my internal question like he could read my mind. "It'll help warm you up, and replenish your hydration which we both know you need." He smiles.

"Thanks," I smile back and take the mug in both my hands. I blow on it before taking a sip. I recognize the tea as camomile, it tastes good and warms the back of my throat. "Mmh." I sigh audibly showing him that it tastes good.

He turns the overhead light off leaving the dim nightstand lamps lighting up the room in a warm light.

"You can get more comfortable, Ellis." He goes around to the other side of the bed and gets in, and that's when I noticed he changed too. He's wearing basketball shorts and a t-shirt. "I promise I don't bite." There's a pause then he says, "well most of the time."

I can't help but laugh.

"You look so tired. I figured you'd sleep better in here. I can't imagine Kelesy is fun to share a bed with."

I set down my mug on the nightstand beside me.

"You're right," I say. "She's not."

I sit crisscross on the bed facing him. He's looking at me, and I wish I knew what he was thinking.

"Can I kiss you?" He asks bluntly with a very serious tone.

"I'd like nothing more." I say without hesitation.

He leans forwards taking my head between his hands and plants his lips on mine.

I place my hand on his neck, the first time I'm really allowing myself to touch him. I slide my hand up the nape of his neck into his hair. It's as soft as I had imagined.

His tongue slips through my parted lips to meet my tongue.

He pulls me down so my head hits the pillows softly. His hand slides down my chest to my waist underneath his shirt I'm wearing.

Then he breaks the kiss. I still have my eyes closed when his lips are near my ear.

"I want nothing more than to totally devour every inch of you." He says seductively. "But I want to take us slow, okay?"

I nod, my eyes still closed tight. If I open them I'm afraid I'll find that I was dreaming this entire time. But I finally open them to find his green eyes above mine.

He drags his free hand down my face and his fingers touch my lips just like earlier.

"Your lips." He says. "I could literally just kiss you all day."

I smile underneath his touch, "I mean, I'd be okay with that."

He sits up keeping his one hand on my waist. "Personal question, you don't have to answer if you don't want too. Have you ever slept with anyone?"

"Yeah, I was a senior in high school. I was dating this guy in the marching band and after homecoming everyone was talking about their experiences and we just decided-"

"To get it over with." He finished for me.

"Yes," I laugh. "It was not that inspiring. He was the only one." I say to make it known to him that I'm not experienced at all. "He was a big nerd if that tells you anything."

Collins smirks, "hey, I've heard nerds know their stuff sometimes."

"Oh, have you heard?" I raise one of my eyebrows teasingly at him.

"You're in a very dangerous position, Ellis."

"How's that?"

"This," he says shortly and starts tickling my side with the hand on my waist. I immediately burst into a fit of laughter.

"Ok! Ok!" I breath and he stops. "I'm extremely ticklish." I state recovering slowly.

"That wasn't obvious or anything." He laughs.

"What was your first time like?" I ask.

He puts his head down but looks back up at me. "It was pathetic. She slept with me then two hours later she slept with one of my best friends in high school."

"Oh, I'm sorry I asked."

"Don't be sorry. It was my fault, I was a teenager that didn't care. Plus, I asked you about yours only fair for you to ask me."

I had a feeling he would care now.

I want to ask how many he's slept with but I have a feeling I don't want to know the answer. So I don't ask.

I take another sip of my tea, now that it's lukewarm I'm able to drink more.

I lie back down, realizing how soft the bed and comforter was. It was like laying on a big white fluffy cloud in the sky. I close my eyes momentarily.

I hear the lamp click off on Collins side, and I feel him reach over me to turn my side off.

I expect him to lie on his side of the bed and that would be it since he said he wanted to take things slow. But he lies right next to me and puts his arm across my waist and pulls me into him. His other hand plays with strands of my hair.

"What's your favorite color, Ellis?" He asks in a whispered voice.

"Yellow." I whisper back.

"Why?"

"It's the color of happiness." I say back with a yawn. "What's your favorite color, Collins?"

"I think it's yellow now."

I smile big even though he can't see me in the dark

"Goodnight, Ellis." He says softly still stroking my hair.

"Do we have to go back tomorrow?" I ask with a laugh.

"Unfortunately." He sighs.

"Goodnight, Collins." I say back.