CONSUME

[31] maybe

***

kameron springfield

"Mmm..." I groaned, turning over onto my back. The sunlight from the window is warm, and it's layering itself onto my bare skin. Fluttering my eyes open, I tiredly focused my gaze on my surroundings. An arm was around my stomach, bedsheets kicked off of me.

Totally naked, I widened my eyes, memories from last night washing over me. Sleeping next to me is Axel Conynghim. The boy I'm hooking up with. My first time.

I smiled, biting my lip, and as I moved to roll on my side and look at Axel's face properly, a stabbing pain shot through my legs.

I winced at the discomfort. It only makes sense I'm sore from last night. After all we did together... I blushed.

"Hmm..." I mumbled to myself, ultimately making the turn and resting my head on one of my hands, elbow against the pillow. Axel's sleeping, calm face is smooshed comfortably onto the cushion under his head. The silver necklace he always wears sunk into the divots of his smooth skin. I reminisced how that chain dangled above my face last night.

The freckles on his shoulders drew my attention to the ones on his face.

I brought my finger to his cheek, and started counting.

Axel is still totally in a slumber, not reacting to my touch and his breathing deep, and slow. He doesn't seem to be a morning person.

Tapping his freckles lightly, I mentally kept track of the number of them in my head as I counted. Axel's freckles are one of my favorite parts about him. I'm not even completely sure why, but there is something about them that are so unique and compelling. I wonder if it's because no two people's freckles are exactly alike.

Aidan and Austin have freckles too but they're evidently different, dispersed in their own unique ways. The boys' faces may be identical, but to me they're far from the same. Also, I don't think Aidan's and Austin's freckles are as prominent as Axel's.

Or maybe, I am able to see Axel's much more up close. Therefore, they seem more prominent. Brushing my finger across his buttoned nose, I kept my voice in my mind and focused on the individual specks on his skin. It's as if these tan circles are miniature sprinkles, or confetti, or a pool of stars that I just want to dive into.

Axel is so beautiful. It alarms me that I've never been able to see it before. In the past we were never able to even set our differences aside and be friends. Now... Now this feels like we're more than what being friends would ever feel like. I was missing out for so long. His touch, his words, his longing for me.

Who knew he would be my first time, and I never could have predicted that Axel would be the one to make me feel so safe and protected. Other men in my life feel like nothing but threats, however him? He's become the one that I seek sanctuary in from those risks.

Dragging my index finger down to Axel's cheek, I tapped the last tiny freckle beside his ear.

"Mmmmmng," Axel groaned, shaking his head lightly. He smacked his lips, still halfway in a drowsy trance

I smiled at his cute, sleepy nature. I leaned over, tilting my head up to kiss the bridge of his nose shortly.

"Morning," Axel mumbled, eyes still closed.