𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝟏𝟖+

38. fantasy

GABRIEL DALTON

✥

When my eyes twitch open the next morning I glance around my room to feel Poppy nuzzled into my side. We're both still naked. I forget how many times we went at it last night. I lost count after the fourth time because they all somehow merged into one long steamy night.

I should feel exhausted but I'm not. If anything I'm well rested from coming so much in my damn life. I look down to Poppy to find that her eyes are open and staring back at me, I had a feeling that she's been awake for a little while.

My hand strokes back her hair as she offers me a small smile. "Good morning," I whisper before pressing a kiss to her forehead. "How are you feeling this morning?"

"I'm good," she says into my arm. "You?"

The corner of my lip lifts. "Definitely a lot better after last night. It was a nice surprise marathon."

Poppy's face burns red and she twists into my neck to hide herself from my gaze but I lock my arms around her back and let her head fall back into my palm. "Don't hide from me," I say against her ear. "It was fun. I had fun. I had no idea you could go for so long–or neither could I."

Her head props up after a few moments and her finger trails around the edge of my bare shoulder, eyes following the action. I listen to her release a long breath and I tilt my head, lips remaining shut. "I meant what I said last night," she says, avoiding my eyes. "About how safe I feel with you, about how much I enjoy your company."

"What was wrong yesterday?"

"Overwhelmed," she says so quickly that I blink at the response.

I stroke the back of her head delicately. "From working?"

"Everything," she sighs. "I don't expect you to understand but I guess I carry a lot of emotional baggage with me. Some days are good, some days are... the worst."

"I know, baby," I whisper. "Sometimes I can literally see you deteriorate and I hate it when you hide in this little shell, as if you think I'd be ashamed from hearing the truth."

Her weary eyes find mine. "I've always been like this."

My brows pinch together. "How old were you when this person first hurt you?"

I can physically see her eyes becoming reserved, throat tensing up. "Twenty-three."

"What about your life before?" I attempt to change the subject.

Poppy seems startled by my question but I don't see any fear laying there. "I mean I parted ways with my dad when I turned twenty because he didn't seem to care about me. I never really knew my mother and I moved from place to place with my father."

I try not to let my reaction show on my face, this is the first time she's ever openly spoken about her family and I'm not going to put my foot in it now. "When did you speak to your father last?"

"Years ago. Maybe like four. I don't need him, never have. I've been a lone wolf for a while and I'm fine with it." She shrugs, glancing down.

My arms close around her. "You're not a lone wolf, Red. You have me. You'll always have me."

Her body shudders against mine when I speak. When I think she's about to remain silent and pretend that I can't see her, she moves her head to look me directly in the eye. "What is your darkest sexual fantasy?"

I narrow an eyebrow at her question. "My darkest sexual fantasy?"

"Yeah," she says, propping herself up on her palm. "I mean you were getting quite dirty with your mouth last night. I'm intrigued to know what really goes on in your mind, what turns you on."