"What Are You Waiting For?" || ORIGINAL STORY.

Chapter Twenty-Two.

Darren's POV.

Tanya..

God, the way she felt between my arms.

The way she looked at me, the way she asked me to stay..

I tightened my arms a bit around her, holding her close.

She'd fallen asleep quickly once she'd made herself comfortable on my chest, her even breaths tickling my neck.

I lay there, watching her sleep.

The way her eyelashes cast shadows on her cheeks, the way her nose softly scrunched up sometimes and the way her lips parted slightly.

She was so damn beautiful.

My eyes roamed over her face, taking in every detail.

Her messy hair on my pillow, her body pressed against mine, her legs wrapped tightly around my waist.

I didn't know how long I lay there staring at her, just absorbing her closeness.

But eventually, I couldn't help but reach out and brush my knuckles over her cheek, marvelling at the smoothness of her skin.

She moved ever so slightly in her sleep, nuzzling into my touch.

That small act alone made my heart skip a beat, and I was unable to resist the urge to pull her even closer to me.

And the thought of the dream I had of her.. it made the situation worse.

The memory of the dream came rushing back, and my blood suddenly felt hot.

The images flashed in my mind—the way her hair fell over her shoulders, her eyes dark and sultry, her lips parted in a moan..

I could feel my body reacting to the images, and I had to take a deep breath to steady myself.

I knew I shouldn't be thinking like this, not while she was asleep in my arms—vulnerable and trusting.

But it was hard to control my thoughts when all I wanted to do was pull her even closer, bury my face in her hair, and—

God, I needed to calm down.

And, oh God, I like her.

I couldn't deny it.

I knew it—I knew I already liked her too much.

I was far too gone, far too addicted to the sound of her voice, the feel of her skin, the smell of her hair.

And now, having her body pressed up against mine.. feeling her breath on my skin..

It was like a drug, and I was already hooked.

As those thoughts ran through my mind, Tanya moved a bit in her sleep.

She shifted so her face was buried in my neck, her warm breath hitting my skin directly.

It took everything in me not to shiver at the sensation, to keep my body still and not wake her up.

She muttered something sleepily against my skin, her lips so close to my neck that it tickled.

I could feel my body reacting to her again, heat coiling in my stomach.

I wanted—no, needed—her to be even closer to me, skin against skin.

It took all of my self-control not to grip her tighter, to not pull her flush against me and claim her mouth with mine.

I settled for gently running my hand down her back, my touch barely there.