Golden - P.L.

10. Big Pj's and Sweet Nothings

"Bedsheets, no clothes, touch me like no body else does. Lovely to just lay here with you." - Lizzy Mcalpine

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The water of the bath was now lukewarm and the bubbles had disappeared. Paul had knocked on the door three times asking if I was okay. I guess I had stayed in the bath a little too long. My fingers even began to shrivel slightly but the bath was everything I needed to help me distress from today's events. Everytime I thought about the dark waves a shudder would go down my spine. Shrugging the thought from my mind I grabbed the soft tan towel that was sitting on the toilet cover and wrapped it around my body. It felt good to finally have the sand off of my body and the grim out of my hair.

I stood in front of the oval mirror above the sink and looked at my face that had almost become unrecognizable in the past couple of months. The dark Washington sky had taken away most of my golden Arizona tan and replaced it with a slightly tan complexion. My long blonde hair seemed to be more unruly than ever. It even seemed like my eyes had changed. Their once wild green color now resembled the dark leaves of the trees surrounding us at all times. Dark bags found a home underneath my eyes, I really needed a good nights sleep. All of my dreams seemed to be plagued with the monsters I've come to know as real.

Snapping out of my daze I grabbed the lotion next to the sink. It was unscented but I wasn't expecting anything else in Paul's house. I quickly rubbed it in my body and that's when I made the realization. I had no clothes. I could feel my cheeks burn at the thought of Paul seeing me in a towel. I know I shouldn't be flustered at the thought, especially since we were just friends right? But friends don't kiss Delilah. Are we more than friends? What's the next step? Get a grip Delilah.

I groaned as I walked towards the bathroom door. I puffed my cheeks out before letting out the air and twisted the knob open. I could hear the tv in the living room, it was broadcasting some rerun of a football game. Be brave Lilah, even if being brave is walking out in front of a guy with just a towel on. It can't be that hard right?

My feet padded softly across the hardwood floor into the living room. Paul had his head turned to the tv as he watched intently.

"Paul." I said softly, messing with the bottom corner of the towel. I couldn't look at him, so instead I focused on my slim fingers messing with the towel.

"Hey baby, I felt like I was waiting forever." He said softly, halfway through his sentence I could hear his voice change. It seemed like it dropped five octaves and became more full.

"I know, I really enjoyed the bath. Especially the lavender bubbles." I said with a smile as I peered over to him only to already find him looking at me intently. It was as if he were in a daze and I was the work of art he could study for hours. My cheeks heated up under his gaze and I began to rock back and forth on my heels.

"You're beautiful." He said as he got off of the couch and walked towards me. His large hands engulfed my towel covered waist and pulled me into him. My eyes stayed focused on his bare chest that was rising and falling rapidly. My towel covered chest was pressed against his and I could feel my heart rate increase. I've never been this intimate with anyone before. Is this even considered intimate? I shook my head at the thought and tried to take a step back only for Paul's grip to tighten. I finally gained enough courage to lift my eyes. His brown eyes connected with my green ones, they held an intensity I had never seen before.

"Are you my boyfriend?" I blurted out, I couldn't help it. I had no idea what he was to me. He was definitely more than a friend, but what requires someone to be your boyfriend? He let out a deep chuckle, his hands still on my waist tightly and our chests still pressed together.