Beside

16 - crave

"Tonight I wished for a new brain that's not so dizzy. Now you tell me yours, Fox."

"... A new house. Faro can be our new dad. Gwen can come when her skin isn't burned anymore. No dragons."

"We should build a treehouse to watch the stars every night."

"Promise you'll come with me, Jellybean?"

"Cross my heart, Fox."

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

c h r i s

I can do this.

I am standing outside his door, I am calm, and I can do this.

I straighten my tank top. I think he likes this one. It's pale purple. I exhale into my palm. Minty, cool, a bit sugary. I brushed my teeth four times.

Okay, then.

Knock-knock!

The door opens to Fox in nothing but soft grey sweats, his hair damp from a shower. He smells like woods and spice.

"Chris," he says, dragging my name out like a warning.

My eyes dart around, finding the doorframe above interesting.

"Come on," he coaxes, leaning against the doorframe, his grin tugging at the corners of his wide mouth.

I can't breathe.

"You can do it," he hums, his voice warm and teasing. "Say it, darling."

"Sex!"

I slap a hand over my mouth.

Then I add, "Please."

And that's worse.

Fox's grin spreads wide. He's just won a game.

Without a word, he reaches out, takes my wrist, and tugs me inside.

I stumble in, my feet barely keeping up with the pull of his hand. The door clicks shut behind me, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet space. His room is... grey.

Everywhere I look—grey walls, minimalist furniture, cold and bare.

Little Fox liked green.

But as my eyes wander around the room again, I notice how barren it is. A half-empty bookshelf, a desk, a chair.

My thoughts are interrupted when I feel his breath on my neck, warm and teasing. He presses me to his chest from behind, and his lips find that spot just below my ear, kissing softly. "Knock anytime."

Dangerous, but okay.

His hands slip under my tank top, fingers brushing the sides of my ribs before sliding up, squeezing gently.

I sigh, knocking my head back onto his shoulder, letting myself feel how good it is, how right it feels.

But... his bed is enormous, slate grey, and neat—just like everything else in here. I try not to think about how big it looks, how cold it feels.

"Do you bring girls here?"

Fox chuckles, his lips grazing my ear. "Jealous?"

I want to shrink into myself.

His hands tighten on my hips, and he spins me around to face him. His hazel eyes, familiar and unreadable, flicker as he looks down at me. "The sheets are clean, promise. It's... been a while."