The fall

Chapter 11

Blake

From my cheeks to my ears go red at her embrace, she's never usually this affectionate. She must've been bothered by something, I won't pry if she doesn't want to tell me. I hesitantly reach a hand and pat her head. She looks up at me, reaches her hands and caresses my cheeks.

I tense, I avert my gaze. No inappropriate thoughts, no inappropriate thoughts. I'm not inappropriate! Only disgusting men are, which is not me.
My breath hitches as she turns my head back to hers—and I'm dead. God, I am a disgrace to man kind. She's upset about something and here I am thinking how she'd look undressed in my arms, I'm going to hell for sure.

I place my hand over hers and I stare into her eyes. She tilts her head in questioning as she rubs her thumb's against my cheekbones.
"Are you having a fever? You're burning up."

I reach and pinch the bridge of my nose, I absolutely love this woman—but my goodness, how oblivious she is to a few things. I shake my head at her question before carefully caressing a few strands of her red locks. I lift some of it to my lips as I stare into her eyes. Penelope's cheeks flush in embarrassment before she averts her gaze awkwardly.
"I'm fine, although you look like you're having a fever."

She shakes her head immediately.
"I'm okay."

I wrap a hand around her waist pulling her closer to me, she jumps startled and stares up at me. I laugh at her expression, reaching and pinching her flushed cheek in a gentle manner. She frowns at me before smacking my hand away.
"You are not funny."

I poke her cheek with a laugh.
"I think I'm very funny, especially since you're all worked up like a little high school girl."

She gasps in an exaggerated offense.
"You're the one who got embarrassed first!"

I lift her head to look at me by her chin.
"That was a moment of weakness, Ruby."

She turns slightly before nudging me in the ribs, which I step back at that and press a hand where she nudged me as she looks away, crossing her arms.
"I've already told you to stop calling me that."

I reach my hand towards hers, rubbing her pulse with my thumb.
"I recall that you liked when I adored your red hair?"

She averts her head some more as her cheeks flush deeply, almost the same shade as her hair.
"That was ten years ago.." She mumbles.
She lets out a yelp as I pull her towards me, her chest hitting mine faintly.

"Should I call you 'tomato' instead? Or maybe even strawberry?"
She frowns at me once more as I tilt her head back up to meet my gaze.

"You're not funny, Blake!"

I pull her closer as I whisper, I feel her breath on my lips.
"As I said—I think I'm very funny."
I was about to kiss her, but she kisses me first.