I Hate the Way...

Part 68: "Something Has Changed"

Another short update since everyone asked!

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Hope turned off the shower water, reaching for a towel and gently wrapped it around Josie, drying her off a bit as the brunette offered her a lazy smile.

"Do you still want me to run us a bath?" Hope asked, her voice soft and soothing as she reached up and brushed a damp strand of hair from Josie's face.

Her fingers lingered there for a moment, tracing the soft line of Josie's jaw, her eyes scanning both the hickies and the couple of bite marks she left behind on Josie's neck and chest, wondering if she should heal them or leave them for everyone to see.

Josie could only barely keep her eyes open. She shook her head, her body heavy with exhaustion and already feeling sore from all of their...activities.

She managed a small smile though, reaching out for Hope's hand, tugging her gently. "Let's just go to bed, babe," she mumbled sleepily.

Hope chuckled quietly with a small grin on her lips, nodding and tossing the towels to the side before she scooped Josie up in her arms effortlessly.

Josie rested her head on Hope's shoulder, letting herself be carried to bed without protest. Her eyes kept fluttering shut against her will to keep them open.

She felt safe like this, wrapped in Hope's embrace, being so cared for constantly.

Hope carried her out of the bathroom and to the bedroom, carefully laying her down on the bed.

The brunette let out a small sigh as she sank into the mattress, her body immediately relaxing against her freshly changed sheets, thanks to Hope.

"Do you want me to help you get dressed?" Hope asked softly, already about to turn to go get them some pajamas from the dresser.

Josie's eyebrows furrowed at that, and she reached out, grabbing Hope's hand and pulling her back, "No, just come to bed."

Hope smiled softly, allowing herself to be pulled closer, sliding into bed as Josie moved over a bit. Hope pulled the sheets up to cover Josie's body before wrapping her arm around her waist from behind.

She leaned down to press a soft kiss against Josie's shoulder, her lips lingering there for a brief moment, breathing in the comforting scent of her skin before she laid down behind her, somewhat spooning her.

But Josie's eyebrows furrowed, glancing back at Hope and noticing the small bit of distance between them.

She let out a huff of air before fixing that herself, scooting back until she was pressed up against Hope's front, intertwining her fingers with the hand Hope had on her stomach.

She heard a soft grunt leave Hope's lips at the change, and Hope's grip on her hand tightened briefly before she relaxed, and Josie got comfortable again, letting out a content sigh.

Then she heard Hope softly clear her throat. The Tribrid shuffled a bit behind her, and Josie could feel something hard poking against her ass.

She let out a groan, knowing exactly what it was, "Hope, I swear to god, if you're getting hard again right now—"

"I can't help it. Just give it a sec, it'll go down," Hope said, trying to think of anything other than Josie's naked body pressed up against her own.

It took longer than a second, but Hope eventually let out a sigh of relief and got comfortable again, "Goodnight, love."

"Goodnight," Josie murmured.

Her eyes were half closed, her mind foggy and dazed.

But there was one thought that wouldn't leave her.

She thought Hope was going to say those three words earlier. And now, all she can think about is how much she wanted to hear them.

She wanted to know that this was real.

She hadn't thought much of the fact that this wasn't a real marriage in a while. Because it has felt so real between them.

But now, laying here in Hope's arms, the thought that this is all fake was consuming her.

Josie squeezed her eyes shut, trying to will that thought away.

She tried to just focus on the warmth of Hope's body against hers, the softness of her breathing as she fell asleep, the way her heart seemed to beat in sync with her own...

It feels so real. Too real.

Something in her gut told her that's what this feeling is. Love.

But she hopes that she's wrong.

She swallowed hard, her fingers brushing over Hope's hand.

For a moment, she even considered pulling away, creating some distance between them, to protect herself from whatever it is she's feeling and from the heartbreak she was sure would come along if she let herself fall into this feeling.

But she didn't. She stayed there, letting Hope's body keep her warm, even as her mind screamed at her to run.

Because the last thing she needs is to fall in love with her wife.

But deep down, Josie knew that something has changed. That she has changed.

Because the truth was, she was already falling. And she wasn't sure if she could stop.

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