Our Wild Spirits

Chapter 4: I'll Never Hurt You

I sprinkled water over my body, so the smell of sweat and sex wouldn't waft off my body. Tom went outside for a cigarette while I washed myself again and tied a bathrobe over my bra and panties. I collapsed on the sofa, wriggling beneath the thick covers and sighed in pleasure from the softness of the blanket. That's when Tom touched me.
"Hey, don't fall asleep on me, okay? I'm gonna be making dinner in a few hours."
"Mm?" I mumbled groggily.
"Need some soder?" he asked, nudging my shoulder. It's actually soda, but I've been calling it "soder" a lot lately for no reason. I'm weird, I guess. I put my earbuds and played "Christian Woman" by Type O Negative. I always found this song beautiful for some reason and I never found out why. Suddenly Linkin Park blared out of Tom's phone and I immediately pulled both my earbuds out, pausing my favorite '90s rock song.
"When my earbuds are in, there's a 'do not disturb' sign hanging over my head, okay?"
"Too bad, you like Linkin Park anyway."
"I have them on my phone, geez."
"Still, when my music is playing, you listen, all right?"
I rolled my eyes and plucked my earbuds out, tossing them to the side.
"Not fair," I mumbled.
I got off the sofa and then walked to the refrigerator, opening my own can of Dr Pepper and drinking it. I struggled into a nude-colored tank top, some leopard-printed shorts, and ran to Tom, giving him a big bear hug from behind.
"Mind if I live with you?"
"You already are," he replied.
He faced me, cupping my head in his strong hands and kissing the tip of my nose.
"I'll take care of you forever, baby."
He pulled me deeper in his embrace as I inhaled his scent, memorizing the seductive combination of English Leather and Irish Spring soap. Disappointingly, he had the smallest hint of cigarettes, but it's whatever.
I tapped my fingers on his shirt, nestling my face in his chest.
"Question: love me or not love me?"
"The first option," he answered, caressing my hair gingerly.
"After dinner, you wanna go out and...see a movie or something?"
I chuckled under my breath and said, "We could watch one on Netflix or rent one from Redbox. Either one doesn't matter."
"I just wanna stay in tonight, that's all I'm saying."
"Me too. I'll actually be hanging out with Destiny tomorrow."
"The pure blonde girl you're friends with? She's pretty crazy for you," he said.
"Shut up! She's been my best friend since the third grade. And the second only thing that helps me through those damn beatings."
"So you going to the mall like all the girls do since, like, the invention of them?"
"How'd you read my mind?"
"I can always tell," he murmured.
"Get back to cookin'. I'm starving."
"Already?" he asked, reminding me of our lovemaking.
"For food, not you."
He stuck his tongue out and went back to making the food.

I shrugged out of my pajamas, crawling under the blankets and eating the yellow popcorn. "C'mon, Tom or I'm gonna start the movie without you!" I yelled, popcorn falling out of my mouth. He came out from the bathroom, drying his hair with the towel and placing it in the dirty towel basket.
"You'll do the laundry tomorrow," I add.
He snuggled next to me, picking a piece of popcorn, and flicked it at my face.
"What a total waste of perfectly good popcorn, babe."
He took the concave bowl away from my hands then wrapped his arms around me, kissing my neck.
"Tom"-
"It'll be all right, sweetness. You're okay; just relax."
I closed my eyes, the goosebumps standing up from my body and fully erected.