SHADOW

Misplaced Affection

I was encapsulated completely, every inch of me— every centimeter. She was the perfect distraction from the festering infatuation for Jayde that virtually always sat in the back of my mind.

Athena was easy. I had no intention of being anything permanent and yet I still hadn't set out to find someone new. With her there was no pain, it wasn't difficult.

I'd do anything to protect the girl, but at this moment I was the only thing around that would hurt her.

I gazed out of the glass accent wall, staring down below me at the ground that was riddled with dead leaves.

I brought her to my home without an ounce of hesitancy. I wasn't skeptical.

I turned away from the window, padding across the cool wood floor and laid back in bed with her. Her tan skin contrasted the white sheets. I reached out to touch her, running my fingers over her skin lightly. It was soft, like the inside of a flower petal. She shifted, rolling over to face me, her eyes remaining closed.

There were a few bruises that littered her skin. Some were around her waist and another on her wrist. Not an ounce of me regretted being rough with her last night and neither did she. She liked it.

I could go as far as to stay she lived to serve my needs which would work well with the fantasies that I still wanted to carry out.

My hands palmed over her, reliving out images from last night. I touched her gently, thumb stroking over her cheek as I silently admired her. A few moments past before I retracted my hand and prepared to get out of bed again. Just as I was about to turn to get up, I was greeted with beautiful turquoise eyes that looked even brighter in the mornings.

They had a translucent element that only existed in the morning or when she was on the verge of tears.

The corners of her mouth turned up in a soft smile as she shifted to prop her head up in her hands. "How long have you been watching me?"

"Awhile."

"Do you watch me while I sleep often?"

"All the time."

Her smile only grew. I returned it easily, reaching out to touch the side of her face. Athena's eyes disappeared behind her lids in contentment. She brought her free hand up to cover my hand that was still stroking over the apple of her cheek lightly.

Her eyes remained closed.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Yes." I waited for her to open her eyes, but they stayed shut.

She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. "Is this ever going to go anywhere, or are we just having casual sex?"

I knew this question would surface at some point, but I hadn't prepared an answer for it. I wasn't completely sure what I wanted from her at this moment.

She was a distraction— my distraction, but I had grown to genuinely care for her. I knew I didn't want a relationship and I wasn't falling in love. But I did know she made me feel comfortable. Showing her affection when she needed and wanted it, didn't feel like a chore. It was like second nature.

"Well first, open your eyes when I talk to you."

She did as she was told. A slight inkling of unsureness glittered in her speckled eyes. "I'm falling for you and I just want to know if this is going somewhere where my feelings are going to be returned."

"You're falling for me?" I asked.

She nodded. "I just don't want to spend all my time with you if I'm in something that's temporary."