Wanted

10

Red
The bottom of my feet were white from the freezing cold as I curled up on top of the large bed.

Buck gave me the bed upstairs, and after me continuously offering to share the room with him, he insisted that he stays downstairs.

I honestly wished he'd sleep on the top floor of this huge house, for the benefit of me having company. What if he came back? What if he followed us here? I shivered as I sat up.

I couldn't decipher whether I wanted to go on a limb and guess the actual time, or just look outside and assume the dark sky indicated wee hours.

My eyes had already adjusted to the darkness, revealing faint dark objects around the room. I kept glancing around the room in a way to make sure none of these objects were eerie.

I almost let out a shriek when the squeak of the empty bedroom door creaked loudly.

But stood there with his eyes fixated on the floor, Buck held his hands behind his back.

He looked up at me, as he walked over warily.

My body sat erect now, looking hard into the darkness to try and make out the expression on his face.

"Buck?" I breathed, "you okay?"

I could see his head bobble as he silently nodded.

"I, uh," he scratched his neck, "the sofa downstairs was a bit...you know-

My giggles interrupted his babbling, before I pulled him beside me.

"You're welcome to sleep here, Buck."

Even in the dark, I could see the smirk on his handsome face. He filled the empty spot beside me, sitting up as well.

"You look amazing," he said.

"I'm covered in blood and it's dark," I protested, "and my hair; do not get me started on that. It's just gross."

There was silence, and in that moment, I noticed how fast my heart was beating.

Was I this nervous around men?

"You know, Red, you never seem to disappoint in being oblivious." Buck chuckled at his own statement.

I laughed along, unknowing of his reasons for such declarations.

"Red," he finally said in a more stern tone, "I'm looking at you in the dark, during an apocalypse, in an abandoned two story apartment, covered in blood and sweat and yet, you can still make it all beautiful."

For the first time for tonight, I was grateful for the lights being out, because then he'd see how red I was.

He reached up to touch my face and I immediately receded from his touch, as if on instinct.

His hand still in mid air, he apologized.
" I didn't know you didn't-

"Can I tell you something personal?"

He nodded, "if you're okay sharing."

I sighed, "the night I got attacked, my intruder r-he took advantage of me."

There was silence again. My heart thumped. Did I do the right thing saying something about it? To him?

"Is that why you didn't want me to touch you?" Buck inquired.

I nodded, close-lipped.

"Should I ask your permission next time?"

The caring tone of his voice made my heart beat ease it's pace. He made me so calm.

I grabbed his large hand in mine and squeezed, "I'd like that very much."

Buck's finger softly grazed over my knuckles, "can I touch you now?"

I nodded slowly, a small smile forming.

For a second, time stopped. I felt all the air being shot through my body with incredible speed. Buck was three inches away from my lips.
Two inches.
One.

Our lips locked as soon as they touched, his tongue guiding mine. I've never had an actual willing experience with a guy before. This felt different.
It felt good...