Affinity

Give Me Something

"Anyway, Adam just bursts in and punches him in the jaw," I explain to Nick, who came over again for lunch with his girlfriend Olivia. Adam sits next to me, fingers tapping nervously on the counter, his head down with a guilty smile peaking beneath his hands. I snake an arm around him and rub his back absently.

"Dang, man. Have you seen the guy again?" Nick asks.

I shake my head and Adam slowly looks up, a lazy look made drowsier by me rubbing his back.

"Thank goodness," He murmurs, grimacing. Nick's phone buzzes and he swears under his breath.

"I gotta go," He says, grabbing his jacket from the rack. "Soundcheck. Liv, you coming?"

"Yeah, right behind you,"

I go around the counter, "Aw, I wish we could make it to the show but Adam made reservations up the street."

As if waiting for permission, he steps forward and pulls me into his chest. I tuck my chin over his shoulder and loop my hands around his back.

"Notice how my hands are above the waist," I hear him say to Adam, who snorts in response. I release and move to hug Olivia before they leave, and shuffle over to Adam after they do.

"What?" I ask when I see his face. He doesn't look as tired anymore, but stressed, anxious, even.

"Nothing."

I grab his hand and pull him into the bedroom. He sighs, and collapses onto the bed in a heap. I make my way over to him, sliding across the bed behind him, my hands traveling under the backing of his shirt. He groans at my touch, my hands kneading his tense shoulders and neck. He lets his head fall forward as I continue.

"You're so tense, babe." I murmur, working his shoulders slowly, barely moving the skin beneath my fingertips. He hums again and I trail my hand down his arm this time. "What's going on?"

He turns around and I scoot back just a bit so he has room.

"It's just the paper. It's just getting to me," He confesses. "I don't know what else to put, I used every piece of useful information that I found. I'm still missing the conclusion."

"I could help you, i mean, just go into how important it is for outreach and volunteers if you can't think of anything,"

"Smart," He says, as if making a mental note. "Look at you, being all smart." He pokes my side, making me flinch.

"Stoppp," I whine, slapping his chest playfully but he grabs my hand and holds it there, feeling his heartbeat quicken.

"Babe-" I start. His tentative fingertips find the back of my jaw and trail down the nape of my neck, stopping right before my collarbone, making me aware of nothing but the feel of him.

"Do you remember when I kissed you there?" He says, his voice thick and deep.

I have to concentrate in order to respond.

"Mhm," I manage. In the reflection of the mirror, I see his lips part slightly. My heart beat so loudly in my chest I wonder if he can hear it. If he knew it beat that way only for him.

He leans down, the tip of his nose skimming my earlobe and lowering, until his lips found that spot, his spot, that made my knees weak and my whole body tremble.

He turns me slowly, fingers weaving through my hair. He comes closer, until we share the same breath. His lips were warm and soft and full of restraint, but as the seconds melted together his arms pulled me tighter, and his mouth became more urgent, hot breath and grazing teeth, and the firm, soft feel of his lower lip between mine. I'm sure it's my heart he can hear pounding out of my chest.