"What should I wear?" She says out loud the moment we step in through the front door.
I close it, and lock it, my eyes on Alba all the while.
"We'll see later. Make me food?" I say and she turns to me.
"What? We just ate?!" She asks furrowing her brows, clearly annoyed that I shrugged her off.
"Snack my darling, I need a recharge snack." I explain and she huffs.
"Fine, what are you feeling like?" She asks suddenly enthused by the opportunity to have a go at my kitchen.
"Anything you'll make for me." I kiss her cheek and walk past her straight into my room.
I walk right over to her suitcase and throw off the unzipped top. I dig through her clothes, and the only dresses I find are not going to work. The first one is the one I gave her, the second one is the one she wore to the theater, the third one is nowhere near suitable for Marshall's party. I text Marshall.
'Pick me up. Text when you reach.' I slap the top back on and walk out, back to the kitchen.
"I'm making-" Alba starts to explain but I grab her by the waist, take the pan of whatever she was going to make off the stove, turn it off and haul her into the room.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOOOOOING!?" She laughs as we tumble onto the bed and I press my face right into her chest.
"I was trying to cook." She complains and I look up at her my face still half buried.
"Oh stop being cute!" Alba whispers, gently scraping her nails against my scalp, making me hum. We lay there quietly and I wonder how I could get away from her without her knowing.
"Let's go to sleep." I say and she frowns.
"Seriously?" She raises a brow and I nod against her.
"I'm tired." I mumble. "Re-"
"-recharge nap, yeah, we get it." She frowns and I nod burying my face again. "Alright, not like I care."
We hold each other, our warm bodies molded around one another in a tangle of limbs, pillows, and blankets.
The late afternoon sun pours in, lighting us up, making us glow. I concentrate on her breathing, how deep she'll pull her breath in, and then how hard she'll push it out.
Occasionally, either of us will shift to get closer, push against the other, and then we'll settle in a tighter, closer embrace. I feel a drowsy blanket ascend over us and slowly I'm lulled to sleep by the steady and strong beat of her heart.
Her very own lullby, and I'm the one who she is permitting to hear it. I can even feel it as it thumps against the inside of her ribs, bumping softly against my temple.
If it were ever to stop, I don't know how I'd ever sleep again.
-
"..you... crazy?.... texted me!.... Asshole!..... wake... flip.... now!" I violent shake pulls me out of my sleep and I look up at Marshall through blurry eyes.
YOU ARE READING
It Begins With Us
RomanceWhen Ryle Kincaid was left in the dust five years ago, he never knew he could be loved again. He turned on himself, all his hate and anger driving him to isolate his heart from even the idea of love, or wanting. Then he met Alba DeTamble. A strong...
