The walk back is odd, we’re walking apart, my arms across my body as I feel like being by myself right
now and not having the contact. I’m tired and emotional and edgy. He’s trying to make idle chit chat,
intent on keeping us talking about any topic he comes up with and I am responding, but I am fully
aware of his constant fixed gaze on my profile as we walk and it’s starting to make me nervy. I can’t
relax with the way he seems honed into my every movement and mannerism.
“You can stop staring at me for like maybe five minutes.” I point out and smile when his eyebrows dip in
that cute way he has. He looks away for a minute and then back again.
“You noticed, huh?” He acts coyly and shrugs my way. Not him at all, he’s always been super confident
in every way and this seems weird.
“Just a little, you know … penetrating gaze latched onto my skull.” I giggle at him, even more so with
how sheepish he’s become since I pointed it out and let go of the tension a little.
“I can’t help it. I spent months missing this view, dreaming about you, and I’m worried that if I look away
you might disappear again.” His tone immediately turns serious and his eyes, although still facing my
way seem less zoned in on me and I relax a little.
“I guess I know what you mean.” I agree, knowing that I too am getting used to his sudden presence
again and it still feels unreal and dreamlike. That the last months are some sort of alternate dimension
now. He was in my head so many times in his absence that his real presence isn’t quite normal to me
yet either.
“I missed you. I know it was my fault, but it doesn’t take away how much it sucked. You’re like a sunset
to me or a pretty view of a shoreline. Some people like art, they like watching the sea. I’ve always liked
looking at you. You have a unique kind of beauty, and are the most breath-taking view on the planet.”
The seriousness of his statement makes my heart ache suddenly and tears prick my eyes, knowing
fine well he means every word and I don’t know how to react. There’s a silent moment as we both look
away; he clears his throat and I fiddle with my fingers awkwardly. Affected by how sweet he can be and
so genuine, still afraid to let him see that he gets to me though.
“You’re so lame.” I breathe out through intense emotional reaction, swallowing down tears and his
laugh breaks the tension.
“I missed that the most.” He reaches out and pulls me to him by the upper arm and finds no resistance.
Bending in cautiously and slowly moving in towards my mouth. I see it coming a mile off, the way his
eyes focus on mine as though seeking permission before he kisses me softly. His nose rubs mine, his
lips part slightly and I surrender to it, to him. Letting him feel me out as my eyes close of their own
accord and Arry kisses me passionately.
My hands somehow end up cupping his sexy jaw, our bodies inching together so we touch in every way
and his own hands get buried in the under the layers of my hair, angling so he can kiss me properly. It
reminds me of the night Emma had Ava, only so much more intense and he doesn’t pull away. He
kisses me until a passing honk of a horn makes us break apart, giggling awkwardly when we realize we
have probably been making out in full view for minutes. Oblivious to everything and the fact we are only
a street away from our homes.
More than aware that the guy who never seemed to do any sort of public displays of lovey-doveyness,
just made love to my mouth in broad daylight.
“You were made to kiss me, you know that right?” He keeps me close, still nose to nose and tone low;
still caught in the tender moment even if we are no longer lip to lip. I nod, unable to formulate a reply
while he looks at me exactly this way. Heart bounding crazily in my chest and knowing this look right
here is what I have been aching for all along. A look that says, ‘I’m hopelessly yours.’ A look I never
imagined I would see on his face, given so freely and so honestly.
“I wish I could undo the past, but I can’t. I do not, however, plan on making the same mistake ever
again and losing this. You’re mine, Sophie. I finally know how it feels to kiss the girl you will only ever
kiss again from here until eternity.” He whispers breathily, and my insides fall apart, the last ounces of
doubt that I don’t want this with him falls around me and my heart bleeds painfully.
“Don’t hurt me.” I respond shakily, parts of me on show that I’ve been too afraid to let him near again.
“Never again … I swear. Hurting you hurts me too. I just want to make you happy.”
***
“Better lock my door, otherwise, my friends may come crashing in on top of us when they finally show
face.” I smile, stifling a yawn, very glad of the suggestion of some sleep. The sudden awakening this
morning was bright and early, and my body is crashing as much as his; neither of us can stop yawning.
“On it.” Arrick lets me go and turns, walking across the plush carpet as he kicks off his sneakers.
Getting to the door he locks it and heads back to my bed, taking a little run and jump so he lands in the
middle, star-shaped. Looking like a child while doing so and beaming at me from his new position.
I giggle and walk a little more demurely, sliding off my pumps, getting on my bed gently, climbing onto
my knees until I scoot closer to him. Arrick reaches out, catching my hand and tugs me over so I fall on
top of him with a shocked yelp, followed by giggles as he rolls over on top of me, flattening me to the
bed, pinning me down so he comes nose to nose with me, nestled against my body in a perfect fit. His
eyes scan my face, the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth and one dimple shining through, I
gaze right back into the depths of his eyes. Finally, feeling completely at ease and glimpses of mutual
adoration shining through.
“I’m going home tonight on Jake’s jet, I guess you three are too?” He rests his chin on my chest, so he
can gaze up at me, shuffling his body down the bed a little. I nod, letting my fingers tail that manicured
set of eyebrows, down that chiseled face to the angular jawline slowly, following my progress with his
eyes focus on mine. “Come home with me, Sophs, stay with me tonight at my apartment.” He watches
me, frowning a little as I break into a smile, pushing him off so I can slide to my side to face him
instead; his arms come around me, pulling me in so he can bring his nose back to mine. I guess letting
him make out with me has brought back the ‘she’s never off-limits to me’ side of him once more. I’m not
complaining, I missed this as much as I missed him, and it feels as right as it always did.
“I’ll think about it.” I smile as he begins rubbing his nose against mine, the way I have seen Jake do to
Emma a million times and for a moment it’s weird to see what exactly is a Carrero trait, rather than a
Jake or an Arry trait.
“You’re going to leave me hanging and work for it?” Arrick’s expression turns serious, pushing his
forehead against mine a little more. I shove him away playfully and give him that knowing nod. Giggling
at his crushed expression.
“I don’t want to leave your side. I spent months trying to imagine you beside me and now you’re here,
I’m not ready to let you go home without me. I don’t want to be parted just yet.” He loosens his hold and
starts fiddling with a strand of my hair, twirling it between his fingers while watching me intensely.
“Who are you and what have you done with Arry?” I laugh, pushing him playfully, more than a little
smug when he hauls me back to him and lassos his legs around mine, so I can’t get away. Trapping me
with sheer hunky muscle and that hard, carved body, wrapping around mine.
“He died of a broken heart. Lack of Sophabelle.” He pouts dramatically, fake sad eyes and the cutest
frown.
“Shut up you weirdo.” I poke him in the dimple absentmindedly, aware that I’m falling back into old
habits way too easily, some of our rapport coming back slowly. Repairing some bridges that only
yesterday felt un-mendable.
“See … This is exactly what I missed more than anything, baby. Your sassy comebacks when you like
to make out you don’t even like me. It feeds my weird side and is becoming a borderline fetish.” He
leans into me closely and hits me with a chaste kiss on the corner of my mouth. A few more butterflies
to add to my growing collection of them.
“I don’t like you, I just feel sorry for you because you have no friends. I tolerate you because I’m nice.” I
burst into giggles when he hauls me under him in a flash and starts torturing me with tickles. Crawling
on top of me to straddle me and pin my arms down beside my head as I try to fight him off. He renders
me immobile and leans down to plant a kiss on my mouth, a little less safe and full-on this time.
“Come home with me or I will typewriter you until you agree.” He warns with a smug look and I shake
my head at him. The inner stubborn child bursting out happily, all other thoughts and confusion giving
me a break while he’s in boyish mood and grinning crazily.
“You wouldn’t dare. You are trying to make me like you again, remember?” I narrow my eyes at him, but
throws back a hint of mischief in a smirk with narrowed eyes. Sexily naughty while that square jaw and
straightened brow makes him look a little sinister so suddenly, tingles pulsing over me instantly.
“Yeah but we already ascertained that I’m an asshole who does stupid shit, sometimes.” He grins
wickedly, tucking my wrists under his knees as I fight back, a look in his eye that he intends to carry out
his torture threat until I yield.
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