Chapter 110

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.