Chapter 112

He moves around the counter to me, obviously choosing to be closer, finding me with his arms and pulling me against him so I have to put my mug down too. Pulling me in to face him and giving me no option but to obey as he slides my body against his faultlessly, perfectly molded as though we really did break from the same mold once.

“Nope … this feels right to me, righter than anything I have ever known.” He stoops a little, buries that cute boy face in my neck and breathes me in before planting a kiss on my throat. I giggle unexpectedly when he hoists me up by the butt and legs onto the counter and slides me back to sit on it, nestling himself in between my thighs so we are nose to nose, intimately joined and I am his prisoner. This close to his face and that disarming smile feels a lot better than being across a kitchen, and the familiar tingling of my insides goes into overdrive.

“You make me want to wrap these around me every second of the day.” He murmurs close to my mouth as he angles for a steamy kiss, pulling my legs around his waist so I can lock my ankles together behind his back, my arms around his neck as he tilts me back and fits our bodies in snugly. Getting braver with how far he can push me with every single touch it seems.

Casanova!

“Hmmm, what happened to the no sex yet, thing?” I nudge him warily, still not sure if I even want to contemplate trying anytime soon; we seem to have bypassed all the awkward getting to know each other again, in half a day, and he is straight in with man-handling, a little too confidently. The heat is still there, but the memory of last night has dampened my desire to go there anytime soon. It didn’t play out how I thought it would and I would love to talk it through with Emma before I try again, get her take on it. Understand why it made me react that way.

“Who’s having sex?” He feigns innocence, catching my bottom lip in his teeth and sucking it in gently. I surrender to him and happily let him devour my mouth with a kiss that is more passion-fueled than any we have shared all day. I can feel his arousal between my thighs stirring quickly and it’s obvious he’s hit the sudden horn. A little sense of achievement that I can do this to him, considering how many times before I left him that I hoped I could. Forgetting my fears because I know I can trust him not to push me in this way, even if his body aches for it.

“Feels like someone wants to.” I breathe heavily when he breaks the kiss apart still nose to nose, grazing his mouth against mine seductively, still holding my pelvis tight against him so I’m leaning back at an odd angle on the kitchen surface.

“Wanting to and doing, are not the same thing, and I stand by my earlier oath of not going there until you’re ready.” He loosens me a little from his hold, bringing his forehead to mine, eyes locked and held captive.

“You make me crazy, I am not going to deny it, Mimmo, but you mean a hell of a lot more to me than sex.” He’s serious, the atmosphere between us charged and I find it hard to resist him when he says things like this. He makes me want to throw all caution to the wind and let him have me in any way he wants.

“What if I want you to try again?” I regard him seriously, still clinging to him, aware of the build of heat and ache inside of me with having him this close to my body, the fire in him setting me off in ways I didn’t expect. Arrick kisses me chastely on the mouth and pulls back, letting me go so he can edge his pelvis away from mine, arms still hanging loosely around his neck as he slides his hands down my thighs to rest on my knees instead. Putting very obvious cooling space between us and making it clear this isn’t going anywhere. In a way it makes me relax, even if there is a confusing hint of disappointment too.

“Doesn’t matter. I don’t want to be the reason your head takes you back there; I hate that I made you already. I’m not saying we won’t try at some point, I’m just saying there’s no rush for it. It’s not the most important thing and I really don’t think it will be an issue in our future. I mean I did get you to cum, quickly.” He reaches for my mug and hands it to me with a satisfied grin, clearly patting himself on the back, forcing me to let him go and take it as he then reaches for his.

“Big head.” I roll my eyes, the heat in my face rising suddenly with how straight to the point he is about that. I have never really talked sex frankly with anyone and it feels a little weird to be talking to him about it, when he is acting like this is no more different to discussing ice-cream flavors.

“I think I was just too drunk and it was … I don’t know.” I falter, staring at him imploringly, unsure about what that head-mess even is and still a little shyer about this topic than he is.

“Drunken sex. No romance and you didn’t feel safe with me. Definitely don’t trust me like you used to. I understand you more than you think, Sophie, I can read you like a book sometimes and I can see part of your wall is very clearly up.” Arrick sighs at me, a mix of regret and understanding, strokes back my hair so he can plant a kiss on my cheek tenderly. A kiss that makes me want to close my eyes and savor him against me. He is starting to get a little addictive with his affections.

“I do trust you, it’s just that … I feel weird right now.” I blink up at him with Bambi eyes, not wanting him to think I don’t still care about him. Unsure as to what I really feel in terms of trust after today. We slipped so easily into each other again, like we were never apart, and it has added to the washed-up cyclone of confusion inside of me.

“You aren’t ready to forgive me yet, and I did a lot more damage than just choosing another girl … I know that, Sophs. I know I fucked up royally, more than just this between us. I left you when I promised I wouldn’t, I broke what we had. I let you go when I had always been someone you clung to, and it’s more than your heart I broke. I know this is complicated and things between us will take time to move on again. Don’t think I don’t know what I did, it’s all I thought about for months. I know this goes so much deeper than breaking your heart over another girl.” He brings my face back to his, so we’re close again and that look of deep sorrow hits me right in the stomach; I don’t doubt that he is sorry, I can see it in every word he says to me and every expression on that handsome face.

“I want to forgive you, I do. I just might need a little time to come around.” I respond softly, lowering my chin so I can look at my lap instead of the pain in the depths of his eyes.

“You have a lifetime to forgive me, I’m not going anywhere ever again. I know a promise won’t mean much to you right now, Mimmo, but I do promise you that you will never lose me again. I will never let you go.” Arrick moves in and lifts me from the counter, swinging my legs to one side and smiling at me before planting a kiss on my mouth, carrying me towards his room. “Maybe we should curl up in my bed, watch a movie marathon and call for some takeout tonight. I want you next to me, for the next twelve hours minimum, before I have to let you go to school and suffer your absence again.” He lifts me higher, so he can plant a kiss on the corner of my mouth and I slide my arms around his neck easily. Very happy with a suggestion that sounds to be exactly what I need.

“You’re so lame sometimes, I think you may have it bad.” I giggle at him as he carries me into his room and dumps me on the bed ungracefully so I bounce and yelp.

“You know it, baby.” He chuckles before diving on top of me amid squeals and screams as he aims for tickling and kissing combined.