Ben Esra telefonda seni bosaltmami ister misin?
Telefon Numaram: 00237 8000 92 32
Thank-you for taking the time to read chapter four! I highly suggest you read S’mores parts one, two and three before delving into this. I have very much enjoyed getting to know Bria and Maya along with all of you.
As always please favorite, rate, comment, and send me some feedback. I love hearing from everyone!
For the one that inspired Maya…hope your life from this day forward is amazing and you climb many more mountains as you make your way through this crazy world. I am grateful for knowing you, even if it was only for a few weeks.
A shout out to my favorite ‘editor’ a giant thank-you for always pre-reading, giving me input and for just being a great friend! I’m beyond glad we ‘met’.
And to the one that is slowly changing my life… #endgame
MAYA
The way her eyes examined me, as if every detail was being recorded for future use, had my breath catching in my throat. A low growl erupted from deep within her. Her lips were on my neck then her hands grabbed my waist and lifted me on the countertop. I wrapped my legs around her hips, pulling her closer to me, falling just short of making her part of me. I was not allowing her to change her mind and leave. Our lips and tongues battled for dominance once again. My arms wrapped around her neck, tangled in her hair, my nose filled with her strawberries and cream scent.
Her hand slipped behind my neck. The other was on my hip. Each of was us holding the other as close as possible. I allowed myself to live in this moment, feeling her, knowing she wanted this as much as I did simply by the sound of her heartbeat, the way she was breathing. Every part of my body was tingling.
Suddenly, her lips were no longer on mine. I was pulled from the moment so abruptly it took me a second to remember my legs were still locked around her. I had zero intentions of removing them. She pulled away but couldn’t go far. My lips frantically chased after hers.
“Bria.” My voice was pleading with her. Begging her. Briefly questioning why, she didn’t want me.
As if she could see my insecurities on full display, she answered the question I didn’t ask out loud. “I want you Maya.” Her voice was low, throaty and the sound of it fired up my insides, stoked the fire that was already slowly burning deep within me.
Our eyes were locked together now. “Then have me.” My body ached to feel her do more than kiss my lips, I needed to feel her everywhere.
“I can’t…” Her voice trailed off and her head tilted down when spoke. Worry and shame read on her face. My lips sought hers out again. The way she let me claim them gave me hope. Hope that I would soon know what the rest of her tasted like.
That hope didn’t last long. She attempted to pull away again, and again she mumbled she couldn’t, she didn’t want to hurt me.
My legs locked tighter. “Bullshit. I’m not that delicate Bria. I can handle your baggage.” I could. She wasn’t nearly as scary as she thought she was. She saw herself as a villain, the bad guy. The falsely earned role her family had bestowed upon her at a young age, but she wasn’t. She had lost her way once, after a rather traumatic event. But she was back on the path she wanted to be on, and I had no worries she would fall back into that lifestyle. None.
Her head lifted, setting her eyes back on mine. They were just as big and doe-like as always, but what reflected back at me was pain. She started and stopped speaking a few times before anything came out of her mouth. The way her body moved, with stutter starts and jerky movements, showed me the battle waging inside her head and heart. I wasn’t used to seeing her this way. She always moved with such confidence and ease. I didn’t like this for her.
Slowly, she managed to get words out, they seemed to cause her physical pain. Eyes closed, she whispered, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
I pulled her back to me, she resisted but not with much effort. Forehead to forehead, I whispered back, “then don’t.”
“It’s not that easy.” Her head shook slightly.
“Yes it is.”
Again, she pulled away from me, looked at me so deeply I wondered if she could see right through me. “Maya.” She made an attempt to release herself from my legs and I reluctantly let her. I wasn’t here to trap her in any way.
“Bria.”
She let out a sigh then took two steps back, away from me. “Not yet.” Her voice was quiet. Her head again hung low.
Yet. She said yet.
Okay Maya, who are you? When you don’t get your way, who are you going to be?
I took a deep breath; almost certain I hadn’t left any air in the room for her.
Be who she needs.
I matched her sigh, took myself off the counter and walked over to her. “Okay.” She was avoiding eye contact. I put my finger under her chin and made her look at me. “I’m not going anywhere Bria Louise Winthrop. Well, except to your shower. If that’s okay?” I placed a kiss on her lips before she could move away from me again.
“Yeah.” The corners of her mouth turned up just a little as she answered sanal rulet me.
I grinned bigger at her, then placed another soft kiss on her lips. “Pick out a movie?”
Slowly, she nodded her head. “Sure.”
I left the kitchen, grabbed my bag off the couch and walked through her bedroom and into her bathroom. I resisted the urge to check out the book titles that filled the shelves in here. There wasn’t time for that right now. I kept my composure as I moved through her space. Once inside the bathroom, after turning on the shower, I released my frustration into the stream of hot water. I reminded myself she needed me to be understanding. Needed me to be patient. I already knew she was worth waiting for. And she was letting me in, even if it was painfully slow and not all the way in, yet. That would take more time. Everything she needed; I could be. I knew I could do this.
Yet. Her word. Yet.
This was going to take time, and I had plenty of that to give her. That yet, would turn into yes…eventually. And I would still be right by her side for as long as she would let me be there. So far, I had managed to be next to her even when she refused more. Showing her that she was worth so much more than she realized was my purpose now.
When I exited the shower, I realized my only option for a towel, was the one Bria must have used earlier. Grabbing it, I held it close to me before I dried myself off. It was still damp. I felt closer to her for a moment, then worried I was being creepy.
Get it together Maya.
I threw shorts and a tank top on, then my favorite oversized shirt I stole from Brandon when we were teenagers. All my hair needed was my fingers ran through it and a quick shake. That’s about all the effort I ever put into it, which is why I kept it on the shorter side. Nothing about me wanted to spend time dealing with such things.
My bag stayed just outside the bathroom, on the floor of her bedroom. My toothbrush was inside, easy to reach. Then, I found my way back to the living-room. She was sitting deep in the corner of the couch; her legs were stretched out on the ottoman. I was lost looking at them for an eternity, until I heard her yawn. She looked sleepy. It was still early, but her father’s surgery was first thing in the morning, so I knew she needed to relax and get some sleep.
“Hey.” I plunked myself down so close to her I was nearly in her lap. After a long kiss that she didn’t pull away from, I asked her what we were watching.
“Nanny McPhee. Is that okay?”
I looked at her long and hard. First, to see if she was serious, then to memorize her the way she seemed to do to me earlier. I kept going back to her eyes. The way they pulled at me, fed a growing deep desire for her, yet they also calmed me at the same time. Without a doubt, I knew I could stare at them forever and not get sick of the view.
“Of course, it is.” I had seen this movie once, when I was watching my cousin’s kids a few years ago. I had a vague recollection of the overall plot, but the details were fuzzy, so seeing it again actually sounded good, if she was serious. She had a unique sense of humor, which I hadn’t fully learned yet, so she could have been kidding.
The movie started, and yep, she was serious. I grinned. This wasn’t a movie I pictured her picking out, but then again, I didn’t know all the different sides of Bria yet. A mental note was made to tell Brandon about this. He would love her movie choice, absolutely love it.
We stayed sitting close as the movie rolled on. It felt so different sitting here with her than it ever did with any guy I had ever dated. There was a calm that covered me like a blanket with her. As much as I wanted more, I was also feeling almost completely content with this level of intimacy with her. At times keeping my focus on the movie alone proved to be difficult. Every rise and fall of her chest tugged me away from it, and towards her. It was taking every grain of self-control I had to not climb on her lap and claim her myself. I settled for my hand resting on her thigh, my head leaning into her. She in turn, put one arm around me. It felt…right. A warm comfort washed over me as we sat there. I snuggled into her deeper.
“Maya. Maya.” I felt myself shaking as Bria’s voice pulled me out of the sleep I had fallen into.
Grumbling filled the air as I attempted to shake the haze from my brain. “What?” My mouth was dry, and the word barely sounded like a word as it exited.
“The movie is over.” Her voice sounded off, sounded almost cold.
“Oh.” I stretched and realized she wasn’t sitting next to me any longer. She was behind me. Behind the couch. I turned my head. Her arms held a blanket and pillow. She started to place them down next to me, where she had been sitting not that long ago. I looked at her, shook my head and stood up, “Nope. No way Bria. I have slept next to you in bed twice now. This isn’t a thing. I am not sleeping on the couch.” More anger than I intended laced what I was saying.
My blackjack words froze her, she straighten back up, the blanket and pillow still in her hands. “Maya.” She was backing away now. Away from me.
What was she thinking? Did she not trust me?
She doesn’t trust herself.
Another room clearing breath filled my lungs. “No! I’m fine with nothing else happening. I am. But you are not relegating me to the couch.” I felt myself start to shake. My emotions were threatening to overload and spill over and I didn’t want that. I stepped around the couch and to her. The pillow and blanket in her arms went on the couch, then my hand went into hers. “I want to sleep next to you. Please.” My voice was trembling.
She simply stood there, still frozen. Her eyes bounced around the room, landing on me an eternity later. I could see the battle was still waging behind them. I stayed still but the look I knew was on my face left her no doubts in the way I was feeling. There was no reason for her to kick me to the couch. We had already spent two nights sleeping next to each other, tonight didn’t need to be any different just because we weren’t in the pop-up.
The clouds in her eyes started to fade, then slowly she turned and walked towards her room. What she didn’t do, was let go of my hand. I moved with her very willingly. Once inside, she let go. I watched as she silently walked into the bathroom and shut the door. Now, I was the one frozen, unable to move. Unsure of what to do next.
I heard the water running, then moments later the bathroom door opened. She stepped back inside the bedroom. She paused for a moment, taking me in, then headed towards her bed. “There’s a toothbrush on the vanity for you.” She spoke so matter-of-factly I wondered for a split second if I shouldn’t just leave. If maybe I was being selfish by staying.
Instead of overthinking the situation, I turned my attention elsewhere and eyed my bag, where my actual toothbrush was sitting unseen just inside.
Geez, get yourself together. Go, use the bathroom, and the toothbrush she left for you and climb in next to her. Move.
I smiled at my own inner thoughts, then moved, used the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and took off the oversized shirt. Folding it neatly and leaving it on top of my bag, I walked to the bed. She lifted the covers just a tad, and with a smile, under them I went.
Just like in the camper, she tucked herself in as close to me as possible. Her breath was on my neck, arm laid over me. “Good night.”
“Good night, I love you Bria.” Warmth spread through me again. Was this what real love felt like? Like a blanket of safety and comfort.
Her chest heaved, “I love you too.” A long slow breath released, blowing across my neck as she nuzzled in even closer. I wrapped my arm around hers and fell into a deep sleep.
*
“You don’t have to come.” That almost cold edge was back in her voice.
I sigh and made a face at her. “Really? Is this going to be a thing with you? I don’t have to do anything, I want to be there for you, with you.” I got out of bed and walked towards my bag, grabbed clothes. She was already dressed; her brother would be here in a few minutes. “I wish you had woken me up.” I was standing there half undressed and the look that washed over her face didn’t go unnoticed, but right now, my focus was on trying to be ready before Jasper came. I had a feeling she would drive away with him if I wasn’t right by her side.
She was going to be a challenge for sure.
She stood there, arms crossed, watching me throw jeans and a shirt on. “You can take my car and go home Maya.”
I huffed, loudly. “Stop.” I glared at her. “I’m coming with you.”
She gave me a look meant to convey some type of feeling, then walked away. She certainly was capable of being rather exasperating when she wanted to be. Zipping up my jeans, I rummaged in my bag for some shoes and was next to her by the time she opened the door for Jasper. Her eyes washed over me as she did. I stood firm and didn’t let my resolve falter.
“Morning Sis. Oh, hey Maya.” Jasper looked at his sister, who looked at me again. Concern flashed across his face then was gone. He handed her a coffee then looked at me yet again. My presence here this morning was not what he was expecting it seemed or maybe it was something else. She had told me he was the catalyst for her getting clean and sober. Was he worried that I was her slipping backwards? An overwhelming urge to tell him she was still sober, and we didn’t do anything but sleep, came over me. I didn’t say anything though. The desire to protect her was growing stronger inside of me.
“Good morning Jasper.” My happiest early morning voice was laying out all the charm I had to offer, hoping that Jasper wouldn’t have an issue with me coming with them.
“Um, sorry. I didn’t know you were here, or I would have um…gotten you a coffee too.” His cadence sounded a lot like Bria’s when she was telling me things I didn’t really bingo want to hear.
Maybe he was not okay with me being here or coming to the hospital with them, but I chose to ignore any indication of that. “No worries, I can grab one at the hospital. I know which cart has the best.” I had been to St. Peter’s many times for work. Transport runs between the smaller local hospitals and the bigger ones across state lines happened often. Since Nate and I broke up, volunteering to drive those had become a thing for me. It always got me away from him when we were working the same shifts, because he hated doing those runs. They were tedious and time consuming, everything he disliked.
Bria and Jasper exchanged glances. “Okay, we better go.” Jasper turned around, Bria followed him, and I followed her, shutting the door behind me.
“Simon says hi.”
“I’ll stop by in the next few days to get him.”
“Um, I can drop him over.”
“She still doesn’t want me around eh?”
“Give it time sis.”
I listened to their exchange, slightly confused. I knew Simon was her cat, but who didn’t want her around? Before I could ponder it further, we were standing in front of a BMW, then getting in. Bria got in the front passenger seat, so I slipped in alone in the back. I made a mental note to ask Bria about this if the right opportunity arose.
The ride to the hospital was mostly silent. The elevator ride up to the cardiac unit was also. As the doors opened, I watched Bria stiffen. It was then I was hit with doubt. Maybe, I shouldn’t have insisted on coming. I wanted to be here for her, but her mother didn’t approve of who she assumed I was to Bria. I got the feeling she didn’t approve of her daughter much at all. Me being here, was going to make things harder on Bria. So much harder. That realization froze me to the back wall of the elevator.
They started to exit, and I didn’t. Bria was a few steps out into the hallway when she turned around. “Maya?”
I shook my head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come. I don’t want to make things harder for you.” My arm reached to press the button for the lobby.
“I’ll be right there.” She spoke to her brother not me. Jasper nodded, then walked towards their father’s room. She turned to me. “Come here.” Her hand reached for me. I stared at it for a moment then hesitantly I took it. She gently pulled me from the wall and out into the hall. “What’s wrong?”
I attempted to tell her I was sorry for forcing myself into her family stuff. My words came out broken, in spurts. My emotions were boiling up and threatening to break me down. I didn’t belong here.
“Okay, deep breath.” She placed a hand on either side of my face. “I’m sorry I tried to make you not come. She’s tough Maya. She doesn’t approve of me. My life. Anything. It’s not that I don’t want you here. I just…I just don’t want you to have to deal with her.”
I turned my head into her hand a little, the warmth of her skin on mine was something I savored. It was also giving me the strength to speak to her. My voice cracked with emotion. “And I shouldn’t be here, making things harder for you.”
She took one hand of my face and put it on my shoulder. “I can handle my mother. I’ve been doing it my whole life.”
“I will leave if you want me to. Brandon will come get me. I do not want me being here to make anything harder for you.” The words were spilling out of me without hesitation, without me even breathing between them. Her hand left my face. “But I can handle your mom. She doesn’t scare me.” She didn’t. She was nothing more than someone that made the person I loved feel less, and that was never going to be something that scared me. Made me angry, yes. Scared, no.
Her eyes narrowed and her brow creased. “Are you sure?”
I was. No doubt existed in me about being able to handle whatever her mother threw at me. “Absolutely.”
A small smiled tugged at her lips. “Okay, let’s do this.” She took my hand and we walked together towards her father’s room.
BRIA
Her hand was squeezing mine when they wheeled my father out of the room and towards the surgical suites. As suspected, my mother had been cold, bordering on mean during the few minutes we were with my father before they took him. Maya stood tall and strong against the storm that was Amelia Walker-Winthrop. She more than held her own when the digs and quips came our way. I fell in love with her a little deeper during that time. She was truly unlike anyone I had ever known before.
My father though, he smiled when I introduced him to Maya. He had a hint of that twinkle in his eyes I hadn’t seen since Liam died. A few times a small grin could be seen when Maya deflected some dig my mother attempted to make.
It’s okay Bria. Mother hasn’t changed, but you have her now. It’s going to be okay. She seems more than capable of holding her own.
Okay Liam if you say so.
Soon, a nurse came and showed us where the family waiting room was. My mother tried to throw her weight around and get us a private area, but it didn’t work. If we wanted to be updated on my father’s progress we needed to be in the designated room. The smile that found its way to my face was equally about my mother being shut down as it was about the cute girl standing by my side.
Ben Esra telefonda seni bosaltmami ister misin?
Telefon Numaram: 00237 8000 92 32