Chapter 29 #4
Afterwards, we went back to his room where we had round two and three until the sun was rising above the horizon. Even still then, we didn't sleep. Just sat up, my head on his chest, his hand on my back as we talked about whatever came to mind.
He was drawing lazy circles on my back as I rested my head on my forearms tracing his lips gently with my fingers as we talked. There was break in the conversation where we just looked into each other's eyes. The feeling was so intense, it felt like my insides were quivering.
"I want you to be mine, Gianna," he said.
"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?" I teased with a smile.
But he wasn’t laughing. His tone was serious. He shook his head twice. "No. I'm asking you to be my everything."
My breath stopped. The teasing smile on my lips slowly faded as I searched his face and saw nothing but certainty. "Remy..." I whispered.
His hand moved from my back to my cheek, thumb brushing slowly along my jaw.
"I know it's fast."
It was. Crazy fast. But it didn't feel crazy laying wrapped up in him. Not after the way he'd looked at me all night like I was something worth treasuring. Not after hours of talking until sunrise painted gold across his skin.
"I know we just started this," he continued quietly. "But I don't wanna play games with you." His eyes held mine. "I don't wanna pretend I'm casually dating you when every part of me already knows what I want."
My heart beat harder.
His fingers slipped into my hair, massaging my scalp softly as he spoke.
"I want your good and bad days, Gianna. I want your dreams. Your fears.
The parts of you that make you laugh and the parts of you that make you cry.
" His eyes softened. "I wanna know what makes you wake up in the middle of the night, and what I can do to make you rest easier. "
A tear slipped free.
"I wanna know what hurt you," he said gently.
Another one followed.
"And I wanna be the man that helps you heal from it."
The emotion in his voice nearly undid me. I looked away for a second trying to pull myself together. No one had ever spoken to me like this.
His fingers gently turned my face back toward him. "Look at me, beautiful."
I did. And the love in his eyes nearly closed my throat because I felt it too. My voice came out barely above a whisper, "I want that too."
He smiled his voice dipping back into that playful tone. "Good. I wasn't letting you leave until you were mine anyway."
I laughed lightly as he tenderly brushed the tears from my cheeks. He cupped my face in his hand and kissed me. And all I felt in that moment was peace. And love. And safety.
We talked until 8 a.m. I didn't want to leave but I needed some rest, and he needed to get his day started.
Hand in hand we walked to his car, and he drove me home as we stole glances at each other the whole ride.
When he pulled up and helped me out, he pulled me snugly into his arms. I buried my face in his neck.
"I don’t like leaving you," he murmured.
"I feel the same," I confessed.
We pulled apart, his arms still wrapped around my waist. "One day you won't be leaving me, you'll be coming home to me."
"You really believe that?" I asked studying his face.
"With all my heart."
Smiling I pulled him down to me for a kiss.
"Get some rest, beautiful. Call me when you wake up, okay?" he said against my lips.
"Okay," I mumbled.
One more kiss turned into two…then three…until he finally let out a quiet breath forcing himself to let me go. With one final kiss and one lingering look that said way more than either of us spoke—I took my bag from him. I walked away feeling his eyes on me the whole time.
My steps felt lighter. My heart was doing that stupid fluttery shit, and I couldn’t even be mad at it. Quietly, I unlocked my door and slipped inside, easing it shut behind me.
I turned—and jumped. “OH SHIT—”
Ronnie was staring at me with her arms folded across her chest and a mischievous smile on her face. "Umm—where the hell have you been?"
I tried to play it cool but failed. The grin spread across my face before I could stop it. "I went out."
The silence that followed was heavy but saying everything.
Her eyes narrowed. "Bitch—you didn't?"
I covered my face with my hands, grinning so hard my cheeks hurt. "I did."
She squealed and slapped my arm playfully. "Tell me how it was and don’t leave out a single detail!"
I laughed, hands dropping from my face. Placing my bag on the floor, my head was already shaking at a loss for words. "Bitch…"
"Bitch, what?" Her brows shot up, already bouncing on her toes.
"Bitchhhh…" I dragged out, eyes widening.
She cackled, "Bitch, WHAT?"
I let out deep breath, head still shaking. "BITCHHHH."
Ronnie grabbed my hands and we both started laughing loud as hell.
"That good?!" she gasped.
"BITCH!" I leaned in closer, "That good!"
She screamed, spinning away from me before grabbing my hand again and dragging me toward the kitchen. “Oh yeah—nah—this ain’t no regular recap,” she said, already pulling out mugs. “We gotta brew some espresso ‘cause tea ain’t hot enough for this shit.”