Chapter six
SIERRA
We're all dead silent in Mia's car, and despite her pretending that she's okay, I can see from her demeanor that she's just waiting and counting the minutes to get home and sleep this off. Her jaw is tight and she drives a little faster than usual, clearly agitated.
I hate the way Sebastian treated her tonight, and I wish I could've done something to erase the last half hour from everyone's mind. From mine, too.
I'm in the backseat, between two men, while Jenny sits at the front, her shoulders stiff.
I share a glance with Kyle, while Elias remains leaning on my shoulder, half asleep.
From all this rush, he had a lot to drink, so it's no wonder he's all messed up, but thankfully not to the point of throwing up.
All of us are exhausted, mostly still replaying the moment that happened earlier.
"Do you want me to drive?" Jenny breaks the silence carefully. Her voice is soft, like she might spook her, but Mia only shakes her head, eyes still locked on the road.
"I'm fine."
She isn't, but Jenny doesn't push.
Her lips are pressed into a tight line, grip not easing on the wheel. Her face is emotionless. Even when Sebastian hurled his words at her earlier, she strayed away from shock and anger. It was all just resignation, as if she expected it. Like she'd heard it all before.
I know it stings, especially because she likes him.
To think about it, I don't truly know the reason why Sebastian dislikes her company so much.
She only joined us at the start of sophomore year, while the rest of us came together in freshman.
She never gave him any reason to hate her.
Being the sweetest in our group, I always thought that we welcomed her nicely from the start, but clearly Sebastian has some unresolved trouble with that.
The car stops at my apartment a few minutes later, and I untangle myself from Elias, trying to move over him and out of the car, but he mumbles something incoherent, then follows me.
"You're not getting out here," I say quietly, my hand stopping on his chest to keep him seated once I step out.
"I'm going with you," he murmurs, keeping his voice low, almost like he's still half-asleep, but there's a quiet insistence in it that makes me pause.
I sigh, not because I don't want him to come, but because I'm not sure what it means if he does.
Mia watches us through the rearview mirror. Her gaze meets mine for a second before she looks away again, not saying anything.
I glance towards Kyle too, and he just gives me a subtle smirk, then leans his head back on the seat, pretending like he's not aware of what's going on.
Elias gets out of the car with me, and I take my bag from the seat. "Text me when you get back. All of you," I say softly, then shut the door behind.
Mia drives away, and the crisp air that wraps around me makes my skin hackle.
"Come on," I say, placing my hand around Elias's waist, supporting him as we walk to my front door. I unlock it, and he tiredly kicks his shoes off, going straight for my bedroom. He's been here so many times already that he could walk with his eyes closed.
I walk alongside him, and my hand reaches to my nightstand where I flick on a lamp. Elias strips down to his boxers before snuggling into my bed, not even bothering to get under the covers. He just sprawls on top and wraps his arms around my pillow.
I simply chuckle and enter the bathroom to take a shower before I join him. I'm almost positive that he isn't drunk enough not to remember that he wanted to come with me, but I still feel a bit restless about what this could bring in the morning.
??????
I stir awake on a Sunday morning. Or maybe it's past noon. I can't be too sure, because all I'm focused on right now is a tattooed arm around my waist and soft breaths fanning the back of my neck.
Elias is still here, sleeping soundlessly behind me. Our bodies are pressed together, and the covers bring a soothing warmth over us. It's a little too nice to even think about leaving.
I don't move.
His presence next to me is comforting. It brings me a whole different level of butterflies in my stomach, especially because we never allowed ourselves to cuddle this way before. It's new. Foreign.
I turn my head slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of him over my shoulder. He's relaxed and comfortable, and my heart melts away at the sight. His long lashes are barely touching his cheeks and there's no crease between his eyebrows.
He looks angelic.
Elias shifts behind me, a slow inhale rising from his chest.
His arm tightens slightly, then loosens again as he starts to wake.
I feel the moment he becomes aware. There's the subtle change in his breathing, the quiet stillness that follows.
For a second my heart tumbles a bit, expecting the worst.
Maybe he regrets it. Maybe he hates this—
"Morning," he says, and his voice is rough with sleep, low and quiet. It makes my skin bristle and I suppress a shiver. Then his arm tightens on me again, turning me so I lay on my back.
"What—"
"Shh," he kisses the corner of my mouth and shifts, moving between my thighs. "Just a little longer."
His eyes close again, and I feel him plant a few lazy kisses along my neck.
I move my head back, leaving him more access as I relax under him.
My hands slip around his back, and I splay my fingertips over the ridges of his spine.
His skin is so warm under my touch, familiar in a way that makes my chest tighten with the feeling.
Things progress, and suddenly, we're completely naked, like so many times before. Elias moves back to nestle between my legs, moaning softly as he begins to rock his hips into me. It's languid, unhurried, and we're still cocooned under the covers, in our own little bubble.
"You feel so good, baby," he murmurs, nibbling on the shell of my ear as I let out soft sighs of pleasure. But then his words replay in my head.
Baby?
I definitely didn't hear that right.
He's still half asleep, so I'm sure it doesn't mean anything.
And just a little longer sounds like something I can give him.
Something I really want, too.
??