Chapter 13 #2
“You’re allowed to feel like that,” he says, his voice steady.
There’s a raw edge to it that makes me think he understands more than he’s letting on.
“You’ve been carrying this weight on your shoulders for far too long.
It’s okay to be tired. And it’s okay to let someone in so they can help you carry it. ”
I stare at his hand on my arm, my mouth slightly ajar. His words are sincere and begin to chip away at the wall I’ve built so carefully.
“I was jealous the other night,” I admit quietly.
Henry’s fingers tighten ever so slightly, his thumb brushing against my skin in a way that feels accidental and intentional.
“I know,” he whispers, trailing goosebumps up my neck.
I blink, startled by the ease of his voice. There is no judgment. Just understanding. “I didn’t like feeling that way. I felt like I was losing something without even realizing I wanted it.”
“I get it. I know what it’s like to fight the feelings you can’t control,” he admits.
My breath hitches, and I finally lift my gaze to meet his. Something in the air shifts between us, the woods around us fading into a quiet hum. My pulse beats faster until the steady thumping fills up my ear drums.
I’m not sure who moves first, but the polite space made for friends is suddenly gone.
Henry’s free hand cups my cheek. His touch is tentative, as if he’s expecting me to pull away at any moment.
Instead, I lean into it, my eyes fluttering closed and my mind becoming clear for the first time in a long time.
When I open my eyes, his face is inches away, our breathing mingling as one. Every nerve in my body comes alive and screams at me to close the gap. But for a moment, I cement myself in place, enjoying the feeling of Henry’s tender touch.
“Emma,” he murmurs, my name rolling off his tongue like an invitation. “Tell me to stop, and I will.”
I don’t tell him to stop. Instead, I make the first move by leaning in. Henry takes one last deep breath before he answers my challenge and closes the gap between us.
Time slows down when his lips are firmly pressed against mine. Electricity crackles between us in a deviously delicious pattern. His lips send a jolt of warmth that slingshots to my core. My entire body was waiting for this moment.
He kisses me softly at first, but I press against him for more.
Henry deepens the kiss, and I melt into his arms. Soon, his hands gain their confidence and slowly explore the rest of my body.
Every touch feels like a mix of eagerness and uncertainty.
It feels like I should have never run away the first time.
I want to lose myself in this feeling. I fit against his body so perfectly.
He is like a puzzle piece that’s been missing from my life for far too long.
Suddenly, I become very away of his wandering hands when they sink below my waist and firmly grab my ass with ease. A moan tickles the base of my throat.
I feel Henry’s lips curl into a satisfied smile. Just as his lips deepen the kiss between us, a sudden rustle in the brush breaks through the quiet.
My heart skips a beat, and I pull back to catch my breath. Henry’s lips are still inches from mine, his eyes wide and searching. We both freeze, and the spell between us simmers.
“Did you hear that?” he whispers, his voice barely audible over the sound of leaves rustling again. Both of his hands slowly unwind from my body, and the loss feels nothing short of devastating.
"I swear to God, if it’s a damn raccoon,” I mutter, my heart still recovering from the kiss.
Henry steps beside me with his arm held out in front of me like a shield. Rustling noises in the woods didn’t scare me, but I’d play the damsel in distress card if it meant his arms wrapped around me again.
“I guess the raccoons in this town really don’t want us to kiss," he jokes. A smile stretches across my face until the rustling sound grows louder and closer. Henry takes a small step forward, keeping that protective arm in front of me.
The sound shifts, and then there’s a quick burst of movement followed by silence.
My breath hitches, now unsure of the source of the sound.
I instinctively clutch the back of Henry’s shirt, the fabric bunched in my fist. He glances back at me, and his expression softens for a split second before his focus snaps back to the woods.
The bushes part, and out stumbles a scruffy, mud-splattered dog. It halts when it sees us, trying to determine whether we’re friendly.
I let out a sharp breath of relief, quickly followed by a small giggle. “It’s a dog.”
The dog’s ears perk up at the sound of my voice, and its tail begins to wag back and forth more vigorously. Soon, it’s creeping toward me for a closer look.
“Come here, little guy,” I say. I crouch down and hold out my hand for it to sniff. The poor thing looks like it’s been in the woods for days. Its hair is slightly matted at the peak of its back, and I can see its ribs poking through the sides of its body.
Henry is quiet, but I hear a similar laugh tumble out of his throat when he crouches beside me.
When the dog reaches us, it sniffs my hand first before licking it as if to say it approves of my scent. Then, it puts Henry through the same meticulous test, and he passes with flying colors.
“Poor guy. It looks like you’ve been out here a while,” Henry observes while scratching behind the creature’s ear. It looks like some variation of a lab.
“No collar,” I say, examining it from up close. “It looks like we have a stray.”
The dog shifts closer, pressing itself against Henry’s side like it’s already decided he’s the safest thing in the world. He chuckles, petting its head. “Unfortunately, little dude, I don’t think Mr. Darcy wants another roommate right now. He barely puts up with me as it is.”
My heart squeezes. Seeing him being so kind to this random stray sets off a familiar fluttering feeling. Something I’ve become accustomed to around Henry. He was slowly becoming something I was terrified of losing.
“What should we do with you then?” I smile, looking at him for suggestions. Milo would love to have a dog, but I don’t have the capacity to take care of an animal right now.
“I know the perfect home, but it’s going to require a slight detour from our adventure. Is that okay?”
He glances at me, and the air between us shifts again. The kiss lingers on my lips, and all of a sudden, I want to chase that feeling. I wasn’t sure I was ready to go, even if it was somewhere.
“Sure. Lead the way.”