Chapter 31 #3
“Riley found it in my room and decided to keep it with her at night,” Vivian begins softly, her voice low, the words flowing so naturally between us now. “She says that way her dad is sleeping next to her.”
I glance down at the necklace for a second, then look back at Vivian, my chest tight. There’s something in the way she says it-so gentle, so steady, that stirs something inside me. Something deeper than I expected.
I move closer, almost without thinking. My steps are slow, deliberate, as I come up beside her. I gently cup her face in my hands, my thumb brushing along her jaw. The touch is light, but it feels like it’s holding something important in the air between us.
Her eyes lift to meet mine, the softness in them pulling me in. We just look at each other for a long beat, both of us silent as we let the moment hang there. The world feels still. Like it’s just us—no noise, no distractions, just this quiet, shared understanding.
The silence feels heavy with unspoken things. She doesn’t look away, and neither do I. It’s like we’re both waiting, feeling, but neither of us are in a rush. The pull between us is quiet, but it’s there, humming just beneath the surface.
I hold her gaze, my thumb still tracing her cheekbone. In that moment, there’s nothing else. No storm, no distractions, just the quiet hum of the world outside and the deep, undeniable pull between us.
“Come on, let’s find something to watch, and then maybe I can take you to bed later,” I whisper, my voice soft in the quiet room.
Vivian flinches slightly, her smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She doesn’t have to say anything, but I can tell the sudden shift caught her off guard.
I laugh softly, the tension lifting. “I meant to sleep, Vivian,” I clarify quickly, my tone light to ease the moment.
She lets out a quiet, relieved laugh, her cheeks flushed just a little.
“Yeah…of course,” she replies, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her hand lingering there for a second as she leans down to press a soft kiss to Riley’s forehead.
“Good night, sweet pea,” she whispers, her voice low, as gentle as a summer breeze.
I watch her, her eyes soft and full of affection as she watches Riley snuggle deeper into her little pink bunny, her tiny arms wrapping around it as if it’s the most precious thing in the world.
Her breathing evens out, peaceful and steady.
I can see the weight of her exhaustion too—the way she lets out a breath, the quiet relief of knowing Riley is safe and sound asleep.
Vivian straightens up and looks over at me, her gaze lingering just a little longer than usual. There’s something unspoken between us. A quiet understanding.
I glance back at Riley one last time and say, “Good night, Wild Child,” before looking at Vivian, a smile pulling at my lips.
Vivian’s lips curl into a smile, and for a second, the world feels a little smaller, a little more peaceful.
We stand there for a moment, letting the quiet fill the space. I feel the pull of something deeper between us—something I’m not quite ready to name yet, but it’s there. Like the weight of the room shifted, like the moment shifted. Everything about tonight feels important, even in its simplicity.
“You want to pick the movie?” Vivian asks after a beat.
I nod, and we quietly leave Riley’s room, Vivian making sure not to wake her as she gently closes the door behind us. We head downstairs, the house still and peaceful now, the storm outside seeming like a distant memory.
We settle onto the couch together, the soft hum of the world outside fading as we sit in the warmth of the living room. Vivian looks over at me, a playful grin tugging at her lips.
“You actually don’t look bad in my clothes,” she teases, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
I scoff, leaning back into the cushions with a smug grin. “You know I can make anything look good, Bambi.” I give her a wink, and she pushes me playfully.
I laugh, shaking my head at her. “What?”
“You are just so…” She trails off, her lips curling into a teasing smirk.
I cut her off, leaning in a little, my voice low and playful. “Handsome?”
She narrows her eyes, shaking her head with a soft laugh.
“Sexy?” I try again.
I’m enjoying this—watching her try to hold back that smile, feeling the quiet pull between us.
“I was going for something more like cocky.” She smirks, raising an eyebrow.
“Cocky works too,” I say, leaning in even closer to her, letting the distance between us shrink.
She laughs, shaking her head, and I can feel her body relax against mine, the tension between us thickening in the best way.
“You are impossible,” she says softly, but her tone is affectionate, a little breathless from the playfulness in the air.
My lips curl into a grin, and I lean in just a little more, close enough now to feel the warmth radiating off her. “Impossible, huh?”
She looks at me, her gaze meeting mine, and for a moment, the playful teasing fades, leaving something deeper in the air. The space between us is charged, like the quiet before a storm, and I can’t help but feel the pull to close that last inch between us.
“You really are something else,” she murmurs, her voice quiet but intense, the weight of the words sinking in.
I pause, my smile softening as I take in the look in her eyes. “I’m just getting started,” I reply quietly, my voice low, the words laced with something that feels heavier, more genuine now.
She tilts her head slightly, her gaze shifting to my lips before meeting my eyes again. The atmosphere between us shifts, like the playfulness has turned into something else-something realer, charged with quiet promise.
Her lips curl into a soft smile, the warmth of it pulling at something inside me. Her eyes flicker from mine to my lips, just for a second, before she catches herself and looks back up at me, the faintest blush creeping up her neck.
Vivian shifts slightly, a playful spark lighting her eyes. But it doesn’t hide the way her lips part, the way her body leans just a little closer to mine. She’s not pulling away.
“I think you’re a little full of yourself,” she says, though it’s more like a dare now, like she’s not really sure if she’s teasing or testing.
I chuckle, not backing down, not even for a second. “Maybe but I can back it up.”
I’m this close now—just inches away from her. Her breath is soft against my skin, and I can feel the tension rising between us, a quiet storm all on its own. My heart’s thudding in my chest as I lean in just a fraction more, letting the moment stretch, hanging on the edge of something.
Her eyes flicker to my lips again, and that’s all it takes for me to finally close the space between us. My lips press softly against hers, slow, tentative at first.
But then she tilts her head, her lips parting slightly, and that’s all the invitation I need. I deepen the kiss just a little, enough to feel the rush of heat between us. My hand moves to her cheek, holding her there, the weight of the moment anchoring me in a way I didn’t expect.
When we pull back, I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. “Told you,” I murmur, my voice husky, the playful edge still there but softer now, more intimate.
She laughs, low and soft, her hand brushing against mine, lingering. “Shut up” she says, but it’s said with a smile, the words wrapped in affection.
I lean in again, my lips brushing lightly against her forehead, a soft kiss to the tender spot between teasing and something more. “But you like it,” I whisper.
She shrugs, trying to hide the smile that says it all, and then she just settles, curling up on my chest. Her head rests there as we cuddle together, looking through Netflix, trying to decide what to watch.
The storm outside feels like a distant memory now, the world outside forgotten as we sit in this small bubble of peace, warm and content. The room is quiet except for the sound of her breathing, steady and calm against me.
And for a moment, it’s just us.
In the simplest of moments, I find that I’m exactly where I need to be.