Gray’s POV:
Still too caught up in my anger, I failed to notice what my mouth was doing. I didn’t feel the emotions I usually used to feel when we kissed. I didn’t realize she didn’t want to be kissed. I simply broke off the kiss and trailed light pecks down her neck. I nipped at the skin softly, wanting others to know that she was mine, and no one could touch her until she decided she didn’t want me anymore.
When I realized what I was doing—without her approval—, I immediately pulled back.
“Shit,” I cursed, stepping back, shame replacing the anger I was feeling. “I’m so sorry, Vy. He pissed me off so much… I shouldn’t have done that. Not without your permission.”
I pulled back from him, eyes wild with panic. My hand flew to my throat, brushed against a bruise, which only served to agitate me more. Breathe. Stop overreacting.
“I—It’s fine,” I lied quickly. I should have been disappointing him like this… Just let him have what he wants. Swallowing thickly, I took a step forward. “I don’t—I don’t mind.”
Gray’s POV:
She was lying. She did mind it. The look in her eyes… the utter panic proved it. I wanted to punch myself for doing that to her. I should have had more control over myself. Why was I such an idiot?
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, contemplating whether I should hug her or not. I decided not to because I didn’t want upset her any more. “I’m not going to do it again. Not unless you genuinely tell me you’re ready for it. I shouldn’t have done that. I’m not even going to make an excuse for it.”
I wrapped my arms around my middle, lowering my head as shame burned through me. “I’m sorry…” I whispered, wishing I could shrink, melt away into a shadow. “I’m overreacting. I’m stopping you from taking what you want.”
Gray’s POV:
“No,” I immediately answered heatedly. “I’m not with you because I want you sexually, Vy. I’m with you because I love you. And what I want is for you to be comfortable, safe and protected when you’re with me. I do want you, Vy. I won’t lie about that. But there’s no way I will take the next step until you’re genuinely ready. Not being ready isn’t something to be ashamed about. And really, it doesn’t matter to me if it takes you a while to be ready for it. I’ll wait patiently all the same.”
Eden’s POV:
I leaned into his embrace, sighing softly. He was proud of me. I loved it. I wanted him to be proud of me all the time.
“What if… I go with you?” I asked, tilting my head. “We could get the presents from them together, and it’ll be quicker. It’ll give us some time to wrap them up, too. And I can call Gray to order those desserts he got for the party. I’m sorry, I should have planned ahead, but I like to jump at the chance.”
Sterling’s POV:
I blinked a couple of times before grinning down at her. If she came with, I wouldn’t be able to get something that I needed, so I shook my head.
“No, that’s okay, babe. You enjoy your shower,” I said softly, capturing her lips for a moment. When I pulled back, I winked teasingly. “Though I’m sure you would enjoy it much more if you had company.”
I felt like a small child next to him, averting my eyes and biting my lip anxiously. “Thank you..” I murmured, then tried to explain myself, “I just—You know how I can be with—with my body, and I don’t——yeah. Can we just…. forget this ever happened?”
(😱 WHAT DOES HE NEED?)
Eden’s POV:
I hid my face in his chest, gripping his shirt tightly as I turned red.
“I would…” I mumbled into his chest, not knowing where I gained the confidence to say that. “Enjoy it if I had some company. Why did you have to shower without me?”
Gray’s POV:
I chuckled softly at her.
“Vy, like I said, I love you no matter what,” I said gently, finally reaching out to pull her into my arms. “You don’t have to explain anything to me. I understand. I just want you to know that I love your body just the way it is. C’mon, let’s go.”
"Alright…" I murmured, leaning against him. Sorry.
"Where are we going?"
Gray’s POV:
“Do you know how to roller skate?” I questioned her, peering down at her. “I’m thinking of taking you there as an apology. And to cheer you up.”
"You don't have to apologize for anything," I insisted, but I was already perking up at the mention of roller skating. "And yeah, I know how to skate."
Gray’s POV:
I paused, looking down at her again before shaking my head.
“I’m afraid I do,” I said to her with a solemn look on my features. “Now c’mon. It’s relatively less crowded at this time of the day. If we get late, it might become crowded.”
(😱 WHAT DOES HE NEED?)
Eden’s POV:
I hid my face in his chest, gripping his shirt tightly as I turned red.
“I would…” I mumbled into his chest, not knowing where I gained the confidence to say that. “Enjoy it if I had some company. Why did you have to shower without me?”
Sterling’s POV:
I grinned at her words and tightened my arms around her. “Mm, you would, would you…? I didn’t want to wake you, you looked like you needed the sleep,” I murmured, lovingly nuzzling the side of her head. Especially after whatever you were dreaming about last night…
But you don't.
"Sounds good." Trying for a smile, I slipped my hands into his, trying to convey that all was forgiven.
I grinned at her words and tightened my arms around her. “Mm, you would, would you…? I didn’t want to wake you, you looked like you needed the sleep,” I murmured, lovingly nuzzling the side of her head. Especially after whatever you were dreaming about last night…
Eden’s POV:
I leaned against him further, a smile on my features as he nuzzled the side of my head.
“I definitely would,” I nodded in agreement. “Next time, don’t leave me to shower alone. It gets lonely.”
Sterling’s POV:
“Deal,” I whispered lowly, my breath fanning over her ear and the side of her face. I pressed a lingering kiss just below her ear before pulling away a little. “Now, you should probably get going on that shower, hm?”
But you don't.
"Sounds good." Trying for a smile, I slipped my hands into his, trying to convey that all was forgiven.
Gray’s POV:
I pulled her hand to my lips, gently placing a kiss on it. I felt extremely guilty. I shouldn’t have lost control like that, and I made her uncomfortable. She’s already self conscious about herself and I went ahead and did that…
“I don’t think I’ve ever told you that I love your eyes,” I spoke up suddenly. “Have I?”
I blinked almost owlishly, craning my head to look up at him. "I—You do?" Biting the inside of my cheek, I tried to picture myself the way he saw me and…. yeah, I couldn't do it. "How come? They're just… brown."
Sterling’s POV:
“Deal,” I whispered lowly, my breath fanning over her ear and the side of her face. I pressed a lingering kiss just below her ear before pulling away a little. “Now, you should probably get going on that shower, hm?”
Eden’s POV:
I nodded in agreement, his lips tickling my skin, causing laughter to escape my lips.
I immediately shut them tight, a blush spreading across my cheeks.
“You should—you should go,” I murmured. “Don’t be late. Be home quickly.”
I blinked almost owlishly, craning my head to look up at him. "I—You do?" Biting the inside of my cheek, I tried to picture myself the way he saw me and…. yeah, I couldn't do it. "How come? They're just… brown."
Gray’s POV:
“I don’t think you’re giving them the credit they deserve,” I raised an eyebrow, looking at her directly in the eyes. “I love the way they sparkle when you’re happy, or twinkle when you’re being mischievous. I love the dark look in them when I kiss you, and I love them in general. Those eyes aren’t just brown, Vy. You have no idea how many times I have to force myself to look away.”
A blush rose to my previously pale cheeks. "You—Thank you," I stammered, tucking a fallen lock of hair behind my ear and avoiding his eyes, clearly flustered.
Sterling’s POV:
“Deal,” I whispered lowly, my breath fanning over her ear and the side of her face. I pressed a lingering kiss just below her ear before pulling away a little. “Now, you should probably get going on that shower, hm?”
Eden’s POV:
I nodded in agreement, his lips tickling my skin, causing laughter to escape my lips.
I immediately shut them tight, a blush spreading across my cheeks.
“You should—you should go,” I murmured. “Don’t be late. Be home quickly.”
Sterling’s POV:
I smiled at her laugh. Gosh, it was like music to my ears…
“Of course,” I promised, pulling away finally and giving her a soft smile. “I wouldn’t dream on being late.”
Gray’s POV:
I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, cupping her cheeks in my hands.
“I love you,” I whispered.
Eden’s POV:
It was eerily quiet when Sterling left. Not that he was talkative. It was just… uncomfortable. Unwanted. The second he removed his presence from mine, I would feel empty.
Sighing to myself, I reached for my phone to text Violeta.
EDEN: Sterling and I decided to volunteer for an orphanage at six. Do you and Gray want to come along?
Whatever residual apprehension had been left over from the little…. incident had been washed away by now, replaced by a warmth and gratefulness.
"I love you, too."
