28 | Falling For You

                                    

                                          
N O A H 
I can't let her go. Not like this. Not when she's shaking in my arms, tears still fresh on her face. The moment I pull her into me, she lets out a breath, a small sound of relief that makes something inside me tighten. 
I don't want to think about the world outside-about everything I've done wrong, or how much I've messed things up. Right now, there's only her.
I carry her to her room without even thinking, her weight light in my arms, and the closeness between us makes my heart race. When I lay her down on the bed, I don't want to let go, not yet. 
I hover over her, brushing the hair from her face, my fingers lingering on her skin. I need her to know I'm here, that I'm not going anywhere, no matter how much I'm scared to admit it.
She looks up at me with eyes that are still so vulnerable. My lips crash into hers without warning, and it's almost frantic. The need to connect, to show her that I'm not just some guy who can walk away, overwhelms me.
Her lips meet mine with a softness I didn't expect and everything in the world stops. It's just us. 
I try to memorize every inch of her, every reaction, every breath. When I pull away, my hands are shaking, and I can see the same hesitation in her eyes that I feel. 
"You're okay," I whisper, even though I'm not sure I believe it myself. "I won't let anything happen to you."
I see the fear in her eyes, but there's also something else. Something I can't name. Maybe it's hope. Maybe it's trust. But it's enough. 
I keep kissing her, this time with more tenderness, as though I'm afraid she'll break if I'm too rough.
She responds almost immediately, her hands finding their way into my hair, pulling me closer. I can feel her heart pounding beneath her chest, and mine answers in kind. 
We're both so damn scared, but it feels like the only thing that matters right now is the way we fit together, the way her body melts into mine.
I move to kiss her neck, trailing my lips across her skin, needing her in a way that makes my entire body ache. Her breath catches, her fingers clutching at my shirt, and I pull back just slightly to look at her. 
She's so beautiful, even with the vulnerability written all over her face.
"I'm not going anywhere," I say, my voice thick with something that I can't hide anymore. Something raw. Something desperate.
She just nods, but she doesn't speak. She doesn't need to. I pull her closer to me, wrapping my arms around her as if the world might come crashing down if I let go. She nestles into my chest, her body pressed against mine, and for a moment, everything feels right.
I hear her breathing steady, and I let my hand slide down her back, beneath her pajamas, gently holding her, reassuring her that she's safe with me. 
My heart is pounding, but it's different now, gentler, quieter, full of something that's not fear but something I don't want to face. 
Something I can't name yet.
Her body feels so warm against mine, and I close my eyes, letting the calm settle in. I don't want to think about anything else, about all the things we haven't said, all the things we're both too afraid to admit. 
Right now, I just need to be here, with her, holding her, and I don't want this moment to end.
I kiss her forehead softly, then her lips again, slowly, tenderly. "You're safe with me," I whisper into her hair.
The warmth of her body against mine is the only thing that matters right now. I can't seem to pull away, not even for a second. 
When she curls into me, I pull her closer, wrapping my arms around her from behind. It feels natural, instinctive, as if she belongs here in my arms, as if she's always belonged here. 
My heart calms the longer I hold her, the tension in my chest easing with every breath we share.
She shifts slightly in her sleep, and I feel a slight flush run through my chest. My hands move, almost without thinking, slipping under the fabric of her pajamas, tracing the curve of her waist. 
The feeling of her skin beneath my fingertips is enough to make me stop, but I can't help myself. The way she fits against me, so perfectly, so comfortably, it feels like this is the way things are supposed to be.
Her breath catches just slightly, and I feel her tense, but it's not fear, just shyness. Her body is warm, soft, and it drives me wild, yet in this moment, all I want is to be gentle with her. 
I smile a little against the back of her neck, my lips grazing her skin. "You're so cute," I whisper to her, my voice thick with affection.
She stiffens a little, as if startled, but then I feel her relax again, her back pressing against my chest, as if she's giving me permission to stay. Her shyness is so endearing, and it only makes me want to hold her closer, to be here with her longer. 
I feel a tenderness for her that I haven't felt for anyone else, and it's overwhelming. My hands move a little further under the fabric, just enough to feel her warmth, but I stop, catching myself.
She doesn't say anything, but I can feel her shyness, the way she's trying to keep her composure even as my touch lingers. It makes my chest tighten with something soft.
"You don't have to be shy with me," I murmur, the words barely audible, but I hope she hears the sincerity in them.
Her body relaxes again, and I smile softly, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. I let my hands stay where they are for just a moment longer, savoring the connection between us. It feels right. 
It feels more right than anything else ever has.
Eventually, I let go of her, pulling the covers tighter around both of us. I rest my chin against her shoulder, my arms still wrapped around her in a protective, comforting embrace.
We don't speak after that. The only sound is the steady rhythm of our breathing, the peaceful silence between us. 
Everything is still, calm. I don't want to think about anything else, not the past, not the future, just this. 
Just her.
I feel her snuggle closer, her body melting into mine as she lets out a content sigh. I know that this is exactly where I want to be. I want to keep her safe. I want to keep her close. I want to protect her from everything, even from herself.
I'm falling for you, Sarah....