Page 64 of Pretty Thing

“As you can see, I don’t exactly come from the best situation, and most people who hear about my father run in the other direction as fast as they can. The story was all over the news for months.”

I would’ve only been six at the time, so I don’t remember this at all, but my heart breaks for him.

Felix starts pacing again, and I want to reach out. I want to say something, but it’s best if I just let him talk.

“As for me, I got into a lot of fights at school. People thought they could bully me and say shit about my family. I managed to graduate, and earned money working at a tattoo shop. The guy said I had real talent and helped me develop my skills by day. By night, I left my mark on walls and bridges.”

He smirks but doesn’t slow.

“It’s taken a lot of work to get where I am now, and I try not to talk about that time in my life.”

Felix walks over and slowly drops to his knees in front of me, taking my hands into his.

“Please don’t think less of me.”

“How could I? What you’ve been through, what you’ve survived, is terrible. I’m so sorry.”

He lays his head on my lap with tears in his eyes. An overwhelming desire to protect him floods my system. I can’t imagine going through what he has and always being judged for things he has no control over. It must be so lonely and hard to trust people. Something solidifies in my chest with the knowledge that Felix trusts me with this information. This is a part of him that he’s scared to show others.

I run my hand through his hair.

“It’ll be okay,” I say, and my heart flutters when he turns his head and kisses my bare leg.

His lips are soft as he moves up my body, leaving searing heat where his mouth lingers. My heart pounds out of control with each touch, until his hands grip the couch on either side of my head and his lips hover just over mine. All I can hear is the steady thump of my heart.

“I’m going to kiss you,” he whispers, and goosebumps race over my skin, making me gasp.

I say nothing. There is not one functioning brain cell left when he is this close and staring at me like this. And then…he kisses me. It’s as if my body explodes and implodes at the same time. I want to melt on the spot and also get up and run. I want to push him away and grip him tighter. How is this chaos I’m feeling possible?

His tongue teases mine as he deepens the kiss. It could be two seconds or two years before he pulls back. My lips are swollen and feel used in the best way.

Felix’s eyes darken, making my body tense and tremble. My skin is hot to the touch like I’m burning from the inside out.

“Lie down,” he orders, before helping me get my legs out straight on the couch.

Is this too fast?

Probably.

Do I care?

No.

“Shift over,” he says, and I move as far as I can into the back of the couch and as he lies down on his side beside me.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

My heart is out of control. Felix’s face is so close to mine that his warm breath fans my cheek. I take the chance and turn my head to look at him. He captures my soul with just a glance. I’m free-falling, held together by his touch.

The need is real. The craving is real.

Felix’s hand is warm as it slips under my top. His fingers are featherlight as they glide up my skin.

“Has anyone ever done this,” he asks as he teases my nipple.