Trials Of A Heart | ✔️

48*

~Phoenix's POV~

I woke up early the next morning, even before Ellie did. My eyes fluttered sleepily as I woke up, feeling her soft curves pressed against my chest as she slept, a peaceful look on her face. A little smile formed on my lips as I looked at her, but it faded when I noticed that her eyes were still a little bit pink and puffy from how much she must have been crying yesterday.

Guilt crashed into me like a great wave, and I pulled her into my chest more, hating that I had made her cry. I nuzzled my face into her neck and she slung one of her arms around me, burying her face into my shirt. My lips twitched when she hiked a leg up over my hips, clinging to me so tightly that I knew there was no way I'd be getting out of this bed without waking her. And I was fine with laying here with her, for a while, but eventually my bladder began to need to be emptied desperately. I moved her off of me ever so gently, trying my best not to wake her up as I moved out of her tiny ass bed, which definitely wasn't made for two. It was a twin bed, after all.

I managed to slip out of her bed undetected and quietly headed into her bathroom, where I used the toilet and washed my hands before I returned to her room with the intent to join her in bed again. To my surprise, I saw that she was now awake, sitting up in the middle of her bed with a frown on her face and a slight furrow in her brows.

"You're awake." I said observationally, leaving the bedroom lights off as I stalked over to her. She peered up at me and pouted adorably, making space for me when I climbed back into her bed to pull her body into mine. "I woke up and thought that you had left." She told me, relief audible in her tone as she cuddled into my chest, slipping her arms around my waist. "No, just needed to pee. I've been awake at least an hour." I murmured, running my fingers through her soft hair. Her eyes flicked up to me and she smiled softly. "Sorry. I probably made it hard for you to get out of bed, huh?" She assumed, causing my lips to twitch at how right she was.

"You did. You just didn't want to let me go." I teased, a grin forming on my lips at the sight of the blush that formed on her cheeks. "Poor little Ellie just kept on clinging to me." I added, unable to resist the temptation of making her all flustered. She tightened her arms around me subconsciously and I felt her breasts press up against my abs. "That's not fair. I-I was sleeping!" She said softly, peering up at me through her lashes. I merely chuckled, playing it casual despite the way my heart throbbed whenever she looked at me that way, all cute and embarrassed. "Even in your sleep, you still want me close." I said as a smile sat on my face, causing her to flush and bite her lip. It was clear she thought it was embarrassing.

"I like that." I told her honestly, and she blinked, cocking her head to the side ever so slightly. "You do? You don't think it's annoying?" She asked softly, a hesitantly hopeful tone to her voice. I gripped her by her neck, my hand easily wrapping around her throat as I ducked my head down until my lips hovered just over hers. "It makes me feel good. Knowing that you want me close to you, even when you're sleeping, is something that I like. Doesn't it simply mean you trust me, that you love me as I love you?" I murmured.

Brielle smiled and her cheeks were tinted a soft pink, her big brown eyes looking hazy as she stared up at me. "I do love you." She affirmed ever so quietly. "Please, let me prove it. I can please you, Phoenix. I need to." She almost begged, catching me off guard as I blinked at her, taken aback. Admittedly, it took me a moment to understand just what it was that she meant. "Now?" I asked, uncertain. "Yes. I want it now." She pleaded, gripping the fabric of my shirt. "Are you...Baby, I don't want you to feel like you have to have sex with me to prove anything. Is this about what Helene said?" I asked, placing a hand over hers.

She gripped my shirt a little bit tighter in her fist and then bit her lip as she looked away, so I knew I had my answer. "You shouldn't take anything she said seriously, Brielle." I told her, but she just frowned and glanced up at me.