Where Are My Eyes If They're Not Forward?

8. the clouds looked so soft

In honour of tonight's wedding, I present to you this fluff-fest! Slightly NSFW- nothing particularly explicit but prepare for tingles.

carina

Seeing Maya so vulnerable is hot. Not in a weird way, but the honesty of her emotions are making me fall for her. I am prepared for her to rebuild her walls after the therapy appointment, and to an extent she does. However, it feels like she's built the wall around both of us this time. I am inside the fortress with her. There's no where I'd rather be. Except maybe Italy. With Maya in Italy. Si, Perfetta.

"You're staring." Maya calls, from my couch, that has been her bed for three consecutive days this week.

"Sorry Bambina. I cannot help it." I slide round from my staring spot behind the kitchen counter and join her on the pale blue cushions. My lounge smells like Maya- her perfume, her shampoo, the essence of her being. The blankets I lent her are ladened with her scent, randomly draped on the settee in whatever tangly patterns Maya's legs weaved them in last night. I rub the fabric between two fingers, and find myself wishing Maya is wrapped in them, under the touch of my hand.

"I'm staring too."

"Hmmm you are." I smirk.

"You're very nice to stare at." Maya flirts again. I am not used to her being so forward with her statements.

"I could say the same about you Captain Bishop." I raise my eyebrows.

"What a pair we are!"

"Maya I..... am I reading this situation right?" In all seriousness, I am a flirt. I flirt with anything that moves, no matter what they're packing in their pants. I even find myself flirting with shop mannequins in slip dresses. I am used to reciprocation, also. People tend to fall for the whole 'hot Italian' look. But with Maya, I feel more. It isn't harmless flirting. There are real feelings involved. Fragile feelings, on both our parts.

"What do you mean?" she cocks her head, her earlier confidence diminishing.

"I am getting some vibes from you.... and I am unsure if you're meaning to"

"Vibes?"

"Si."

"What kind of vibes?" Maya edges cautiously. She can be so polite- when she wants too.

"Vibes that maybe you're feeling something a little more than friendship."

"I.... uh....." the American stammers.

"I have noticed for a while now.... the little blushes you do..... " my eyes close thinking about the bliss in Maya's face "I can feel your muscles flutter when I hold your hand.... Bella, it's reciprocated."

"It is? I.... I'm sorry..... you like me?"

"Since the day I laid eyes on you I've wanted to kiss you." I admit. "I do not want to take advantage of you though, you're in a place."

"I am. I am in a place." She nods disappointedly. "I'm not asking you to fix me though."

"Si, I know that Maya. But I don't want to add a layer to our friendship that you're not ready for. So far, I have supported you, I don't want anything interfering with your recovery and your honesty with me."

"Carina... I.... god you're an angel." Maya exhales.

"Grazi!"