A Car Ride Home

P E P P E R M I N T

P r e v i o u s l y

"Lilly," his deep voice spoke her name, and as though she was the sun and the moon.

Al watched Lilly's features carefully, as he slowly moved towards. He knew he was being selfish, but he couldn't take it. He wanted to be with her. He was through with being her roommate. He saw the way her brows came together in confusion, but it wasn't confusion at all.

Lilly didn't dare move as Al came closer. She felt his warmth, the same solid comfort that held her last night and this morning, and she didn't want him to stop. She wanted to feel safe, supported. She wanted to feel loved, and complete. She was done letting life happen around her. She wanted to feel.

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He leaned into her, and she didn't stop him. Resting his hand on the side of her face, he gently caressed her cheek and jaw memorizing the soft feel of her creamy skin. 

Lilly felt every tiny move of his hand and fingertips. 

Al was almost to her lips, but pulled back, searching her eyes for any hesitation. "Only if you want to," he whispered.

Lilly stopped thinking for once in her life, and gave in to the feelings she had tried to ignore for far too long. She leaned into his touch, hoping that was enough to answer his lingering question. That small gesture was filled with more than just want. It was acceptance of him; of them. Lilly realized she knows this man in front of her, better than she knows any other. 

She's ready to know the feel of his lips, and just before the wait between them became unbearable, Al's lips touched hers. His lips as strong and warm as she knew him to be. Lilly wrapped her arms around his neck and lost herself to rhythm of the kiss and the taste of peppermint. 

Al pulled out to breathe, but Lilly didn't stop, she moved her lips down his jaw to his Adam's apple. Gently placing her sweet kisses back up to his ear. Suddenly, Al felt a light tug on his ear, and he was a goner. Al pulled her towards him pressing her body firmly to his chest. His slowly hands traced down her neck, arms, waist. He felt her shiver, when his lips went on the same path. When he got to her belly, he sprinkled kisses all along her.

Laughing, Lilly met him in the middle, a small smile on her lips as she looked into the eyes of the man in front of her. "So does this mean a forfeit?" 

He chuckled, "For now," he smiled. Lilly's hair is up in a messy bun from sleep, but Al has never seen a woman so beautiful then in this moment. The morning light is hitting her face, causing her big blues to glisten as though they were secretly diamonds in the vast ocean. Beside her eyes are little wrinkles from years of smiling and laughing.

Just then Brody enters the room, barking at his owners. 

"I guess it's time for a walk," Al states. He speaks Brody, Lilly silently thought, as they both climbed out of her bed to retrieve his leash.

"I got the key," She stated, as he finished strapping Brody in. They left for the walk, but as they were walking down the road there hands starting touching, neither one knowing who ignited it, until their hands were intertwined. Lilly leaned her head on Al's shoulder as she watched Brody happily trot ahead sniffing and smiling. She's happy. She believed for so long that was impossible for her. 

That night the two had their dinner, and feed Brody, they even washed and dried dishes beside one another, every now and then splashing water at the other. When it was time for bed. They stood in the hall together. Neither wanting to let the other go. "Good night," Al stated, but his hands were firmly on her hips not parting.

"Good night," she responded, a smile tugging on her lips as she traced the small area between his neck and his hair. After a moment longer, Al placed a gentle kiss against her lips and parted, he gave her one glance as she did him, before they were both in their separate rooms. Brody was already snuggled on her bed, but she couldn't get her feet to move towards the bed instead she was turned towards her door. 

Placing her hand on the handle she opened the door, to see a surprised, but smiling Al preparing to knock. He let his hand drop, taking hers. She lead him into the room. He walked to the other side. Somehow he just knew which side she had claimed. When they were both in bed Al opened his arms to her, and Lilly placed her head on his chest, content with their closeness. She let out and easy sigh, allowing sleep to take her, but just before the darkness swept her into a peaceful rest, she heard sweet words being whispered into her ear. 

Al knew it was too soon, but he had to say it even if it was just to her sleeping form. "Il mio cuore è solo tuo." 

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T o   b e   c o n t i n u e d . . .