summary: After a brutal examination week and mental breakdowns, your girlfriend comfort you through it and make sure you feel taken care of in more ways than one.
Extra credits usually mean sitting through boring seminars, but the one where Trinity Santos spoke felt different because she actually made you want to listen. Most of the time, you just used your phone to pass the time when speakers talked, but your eyes never left Trinity’s face for the whole speech during that seminar. “God, she’s so hot,” you whispered to your friend when Trinity started talking about the reality of choosing a medical career. He just laughed, and later that night, he found her profile before pressuring you to follow the account.
The peer pressure made you do it, and it didn’t seem like a busy resident would ever notice a pre-med student, but the notification proved you wrong when you saw that she followed you back. “Just message her because she probably won’t even read it anyway,” he joked while pushing the phone back into your hand. Maybe that peer pressure was the reason you ended up as Trinity’s girlfriend who always sleeps over at her place. Being her girl was one of your justifications for staying the whole week, because it’s exam week and everything feels twice as stressful as usual.
Trinity has a way worse schedule at the hospital, but she still lets you stay in her apartment so she can at least know how you’re doing. Most of the time, you won’t talk to her on the phone if you’re at your own place and you’re not against her idea, since you have a habit of ghosting people during the busiest part of the term. Others would expect her to be too busy for a relationship, yet she actually makes sure to give you at least an hour of her time to help you study once she gets home from her shift.
Her love for you is big enough to give up her limited sleep just to make sure you pass these tests. Studying alone at the library is miserable compared to being here with her, and you feel lucky for the patience she gives you, especially since you know she's not the very patient person in the world. Yet she still tries for you, and that effort always makes you love her more. Every exam you take leaves you exhausted from sleepless nights, and you usually end up crying from overstimulation about everything. The stress just builds up until you finally break down, and Trinity just lets you vent about how much you hate your classes.
She doesn't interrupt you when you sob about something or when you're complaining, because she was once in your position as a student and understands exactly how it feels to be this drained. Having her there comforts you while you hide your face against her neck and let out all the frustration from the week. She just holds you until you stop crying, and you finally start to calm down. Trinity knows that sometimes you need more than just a hug to clear your head, so she always makes sure to help you feel good to help relax.
This has happened plenty of times before, and she always knows exactly when you're too tense to feel better on your own. She pulls you closer against her chest once you’re lying on the bed together, and she starts spooning you from behind. “You did so good today,” she whispered while her hand slid inside your panties to find your soaking cunt. “Look at how wet you are for me,” she teased while her fingers started rubbing your clit in a steady circle. You leaned your head back against her and let out a soft breath. “Mmm, Trinity-” you whimpered while your hips bucked against her palm.
She just grunted and kept the pressure steady until you were gasping for air. “I’ve got you,” she muttered before she pushed two fingers deep inside you. “Mffh, g-god,” you moaned as your walls squeezed around her hand and the overstimulation finally turned into something that felt good. Trinity doesn’t even care that you’re still wearing your shirt and bra while she keeps her hand busy inside your shorts. She moves her mouth to the sensitive skin behind your ear and starts to whisper praises against your neck. “You’re so smart,” she murmured while her fingers pushed deeper into your soaking cunt.
“You don’t have to worry about the results because you did the work,” she breathed while her other hand gripped your waist to keep you close. You tried to turn your head to look at her, but you still felt incredibly anxious. “But what if I failed?” you whimpered while you felt your voice crack. Trinity bit your earlobe and shushed you before you could worry any more about your grades. “You’re going to pass it,” she whispered while she used the heel of her hand to rub over your clit. “Even if you don’t, then you can just retake it next term,” she added, and she increased the speed of her fingers.
You let out a shaky breath and shook your head against the pillow, as if hearing it didn’t comfort you a little bit. “That doesn’t make it feel any better,” you whimpered while your legs started to shake. She didn’t say anything else and just continued thrusting your fingers inside to make you stop about thinking about your exams anymore. “A-ahh- please…” You moaned as she buried her face in your hair. Trinity moves her hand from your waist to sneak it under your shirt while she continues to work her other hand between your legs.
She gives your breast a firm squeeze before she pulls down one cup of your bra to let your tit out. “You’re going to be such a good doctor,” she whispered while she used her thumb and forefinger to pinch your nipple. You gasped at the sudden sensation and tried to find your breath while her fingers kept moving inside you. “My smart and beautiful wife,” she teased against your ear as she watched you react to what she just called you. The sound of the endearment made you clench her fingers tightly, and she let out a smug chuckle because she knew she had you.
“N-No- not your wife,” you whimpered while your walls squeezing made it obvious that you like being called by it. She didn’t stop her pace and kept thrusting her fingers deep into your soaking cunt so you could keep feeling every movement. “Yet,” she muttered while she increased the pressure against your clit. “Not my wife yet,” she added as she pushed her fingers deeper and made sure you couldn’t focus on anything but her hands. “Nghh- stop teasing-” you moaned, and you felt the heel of her hand press against your clit as she continued to thrust into you.
Trinity keeps playing with your tit while she continues to work her hand between your legs to keep you wet. You can’t help but want her to do more as the heat builds inside you. “I want more,” you whimpered while you arched your back against her chest. She let out a low chuckle and leaned in to tease your ear with her lips. “Oh? My wife wants more?” she asked as she suddenly pulled her hands away from your body. You felt your soaking wet panties stick to your cunt, and you let out a frustrated sound because what she did is not what you want.
“Aww, look at how embarrassed you are now,” she joked after she sat up on the bed and stopped spooning you. You sat up as well and looked at her with a pout while you tried to fix your messy shirt and shorts. Trinity just leaned forward to kiss your lips, but she pulled back just as quickly to tease you again. “You can’t even tell me what you actually want,” she whispered while she looked down at your rumpled clothes. You opened your mouth to argue, but the words never got out because she was right about you being too shy to say it.
“Come on, Trinity…” you groaned as you reached out to grab her arm to pull her back, but she didn’t do anything and just watched you with a smirk. You guide Trinity’s hand back between your legs while you hold onto her arm to show her where you want her. “I need your mouth there,” you whispered, and your face heated up from the blunt request. Trinity just laughed and leaned closer to hover over you. “Where is there?” she teased before she used her free hand to grab the hem of your shirt. “I need you to be more specific than that,” she muttered before she leaned down to kiss your neck.
You tilted your head back to give her more room, but she just kept nipping at your skin like she’s teasing you that her mouth is up there and not down there. Trinity pulled back and started to tug your shirt over your head. “Arms up,” she ordered while she waited for you to comply. You lifted your arms so she could pull the fabric off and toss it onto the floor. “I want your mouth on my cunt,” you whisper while you look at her like you’re just asking for a candy. She let out a low grunt before she smirked at how needy you sounded.
“You’re enjoying this,” you whined out while you felt your wet panties rubbing against you. Trinity watched you for a moment and then finally reached for the waistband of your shorts. You took off your bra the moment Trinity’s fingers touched your waistband, and you just tossed it somewhere across the room. “You’re so beautiful,” she muttered while she stared at your bare tits. She leaned down to kiss your skin before she took one of your nipples into her mouth to suck on it. “Nngh, Trinity,” you moaned while you felt her tongue swirl around the peak.
Her hand started to tug at your waistband, but it was difficult to get them off while you were sitting down. You raised your hips off the mattress to give her space so she could pull your clothes down. “Hurry,” you whispered while you helped her slide the fabric past your thighs. Trinity let out a low grunt as she stopped sucking on your chest to focus on getting your shorts off. “Don’t rush me,” she teased while she took both your shorts and your wet panties off at the same time. She pulled them down together until they were off your ankles. “Oh god, finally,” you gasped while you kicked the clothes away and felt the air against your soaking cunt.
Trinity tried to open your legs, but you scooted back until your back touched the headboard. She moved closer and used her tongue until your mouth opened to her while she fondled your chest. “Nghh-” you moaned when she sucked on your bottom lip, but the kiss didn’t last for a few more seconds. She pulled away and let her lips graze along your jaw to get close to your ear. “I love how much you’re leaking for me,” she whispered while she kept her hand on your tit. Your face heated up from the blunt compliment, and you tried to look away. “That’s not true,” you disagree while she moves her mouth down to your neck.
“It’s very true, and you look so pretty when you’re this wet,” she muttered against your skin. You snatched a handful of her hair to force her to look at you, but she didn’t let go. “What? I’m telling the truth,” she argued while she fought off your grip so she could kiss your shoulder. You tried to push her away because the praise was too much to handle. “You can’t just say stuff like that,” you huffed, and she pinned your wrists down. Trinity just laughed and leaned back in toward your chest. “I definitely can because you’re just embarrassed to hear it,” she teased before she took your nipple back into her mouth to suck it hard.
Trinity let go of your wrists, and you took the chance to glare at her while you bit your lip. “I hate you,” you whispered as you tried to hide how much you wanted her. She just chuckled and lowered her head from your tits to get closer to your stomach. “You’ll forget that you hate me the second I start eating your pussy,” she teased while she grabbed your ankle to keep you from kicking her. Trinity laughed and leaned in to lick your belly while she slid her hand up from your ankle to caress your legs. She kept her lips there for a moment while she was talking about how much she loved your body because she knew you felt insecure about it.
You ran your fingers through her hair while she continued to kiss your skin and work her way lower. She used both of her hands to grip your thighs open and looked up at you with a smirk. “If I were your professor, I would’ve passed you already because your cunt looks so good,” she joked, and it made your face heat up at the embarrassing comparison. You let out a frustrated huff and reached down to shove her shoulder. “I’m going to slap you if you say one more thing like that,” you muttered while you tried to close your legs.
Trinity didn’t let you, and she leaned in to bite your inner thigh. “You’ll be at the top of the class,” she whispered against your skin before she looked back up at you. “Actually, you’ll just be on top of me,” she added before she moved her mouth closer to your soaking cunt. Trinity let her mouth brush against your soaking cunt before she looked up at you. “Bend your legs for me,” she ordered while she slid her hands from your inner thighs down to your ankles. You tried to pull your knees toward your chest, but you couldn't get them close enough while sitting against the headboard.
“I need you wide and open for me,” she muttered before she grabbed your heels herself. She pushed your legs back until your knees were folded against your chest and your pussy was fully exposed to her. “T-Trinity,” you whimpered when you felt the air hit your wet folds. She kept gripping your ankles to make sure you didn't move or try to close your legs again. “Please- I need you,” you moaned out of frustration while you watched her lean closer to your clit. Trinity let out a grunt of approval and used her nose to nudge your labia open.
“So needy,” she whispered before she buried her face in your cunt. You let out a breathy cry and arched your back when she swiped her tongue over your clit. Trinity licked your clit with a flat tongue, and she didn't pull away while you grabbed her hair to pull her closer. “F-fuck- that feels so good,” you moaned as you watched her look up at you. She kept her mouth buried against your pussy, and she let her spit pool out onto your folds to keep everything soaked. You arched your back while she lapped at your pussy sloppily.
“Mmf- hahh, more,” you gasped while she gripped your ankles to keep your legs wide. Trinity didn't respond with words, but she shoved her tongue deep into your hole to show she heard you. You let out a shaky breath when she pulled back just enough to suck on your clit. “Ahhn- oh god, don't stop,” you whispered as your fingers tangled tighter in her hair. She let more spit leak onto your cunt and dripped onto the sheets while she continued what she’s doing. You tried to shove your hips toward her face, but she gripped your legs to keep you in place.
“Nn- shit-” you groaned while she licked up the mess she made before she went back to sucking your clit. She looked up at you through her lashes, and she didn't slow down for a second. You reached down with your free hand and rubbed your clit while Trinity was still sucking on it. “Mmn- fuck, I need more,” you whimpered as your fingers brushed against her lips. Trinity stopped what she was doing and looked up at you with a smirk. “Are you that needy?” she asked while she pulled your hand away from your cunt.
You pouted at her, but she just chuckled and brought your wet fingers to her mouth. “Don't touch yourself unless I tell you to,” she muttered as she licked the juices off your fingertips. She let go of your hand and moved it back to your clit while she held your legs wide. “Fine, rub it while I fuck you with my tongue,” she ordered as she buried her face between your thighs again. You let out a breathy moan and started to circle your clit while she shoved her tongue inside your hole. “You look so pretty- god,” you gasped while you felt her tongue move deep in and out of you.
She kept her eyes on yours while she worked, and the squelch of her tongue filled the room. “Mmh- l-love you-” you whimpered while your free hand rubbed your clit in a messy circle. Trinity let out a grunt against you and shoved her tongue faster into your cunt. “Nngh- oh god, your tongue is so good,” you gasped as you moved your hips to match her pace. She kept her tongue inside your hole while she looked up at you, and the sloppy sounds of her mouth got louder. Your head dropped back while you desperately tried to grind against her face for more.
Trinity chuckled at your needy movements, but she finally pulled her face away from your dripping pussy. “Mmf- why did you stop?” you complained with a pout while your hand slowed down on rubbing your clit. Trinity rose to her knees between your bent legs, and she gripped your knees to keep them open. “Show me how much you love it,” she muttered as she shoved two fingers deep inside you. You let out a confused moan at the sudden change, but you quickly arched your back against the bed. She leaned over you to capture your lips in a wet kiss while she pumped her fingers in and out.
You let go of your clit and tangled both hands in her hair to pull her closer. Trinity sucked on your tongue while her fingers pumped inside your cunt. “Mmn- mmf,” you whimpered as you tried to push your tongue back against hers. She pulled away for a second and looked at your face while you caught your breath. “Don't be shy, as if this is our first time,” she teased while she kept her fingers moving deep in your hole. You let out a needy whine and grabbed the back of her neck to pull her into another kiss.
She caught your bottom lip between her teeth and sucked on it before she shoved her tongue back into your mouth. Your tongues flicked and pushed against each other to fight for dominance while the wet sounds of the kiss filled the room. “Hngh- hah-,” you gasped into the kiss while she thrust her fingers inside of you faster. You tried to keep up with her when she led the kiss, and your pussy tightened around her fingers. You arched your back as the feeling grew more overwhelming, and you gripped her hair tighter.
Trinity pulled back again just enough to break the kiss and her forehead pressing against yours. “Mmn- I-I feel like I’m close,” you whispered while your eyes were closed and your breath hitched. She let out a grunt and didn't stop her fingers' movement. “Yeah? Are you going to cum on my fingers?” she asked the moment she leaned back so she could watch your face. You nodded needily against her and let out a soft sob. “Uh-huh- please- let me,” you pleaded as you felt your walls start to pulse around her fingers.
“Mmm,” Trinity hummed in satisfaction while her fingers continued to work inside you. “Open your eyes and look at me, then ask again,” she ordered while she straightened her back to watch your face. You forced your eyes open as your breath came in short gasps and your fingers gripped the sheets. “P-please- can I cum? Trinity- please let me,” you pleaded while you felt your walls tightening around her hand. “Go on then, do it for me, baby,” Trinity whispered while she thrust her fingers faster into your cunt. Her thumb continues to rub your clit in circles, and she uses her free hand to reach up for your tit.
“Hngh- ahh- fuck- it feels so good,” you moaned while she rolled your nipple between her fingers. You arched your back and tried to keep your eyes on hers while the friction between your legs became too much to handle. “I love you- Trinity- I love you so much,” you sobbed while you felt the pressure building behind your stomach. Trinity let out a soft grunt, and she didn’t look away from your blown pupils. “I know, baby, I love you too,” she murmured while she kept her fingers moving deep inside you. You let out a long, breathy sound before you finally came all over her hand, and your pussy soaked her fingers.
Trinity kept her fingers moving inside your cunt while you finished coming. “Hngh- mo more,” you whined as your cum gushed out and formed a visible ring around her knuckles. She watched it coat her skin, but her fingers didn’t slow. “I know, baby,” she responded while she looked at your messy pussy. You let out a shaky breath and tried to push her hand away weakly. The wet sounds from her fingers thrusting grew louder while your cum dripped onto the sheets. You pouted at her and tried to close your legs to hide yourself.
“Don't do that,” Trinity said while she used her strength to shove your thighs wide open again. She watched your pussy lips pulse around her fingers for a few seconds before she finally slid them out of your hole. “N-no- please- I'm too sensitive,” you whimpered as you felt the cold air against your wet skin. She leaned down between your legs and looked at the cum smeared all over your folds. You tried to shift away, but she gripped your hips to keep you in place. “I'm just going to clean it up,” Trinity murmured while she pressed her face against your inner thigh.
You let out a thin whine and gripped her hair as her tongue lapped at your clit. She licked the cum off your skin and sucked on your sensitive clit until the mess was gone. “Mmm- oh god- it's too much,” you gasped while she cleaned every inch of your pussy with flat tongue. She kept her tongue moving over your folds until she licked up every drop of your cum. Trinity pulled away and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand while she watched your legs shake. Trinity sat up and guided her wet fingers toward your mouth.
“Clean them for me,” she murmured while she watched you take her index and middle fingers into your mouth. You sucked them clean of your cum while your breath began to even out. She pulled them away once they were dry, and she wiped her hand on her shirt. “What do you need? Some water? Do you want me to get a towel and clean you up now?” she asked while she looked at your thighs. You let out a small hum and looked away as if you were thinking about her offer. “Can I have something sweet? Like a candy?” you asked while you looked back at her.
Trinity let out a short chuckle, and she shook her head while she reached for the nightstand. “Why are you laughing?” you questioned as you watched her hand move toward the drawer. “Nothing,” she responded while she pulled the drawer open to look for your treat. You realized in that moment that she always did this after sex, and it felt like a reward system she had built for you. Your face starts to warm up because it almost feels like a star from a teacher because you did something good, and you were actually looking forward to getting it every time you two fuck.
She pulled a small candy out, and she sat back against the headboard beside you. “Here you go,” Trinity said while she handed it to you. You bring it into your mouth the moment you unwrap it, and she reached out to pull you down. She guided your head until you were lying on her lap, and her hand settled on your shoulder. “You totally do this on purpose with the candy,” you mumbled while you sucked on the candy and looked up at her. “I don't know what you're talking about,” she replied while she ran her thumb over your cheek.
“Mmn, you eat me so good that I’m going to make you the best sandwich for your shift tomorrow,” you joked while you sucked the candy in your mouth. Trinity let out a breathy laugh, and her hand came up to brush a stray hair from your forehead. “You’re such a sweet girl for that,” she whispered while she looked down at you with a soft expression. You smiled back at her and felt the sweetness from the treat coat your tongue. She ran her thumb over your bottom lip while she watched your mouth move while eating the candy. Your legs were still a little shaky from the orgasm, but you felt comfortable in her lap.
“I’m not even joking about it,” you added before you lick her thumb teasingly. She let you lick her thumb for a moment until you don’t feel like it anymore before she moves it away to caress your shoulder. “I’ll buy those fruits you like or maybe some flowers on my way home too,” you promised while you watched her face. A bit of redness spread across her cheeks, and she looked away toward the far wall. She reached down to pinch your cheek with her free hand as if she was trying to hide her reaction. You let out a quiet giggle and pulled her hand, which she used to pinch your cheek, close to your lips to kiss her palm.
“Stop it, you’re being too much,” Trinity muttered while she tried to sound annoyed, but failing miserably. You just shook your head and leaned your face into her touch before you heard her let out a quiet sigh. “I’m serious, Trinity, I want to do it,” you insisted while you looked up into her eyes, and you felt her fingers playing with the skin at your neck. She leaned down and pressed a kiss to your forehead while she pulled you closer against her chest. “I think I could get used to you taking care of me like this,” she whispered while her eyes lingered on yours.
˗ˏˋ ☆ ― 𝐁𝐎𝐘𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐒 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐓𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑 𓂃⸝⸝⟢ my first ever kinktober!! i initially wasn't gonna do this but it was calling my name. i'm superexcited, i tried to make this cute and do something i normally wouldn't do. half of the graphics are mine the other half i just found on pin and turned them into pngs, so credits to their original owners! warnings will be issued accordingly to every work, minors dni. these are works made by an adult for adults. other than that i hope you guys enjoy!!
♱・┆ 𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝟏 ── 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 ⌞𝐨𝐜𝐭. 𝟐𝐧𝐝⌝
゛tit fucking ⸝⸝ corruption ⸝⸝ power imbalance ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
SUMMARY — Just a slow, unbroken stretch of intimacy, tension (if you squint), and (really) quiet understanding. It’s dusk. You’re alone. And he’s at your doorstep again.
CONTENT — NO WARNINGS (that I know of )
RENYlogue; I’m black, so… I write my characters in a slight description of me but there’s not really any description in this so read freely if you’d like.
—AUGUST 17th, 1932
It starts like this: a cough at the back of the room, sharp and shallow, more stubborn than sick. You don’t turn right away. You finish straightening the bottles on the shelf—castor oil, menthol salve, a tin of senna leaves. The pharmacy’s quiet in the heat, late afternoon pouring thick through the windows, the wooden counter warm under your fingertips.
The door hadn’t rung. He must’ve come in with that careful walk he has—silent like smoke, all lean shadow and long jaw, always watching, always listening. You know who it is before you turn.
“Elijah.”
You say it soft. Like the name’s a secret.
He leans on the counter with one elbow, half in the light, half in the dark. White shirt rolled to his forearms, the same worn suspenders he always wears when he means to stay a while. He doesn’t smile. He never really does. Just looks at you like he’s seeing something worth memorizing.
“Need somethin’ for a toothache.” He says it like a joke, like a lie. You know damn well he ain’t hurtin’. Not where medicine can reach.
You nod, take your time reaching behind you for the oil of cloves. You don’t ask why he’s really here. You never do. Smoke Moore don’t belong to anyone, but he circles you like he might be trying to. Like something in you keeps pulling him back, even when he don’t want to be caught.
He watches your hands—always your hands. “How’s your daddy?”
“Same,” you say.
“Sleepin’ more than he’s wakin’. Doctor think it won’t be long now.”
Elijah nods slow, jaw working like he’s chewin’ on something unsaid. He knew your daddy before you were born. Most of Clarksdale did. But only Elijah Moore got forgiven for what he became after. Only Elijah got to stay in the story.
You place the tiny glass vial on the counter between you. He doesn’t reach for it. Doesn’t move. Just looks at you like maybe he wants to ask if you sleep at night. If you still sing in the kitchen when you think nobody’s listening. If you still light that candle by the front window when you’re waiting on word from somewhere nobody will name.
Instead he says, “Hot today.”
“Mmhm.” You cross your arms. “Ain’t no wind.”
“You look tired.”
You laugh, dry and low. “Everybody tired.”
He shifts then, finally picking up the vial. His fingers brush yours—warm, rough, careful. He always touches you like he’s afraid he’ll leave a mark. But he already has. “Let me drive you home,” he says.
Not a question.
You shake your head. “Ain’t far.”
“I know.”
Still, he waits.
You close the shop not long after. You don’t say much walking to his car, but he opens the door for you like it’s habit. Like it’s always been that way.
“You still talk to the Lord?” he asks, voice barely loud enough to hear.
You keep your eyes on the road ahead. “Sometimes.”
From the time your dad getting sick and the boys leaving you abruptly to Chicago in the middle of the night. Speaking to the lord felt so much like an echo, like it was all for nothing.
But look who came back.
He nods, like that’s enough.
Your house is quiet. Shutters closed to keep the heat out, front steps swept clean like always. You see the porch chair shift in the breeze, and for a second you think maybe your daddy’s out there, humming like he used to. But no. Just the wind.
Elijah walks you up. Doesn’t ask to come in. Still, you let him.
Inside smells like rosemary and lemon balm, old books and memory. He stands in the doorway while you set your bag down, glances at the picture of your mama on the mantle. You feel his eyes on you again, the way he always looks like he’s tracing something delicate.
“You eat today?” he asks.
You blink. “Don’t think so.”
He nods, slips off his jacket, rolls up his sleeves. “I’ll cook.”
You don’t tell him no.
He moves through your kitchen like he’s been there before. Like he remembers where the flour is, how your daddy likes his greens. You watch him chop onions like a man making penance. You sit at the table, hands folded in your lap.
“Why you come by today?”
He doesn’t answer right away. Just keeps cooking, slow and steady, steam rising around him like a ghost. Finally, he says, “Been thinkin’ about you.”
You exhale through your nose. “You always thinkin’, Elijah.”
“I know.” He turns. “But lately it’s been louder.”
You meet his eyes. Dark and tired and full of something you’re too afraid to name.
“Elijah,” you whisper.
“Don’t gotta say nothin’,” he says quick.
“I know what this is. Ain’t tryna make it somethin’ it ain’t.”
You shake your head. “That’s just it. You don’t know. He sets the spoon down. Crosses the room in three steps. Stops short of touching you.
“Then tell me.”
You look up at him, heart kicking against your ribs.
“I don’t want you to be another ghost in this house,” you say. “I don’t want to wake up and have to scrub you out of the air.”
His face goes still. But then he nods. Like he understands. Like maybe that’s what he’s afraid of too.
“I’ll go,” he says. “If that’s what you need.”
But you don’t answer. Not right away. You stand. Move closer. Your hand lifts—slow, uncertain—and rests against his chest.
“I just need you to stay a little while,” you say.
So he does.
The stew simmers low. The light fades blue. Somewhere in the house your daddy coughs once, then falls silent again.
Elijah pulls a chair beside yours. Doesn’t touch you. Just sits. Close enough you feel the heat of him. You rest your head against his shoulder, and he lets you.
Just the weight of a man who’s done too much, and a woman trying not to love him for it.
The cicadas sing. The stew cools. The clock ticks.
And he stays.
AUTHORS NOTE *gasps* I actually wrote something mate longer than 400 words and didn’t give up! CLAP! Anyway, I do wish I wrote better paragraphs though but this’ll do. If you have any reqs they’re always open .
