31 Stay (2/2)

”Am I staying here alone?”

Hunter turned to look at Ash. He had been preoccupied with getting her settled in that he hadn't really looked at her since they got home.

She had taken her shoes off and was sitting on the bed. She wiggled her toes in her black tights and she was leaning back, relaxed, with her palms on the bed cover.

She was sitting on a bed in his guesthouse: her glossy black hair was down to her back, her brown eyes were bright and she was smiling at him, asking him if she were meant to stay in this place alone. She melted his heart like butter in a hot pan. He wanted her to stay there with him forever.

He walked up to her and cupped her face in his hands. She was here, in front of him, in his house.

[I just want to keep you here, with me. Don't ever leave. Stay and be mine,] he said to her in his mind.

Ash put her hands over his and closed her eyes. She wanted to stay in the guesthouse and play house with Hunter. It would be fun. They would make food in the kitchen and eat together and at night they would sleep together. It would be like having her own family. She wanted him to be her family.

[Please say you'll stay with me,] she urged him in her mind.

They kissed for the first time that day. After the worst birthday lunch ever and after 2 hours of air travel over hundreds of miles, kissing was a relief. It was cool clean water after hours of thirst.

Drinking each other in, they fell into bed together.