MORNING CONFESSIONS-E

Astrid woke up with the blazing sun shining on her face, the morning heat burning her skin. She groaned and turned her face to her side; covering her face with a pillow. She bumped into something and her hands started touching around it. It felt hard but warm at the same time.

`Like my chest, darling?', Ace pulled his pillow away exposing her face.

`Don't feel so mighty of yourself', Astrid rubbed her eyes and sat up to stretch.

`Shall we shower together, Astrid?', Ace stood by her side of the bed and offered his hand.

Astrid slapped his hands away and looked around for her bags. She couldn't find it and guessed it must be in the guest room.

She walked towards the door, but Ace was swift to pull her away for a quick hug.

`Ace, no cuddling. I freaking stink and I need to wash my mouth', Astrid pushed his chest away and he relented.

Astrid ran to her room and locked the door. She showered and her body relaxed. Nothing like a fresh start after a shower in the morning. Astrid wore a sports bra and a loose singlet, pairing it with a high waisted denim short which emphasized her long legs. She looked for socks and grunted profanities when she could not find one. She didn't want to ask Ace, he would pester her for kisses. That she knew by now. What she didn't like was him hiding it? Why? Was he embarrassed by her?

Astrid opened the heavy wooden door and turned to look at her left and right. She knew by now that the door opposite of her belongs to Mr and Mrs Wagner, the room to her right occupied by Ace Wagner, so which one belongs to Hadwin?

She knocked on the door to her left and placed her ears on the door, trying to listen to any voice. When no one answered, she knocked loudly again. She heard heavy footsteps coming towards the door and the knob opened, to reveal Hadwin, in his towel. She smiled and pushed herself inside his room quickly.

Astrid scanned her eyes around the room and marvelled at the deco. His room was similar like Ace's but he had a big screen TV mounted on the left wall, Nintendo Console and Xbox on a table beneath the TV. He even had a study table with a big CPU, most probably used for gaming. What caught her attention was a camera dangling from the monitor and a Bose headpiece. So Hadwin is a YouTube celebrity?

`Astrid, what are you doing here?', he was puzzled to see her sneaking into his room.

`Err, I needed some socks. I forgot to bring mine', she walked towards the pc and admired the gadgets and set up

`Okay, let me get one for you', he turned to walk into his closet.

`Hadwin, can I turn this on?', She asked for his permission to turn on the pc.

`Sure go ahead.', Hadwin started dressing up. `I've got videos on YouTube'.

Ace poked his nose into Astrid's room only to see it empty. He walked past Hadwin's room and noticed the door ajar. He pushed the door and saw Astrid scrolling through Hadwin's online video on a dirt bike ride. She was engrossed in it and Ace crept up slowly behind her and whispered her name into her ear.

`What the fuck!', Astrid jumped up astonished. `I just got a heart attack', she moved away from the pc and sat on the couch.

`Can I check?', Ace cheekily put his hand near her breasts, and she pinched his arm.

`Astrid, my socks are too big. I'm afraid I don't have a new pair. Ace do you have an extra pair for Astrid?', Hadwin was dressed for a serious dirt bike ride. Cotton shorts, white socks, singlet as base clothes before he wore his O Neal Riding Pants Combo. The funky designs and colour made him look good and her mouth gaped open at him.

`I look good don't I'? Hadwin beamed a smile and put a thumbs up. Astrid did the same before Ace snapped his fingers.

`I will get the socks for you, shall we?', Ace narrowed her eyes at her.

`See you in a minute', Astrid waved him bye and followed behind Ace who held her hand.

Ace sat on the edge of his bed and patted his thigh for Astrid to sit on. She gingerly sat on his lap.

`You could have asked me?', he eyes her, and she seemed uncertain whether to answer his question. She meant to ask more than socks.

`You..I..mean..you always seem to snug close to me…I'm new to these things and-', she stammered fidgeting with her fingers. I need to get hold of myself if I were to ask him why he is kissing me like some high school kids doing it in the janitor closet.

`So am I. I like you way a lot than I thought. And yes, I am all touchy with you because if I don't, I'd go freaking crazy shit. Knowing I get to see you for a short period of time each week is already eating me inside. This damn mind won't stay still until your touch convinces it', he pointed at his head and ran his hand through his hair.

`You made me drunk last night', she stared dead at him. Again, why? Why make me drunk when you said I'd make myself vulnerable. 

`Well, I wanted to cuddle and sleep with you, but I don't know if you would or felt the same as me', Ace looked sad and he felt guilty. He rubbed circles on her back. He needs to tread carefully. One wrong word and she will scurry away from him.

`You can ask?'

`If you said no?', one of his eyebrows shot up.

`You can ask now?', she rubbed his cheekbones with her thumb.

`Astrid, darling, would you sleep with me every time you visit me?' Ace wanted to see if she figured the gravity of his question.

`Sleep with no sex?', she massaged his temples, releasing knots of tension.

`I hate that word, I prefer making love', he kissed her hands.

`Rephrase your question', she demanded.

`Astrid, would you cuddle with me every night you stay in my house with no prospect of making love....for now?', he opened his eyes and bore into Astrid's pale brown eyes, looking deep into her soul, so pure and temperate.

For a moment, both were silent. She kissed the tips of his nose and nodded.

`I won't push you, Astrid. You must trust me that much. I can wait, I will wait, because you are a blessing that I intend to keep for my entire lifetime', he kissed her eyes, nose and forehead.

`I have been meaning to ask you something. Why are we kissing and cuddling in closed spaces? Away from the public eye? Why aren't you open about your liking of me in front of your family?', Astrid summoned enough courage to seek answers to their newfound relationship.

`Curious little thing aren't we?', he husked, British accent getting thick.

Astrid merely nodded in answer.

`Well, I know for sure that you like me and I like you just the same. I have never been in a steady relationship in a long time. Not to say I don't trust women, but I had a hard time finding one that never changed after seeing my wealth and power. With you, Astrid my heart tells me you are not the same. You are somehow different'.

`Like a beautiful bright rainbow right after a drizzle. So colourful, so pristine, so pure, unadulterated. That is what I think of you',

`Do you know the story of that leprechaun? I am that leprechaun that wants to guard my gold pot at then the end of the rainbow. Hell, I want the rainbow for myself, so no one can have it. There are many storms and hails stones that will try to drown the rainbow away, but as long as I am guarding my rainbow, she will be safe. In my line of business, my enemies are just looking for my weakness. And you, my dear, is something so precious to me, I am not willing to share nor part with it for anyone',

`Will we remain like this forever?', Astrid spoke in a soft voice, her heart never felt happier with his explanation of her. Why is he so perfect?

`No, only for time being. I want us to grow strong in our relationship, trust each other completely, before moving forward', he explained, his lilac eyes gazing intensely at her face. 

Astrid held his face between her hands and kissed his lips. She pulled back and her fingers traced his sharp upper lip, he pouted his lips slightly, rosy pink, enticing her to bite it, kiss it and lick it.

She was focused on his lips, fearing to look up, but she did eventually. His violet eyes laid his feeling bare for her to see, undulating love. He admitted it with his eyes, begging for her to take his love, his very soul left at her mercy and a lone tear fell from her eyes to drop at his cheek.

`How can you like me so much in such a short period of time?', her eyes conflicted and indecisive. He could see a budding flower of love and adoration for him in her eyes, but she was unclear. Perhaps an underlying problem or something holding her back, he could not guess. Her insecurity must have stemmed from somewhere, and I need to get rid of it if I want her to trust me completely.

`Shhhhhhhh. I can wait. Don't rush yourself. I am here always, for you, darling', she hugged him loosely.

`What do we call ourselves'? she asked him softly.

`You decide', he replied.

`I will', her velvet voice smooth against his deep voice.

`Shall we get the socks for you, darling?', he kissed her temples and hugged her close, to still his heart.

`Thank you, Ace', she blushed at their seating position. Ace picked a white sock and helped Astrid to put them on, further embarrassing her. Ace held her hand and both walked to the kitchen, feeling a sense of joy at their mutual liking for each other; love in his case.