CHAPTER 8–– A COMFORTABLE HUG

In a hazy morning, and dizzy mind, I woke up by the clearest sound of ringtone of my cell phone and finally tiredly picked it up.

“Who’s it?”

“Your fiancé. Come to my room, now!” Alexander Alexeev spoke, and I listened and then, as I heard the beep of hang up, I laid back down and slept.

Life is going so dizzy and comfortable.

“Why am I floating?” I said as I felt myself floating because there was nothing beneath my bum and lazily wrapped my hands around the one floating me.

“Because I called you and you went back to sleep.” The guy whispered to my ear with a mellow voice.

I felt my ears going all pregnant.

“I really want to sleep.” I whispered back as I laid my head on his shoulder.

I was so defenseless, and I know I am so going to cry over it later. But right now, being held like this also seemed quite wonderful.

“What were you calling me for?”

“For intimacy.” He said and well, my sleep went away pretty quickly.

He opened the door to his room and put the wrapped me on the bed and I very nicely pulled my wrapper, oh, blanket up to my neck and sat cross-legged.

“What intimacy?” Weren’t we supposed to be still in a dating face and were a little shy since, we are still trying?

“We have to show a little at least.” He said and I nodded, in dating people do kiss but I really don’t want to…

Even with my ex, we never kissed because we were pretty fine with just hugging and all. Emotions matter and not lying, I never had the urge to kiss him.

Though, I just told him that I’d like to wait.

“Okay but no kissing on the lips.” Well, forehead is fine, but you need a lot of understanding for the part and care also. So, cheeks are the only part that can be touched at will for intimacy.

“You sure? Don’t regret later, I am quite a kisser.” Alexander Alexeev with the middle name Atticus will soon change his name to “Arragantly-shamless-inbecile-xander Alexeev” because he is being all of this right now.

“How about we practice?” he asked as the corner of his lips raised just a little before I shook my head and allowed him to hug me a little.

And no, I wasn’t coveting it or loving it at all.

His muscles aren’t all that good and my heart didn’t skip a beat or two.

Are we clear?

“Amy––” He started but was cut off in the middle.

“––lia.” I added to his words.

“Amy, I would like you to relax and not stiffen up every time. I won’t hurt you. Just relax. Calm you reflexes a bit.” He said and I realized, no matter how much I like him but still feeling relaxed around someone is tough and a girl needs some girly time before that.

“I am trying…”

“Wrap your hands around me.” He ordered.

“Don’t want to.” I denied.

“Please.” He whispered and I slowly wrapped my hand around him.

We kept in this position for some time before he moved back a little and saw my face before touching my cheek and said “I’ll protect you and you are safe. I am not going to hurt you and your consent matters the most for everything, got it? See, this is new and fake, but I’ll keep you safe. Nothing will hurt you and I will make sure of that. It sounds contradictory but this is true.”

I took a deep breathe and nodded at him while telling him “If I ever felt that you weren’t safe, I would have denied having anything with you.”

“Okay. We cool?”

“Hm.”

He wasn’t lying and I wasn’t too but being comfortable will take a little more time than just this.

“I’ll show you the guest room, you get ready. Sophia is still sleeping.”

“Okay.” I said and stood up and finally left my blanket which fell to my lap after the hug and walked to him before my head words and I asked “Since, the guestroom was empty, why was I sharing the room with Sophia?”

“Because you are family and according to mama, guestrooms are cold.” He said and showed the guestroom with my bag of clothes handed to me.

“Will meet you downstairs.”

Washed, cleaned, and dressed.

Now moving downstairs and looking at the number of people sitting around the big table while children playing around, it felt like a celebration again.

Alexander looked at me and smiled before holding my hand in his and took me to the table before pulling a chair out and letting me sit before pushing it back in. Such chivalry.

“Good morning.” I wished as Sophia passed me some bread and butter while Alexander filled a glass of juice when Sophia coughed a little and said “Good morning, I didn’t see you in the room in the morning…”

“Oh, Alexander came to wake me up. He showed me to the guestroom to get ready.”

“How interesting. Brother Alex is being quite chivalrous.” Sophia smiled while the others around gave a laugh or two before Alexander who was putting butter on a slice for me said “Well, she makes me want to be one.”

The Woo’s and Ah’s by the youngsters did warm up my cheeks as I looked around to see everyone smiling and laughing while talking about one thing or another.

“Amy, why don’t you join us this Tuesday for clubbing. It’s Marco’s birthday, it would be so fun to have there with us.” Sophia said as one of their cousins, Marco smiled at me and nodded at me.

I looked at Alex who touched my hand and nodded at his cousins and Sophia smiled.

I ate breakfast quietly as Alex buttered my bread and asked me what else I would like to have while Victoria smiled at this seemingly normal interaction.

She didn’t see how I felt one surprise after another because of his care and interest.

I had to tell myself again that it was everything but real.