Marriage For One

I slung my arm across the back of the couch, toward her.

A few minutes later, I glanced at her. The box containing the truffles looked like it had six missing ones, and she was still holding the tea mug tightly in her hands as if trying to warm them.

“Are you cold?”

“Just a little. Would you like to share?” she repeated, and my brows drew together.

Then I realized she was holding the edge of the blanket up and away from herself.

It wasn’t cold—the apartment was plenty warm—but I took the opportunity to move a little closer to her, and she put it over my legs. When she leaned her head back, it was almost resting in the crook of my arm.

She took a deep breath and let it all out.

Her voice was quiet when she spoke up again. “Thank you for tonight, Jack.”

Leaning down, I pressed a kiss to her temple. “You’re very welcome, Rose.”

At ten to nine, I took her now cold tea mug away from her and put it down on the coffee table. A little more than halfway into the movie, she’d fallen asleep, and her head had dropped on my shoulder. I watched the movie till the end without moving an inch so she could rest. The more she tucked herself closer, the harder it had been for me to not wake her up and take her mouth. It seemed like she had invaded the entire apartment and I could smell nothing but her.

I enjoyed every second of it, both the movie and Rose’s warm body against mine.

Scooping her up into my arms, I straightened up, letting the blanket fall off of her.

She started coming around once we were halfway up the stairs.

“Jack?” Her hands tightened around my neck. “What time is it?” she mumbled.

“A little past ten.”

Sighing, she rested her head on my shoulder.

“Did you like the movie?”

I didn’t have to lie. “Yes, you were right, it was good.”

“They don’t make movies like that anymore,” she murmured.

I opened the door to her room and walked in, gently putting her down on the bed. She curled up on her side and I pulled the already open covers over her.

“Good night, Jack,” she whispered. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll wake you up at six-thirty. We need to be at the hospital at seven-thirty.”

“Okay.”

I was rooted to my spot but didn’t know what else to say that would allow me to stay with her longer, to spend this night, at least this night with her.

“Good night, Rose.” I leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss on her forehead and then her lips. It was such a natural move for me that I didn’t even hesitate. She closed her eyes with a smile on her lips. I was pretty sure she had never woken up fully.

My mind on her, I walked out and headed to my own room.

Later that same night, hours had passed and I was still wide awake. My mind was running in all directions, but it was especially running in the direction of where Rose was sleeping a few doors down, which was why I was surprised when my phone pinged with a new text.

Rose: Are you asleep?

Jack: No.

Rose: Me neither.

I took a deep breath, ran my hand over my face.

Jack: Everything okay?

Rose: Yes. Just can’t sleep.

Rose: Why are you still up?

Jack: Couldn’t sleep either.

Rose: Can I still milk my situation or did I miss my chance?

Jack: Depends on what you want.

Rose: It’s a weird one.

Jack: Try me.

Rose: I was wondering if I could kiss you.

Rose: And before you say no, it doesn’t have to mean anything but that, just a kiss. The truth is you’ve slowly become this adept kisser and I think I wouldn’t mind kissing you right now. I’d like to call it a pity kiss. If that’s not okay since no one would be around to see it, I understand that.

The dots were still dancing around, but I left my phone on my nightstand and walked away. I chose not to knock and just walked into her room.

She seemed to be still typing but stopped when she saw me. Clearing her throat, she got up to her knees to get out of bed, but I made it to her before she could.

“How do you want to do thi—”

I didn’t give her time to finish her sentence. In the next breath, I was holding her head in my hands after having pushed her hair back. Her cheeks were warm and slightly wet.

“I don’t want you to cry anymore,” I muttered with a tinge of anger coloring my voice. That was the last thing I wanted for her. “I’ll kiss you, but only if you promise not to cry anymore. I can’t take it, Rose.”

She nodded.

I lowered my head down to hers, parted her lips with mine, and watched her eyes as they closed the second our lips touched. She placed her hands over mine on her cheeks and tilted her head up, deepening the kiss. I slowly dropped to my knees on the bed, tightened my hands around her face, plunging my fingers into her hair as her arms moved between us to wrap around my neck. I pulled her tongue into my mouth and happily swallowed her quiet groan.