Aidan

When Elise and I went home to my apartment, I took off her jacket and stroked the soft skin of her shoulder. She tilted her head and the back of my fingers glided over her neck to her ear. I felt her smile, and I kissed her nape.

My arms slid around her waist, and I rested my cheek against her head.

"Are you alright, my love?" She asked gently.

With anybody else, I would have diverted. Even with her, I often had. But it was years ago.

"I don't know."

She didn't move and left me the space to elaborate. I stroked her belly and her hips and kissed her shoulder.

"It's hard for Lucas," I continued. "And it breaks my heart to see him hurting."

"But he confides in you because he knows that he is not alone in this. And that means a lot."

I buried my face in her hair and breathed deeply, her elegant scent filling my world.

"It's a fine line between being there for him, sharing my experience with him, and burdening him with my own mistakes," I finally said.

"I think all this is not about Lucas at all," she whispered.

She reached for one of my hands and brought it to her mouth to kiss the palm.

"Have you talked to him?" I asked tentatively, trusting Elise to know who I was referring to.

"Not since meeting Ibtissem at the club."

I looked at the dark courtyard on the other side of the glass wall, feeling the steady movement of her breathing under my hands.

"He's not joining the project because of me," I said.

She slowly turned in my arms to face me. "I do not think so, my love." She brushed my hair off of my face. "He is overwhelmed by... all of us. And he does not think he can help people."

"But you do?"

"Yes."

"I... I think you're right."

My heart pounded in my chest. I had never expressed something even close to that before. Elise acknowledged it and her smile made her eyes sparkle.

"Let's go to bed," she said while taking my hand and leading me to the bedroom.

"Can I hold you?" I asked. "I mean, I'd love to feel your skin against mine, tonight."

She grinned and let all her clothes drop slowly on the floor. Her skin turned to gold under the soft light of the lamp and I was mesmerized by the shadows formed by her every move.

I took off my clothes too, and we lay down on the bed. I held her against my chest while her hands wandered lazily over my arm and my side. I listened to her breath, and I fell asleep, in the soft cocoon of her love.