༺ TWENTY - NINE ༻

I successfully convinced my family I would be sleeping at Teresa's house tonight, while in reality I'll be right next door.

It's a simple lie I'm sure they'll forgive me for (if they ever happen to find out), but it still makes me feel bad because lately all I've been doing is lying.

When we get in Thomas's house, it's only thirty past nine. Work ends at nine, which is quite early. Luca mentioned he planned to stay open for longer, though. Most people haven't finished eating in a restaurant at nine yet.

Along with that, I never picked any things up at home. No clothes, no laxatives, just have my ballet bag and the clothes I'm currently wearing.

I try not to overthink anything. Tonight, I'll just relax and enjoy some time with Thomas without fearing to get caught, and let go of all the food things. Only once.

He's beaming right now. I think I am too, especially when I see Glitter.

"Hi!" I sit down on the couch next to her, not hesitating to take the cat on my lap. Soon, she's making satisfied noises at my petting.

"I'll make some noodles, alright?" Thomas kisses my cheek from behind. "Or Mac and Cheese? Ramen?"

I shrug. "Whatever you like."

"But I don't think it's a good idea to make noodles out of you," he says, voice unnecessary sad. "Mac and Cheese it will be!"

I laugh at him, then continue petting Glitter. "Do you want me to help?"

"I got it," he replies from the kitchen. "Will be done in five minutes."

Thomas was right. Five minutes later, there's two bowls full of Mac and Cheese in front of us, the steam still coming off it.

I'll do it. I haven't eaten anything else today... or really the last days, so these will be the calories I can get this week. It looks good, after all. My stomach does a flip.

"Watch out. Don't burn your mouth." Thomas scoots one of the bowls over.

I smile. "You'll have to kiss it better."

"Well..." He hesitates. "Nope. It wouldn't be worth it, because you'd be in pain."

A chuckle leaves my mouth before I take a small bite. After that, it takes a lot to not dive into it. It feels wrong and right at once, but only because Thomas is smiling at me. It gives a lot of encouragement, you know?

"I'll make you a shower after this," he says. "Hot water relaxes the muscles after all the ballet."

A blush spreads on my cheeks. "Thank you."

"Don't worry about the rest," he adds. "I got you the little basket, remember? Tampons, pads, hairbrush, and you can use Mom's shampoo and conditioner in the shower."

What did I even do to deserve him? My smile grows so much it hurts my cheekbones. "Thank you, Thomas."

"No problem." He returns the smile. "How's the Mac and Cheese?"

"Good," I confirm. I'm tempted to eat the whole bowl, but my stomach won't be used to all of it and I think I'll throw up. I don't want Thomas to be there when that happens. "I don't think I can finish the whole thing, though."

"That's alright." He nods. "More for me."

I chuckle in reply. Once we've finished eating, I clean the bowls and the pan Thomas used while he puts the shower on. To be honest, I like that because other people's showers have a million buttons I don't understand.

After I finish cleaning and petted Glitter another time, I go upstairs and just follow wherever the sound of the pouring water comes from.

Yup, it's the bathroom. And it's literally the same as ours, but with different decorations and products.

"You should feel the water to see if it's okay," Thomas suggests. There's a slight blush on his cheek, which I smile at. "I, eh, left clothes for you right there." He points at the closed toilet. "They're mine. I don't think they'll fit but I guess it's nice to sleep in. Hair products right there, and here's the basket."

He puts a white basket down. I see tampons, pads, a brush, toothbrush and micellar water, which stuns me. He really made the effort to buy all of this for me.

"Thank you," I say again, beaming. "Really. I love it."

"I'm glad you do."

I cup his face and as another thank you, kiss him right there on the lips. Thomas hums. Before I know it, the one innocent touch turns into more kisses, and our hands are everywhere on each other's body.

"You give me one damn kiss and I can't stop," he murmurs against my lips. The ticklish feeling sends shivers down my spine.

"We don't have to stop," I tell him quietly, as my back presses into the wall. "No one's here to stop us."

Thomas holds my waist with one hand. The other one holds the side of my neck, and he uses it to move my head up. Then he's kissing all over my jaw and neck and I'm a mess.

My arms move around his neck to keep my legs from giving up. He notices fast, so bloody wraps my legs around his waist and lifts me up. I can't even worry about my weight: he doesn't seem to have any problems with it and the pleasure is too good to even overthink it.

"My parents are gonna kill me for the water bill," he mutters. At least my quiet whimpers aren't that audible because of the water, but he's right.

"Then why don't we get in?" My fingers run over his scalp before I'm pressing my lips on his neck, hard enough to make him groan.

"If you insist," he mutters. I don't know how, but he manages to keep me up with one knee as he pulls his shirt off, and then my hands work before my mind does, and I'm also taking my shirt off.

This step does make me slightly more hesitant, but Thomas isn't even paying attention to my body. Not in a bad way, though. He just looks at me for a while and when he looks back up, his face is blank, but eyes happy. I don't know, it's hard to explain. It doesn't feel... judging.

"You're beautiful," he whispers. Our lips collide again, my breaths heavier, and I tighten my legs around his waist. Just that simple thing makes his neck kisses pause, and another groan of his vibrates on my skin.

His skin is so warm against mine, and I cling around him a little longer before I'm back on the ground to remove my pants.

"You can keep your undergarments on if you want," he says, smiling lightly. It sends such a wave of comfort over my body, yet I shake my head.

"They'll get wet and I don't think anyone's undergarments in this house fit me," I say. "But if you're uncomfortable with that—"

"Not at all. Here, I'll turn around, though."

Butterflies are everywhere at that. Then I'm removing my lingeries and get a little more nervous. I'm not the most... curved girl you'll see. My chest is called the standard for ballet, where everything has to be small, but definitely not the standard for most boys.

Thomas won't mind, though. I know that, so I just tap his shoulder once I'm done. Still, he doesn't really take his eyes off anything else than my face, and neither does it seem like he has to hold himself back from looking. Is that good? I guess it's good.

After he undressed himself, he takes my hand and leads us into the shower. It's bigger than the one we have at home. I guess Thomas's parents invested in buying a good shower head. It's one of those square ones, as if real, hot rain is falling from it.

It's really nice, this steaming cabin. Mostly because there's someone who might be even hotter than that water next to me, looking all gorgeous.

He brings me closer by the waist. "You're okay with this, right?"

I nod. "Yes. And you?"

"Yes." He smiles.

When I'm lifted up again, I notice how I somewhat disappear between Thomas's arms. I'm not small, five feet nine, but still. Probably because he got all the muscles and I got... well, what do I have?

As the water squeezes between our lips, we're kissing again, hands everywhere. And something about the water, gliding down my body, makes it ten times better. I kiss Thomas 'till I'm out of breath, then throw my head back when he replaces his hands with his lips.

I'm standing on my own again, but I don't think I'll last long. He's trailing his lips from my stomach and back to my mouth in such a slow pace that it's almost devastating, and a whimper starts to rise in my throat.

I bite the inside of my cheek to hold back, but he's hitting spots with his lips that make my body clench. "Thomas," I rasp. And he's kissing my neck again, his hands all over my body.

At this point, my nails are pressing into his back less soft than a day ago. His cheeks are flushed and he's also out of breath when our eyes meet. "Still okay?"

I nod, but I can barely answer in audible words. Some vague mumbles that he shouldn't be stopping is all I can manage before I'm seeing white again. I'd almost say it's heaven.

✵

I don't think I ever want to leave his arms again.

I'm lying against his side. His arm is wrapped around me, the blanket covering our bare bodies, and I'm doing nothing but enjoying how his hand is running through my hair. It's even better than what happened before.

"Are you comfortable? The blanket can be hot," he says. "Or let me know if you want a thinner one."

"It's perfect." I wrap my arms around his torso, taking in his smell. It's the flowery body wash we've used. I like it. "Are you comfortable? I'm clinging around you like a bloody koala."

He chuckles. "I'm very comfortable. Got this pretty girl in my arms, warm sheets, had an unusually nice shower... you know it."

I laugh out loud. "Good to hear that."

Thomas places a kiss on my head. "Good night, Blondie. Wake me if you need anything."

"Good night," I whisper. It won't take long for me to fall asleep. I can already feel I'm tired after everything today.