Midnight Lips | Ghost

𝐂𝐇. 46

After he was done, Simon snaked his hands around my waist until they were wrapped and pulled me to his body. I relaxed back into him, liking the way our bodies fit perfectly. He buried his face in the crook of my neck and tickled me when he inhaled my scent. "My mother used to stroke my hair until all of my worries went away," he said and my breath hitched. "She never stopped and I didn't want her to either. Even when I was a grown adult, I still let her comfort me that way."

"That's so sweet." My heart squeezed for him. "I'm sorry."

"Thank you," he breathed. His eyes were shut, so I couldn't see what he was going through.

I thought of something to say, but I couldn't form any other words, because Simon opening up to me was still strange and unusual, and it always took me by surprise and left me in shock, swallowing my own tongue.

I gulped and smiled softly. "What color is your hair?" I regretted it the moment it left my mouth. Gosh, that was what I decided to say? What if he didn't want to? What if it triggered something in him? What if—

His shoulders shook.
Simon chuckled.
Tilted his head.
And said,
"Why are you so eager to see me, woman?"

I pursed my lips and then bit the inside, my stomach spinning around. "I don't know."

"You'll be the death of me one day." He groaned out loud, hiding his face in my neck once again and pressing my body tightly against his. "God, you feel exquisite in my arms."

I giggled, trying to get away from his tickles.

"And I'm blond," he mumbled.

My body went rigid. Oh my God. I didn't expect him to actually answer me. Oh fuck. I knew, I suspected that Simon was blond, but I didn't have any proof. Now I knew I was right and I couldn't help but imagine him without his mask once again, and it made me ache on the inside. Why did I ask? Why was I such a stupid person? Was it right, that I like pain so much? Now how was I supposed to keep going 'knowing' what was under that mask?

"I have to leave," he spoke again, too soon for me to gather my thoughts. "Will you be alright?"

"Yes." I turned around to face him. "I wish I could join you."

"You need to rest as much as you can." Simon brushed my lips in a silent kiss and waited for me to say something, but I couldn't. Now more than ever, my mind was full of things I needed to process.

My sore body, my broken hand. Kate, shit, that part. I still needed to speak with her, but my worries decreased after my talk with Price, who gave me the okay for me to stay and join Task Force 141 for the rest of the journey, as long as my well-being wasn't in the red line.

And then there was Simon. Being blond and speaking about his mother to me. Him leaving to fight Graves and his Shadow company to take Alejandro's base back. All of the risks he was about to take while I had to stay here, helpless. I trusted him to come back, but still, something in me wanted him all to myself. We'd spent all morning together, and now he was going away and it felt like they were ripping my bandages off me. Stubborn girl, that was what my mama should've named me.

Now he was about to walk out the door and I still hadn't said anything. My stomach sank and my heart pounded twice as fast. He can't leave like this—"Simon!"