Girl on the Bench [Completed]

Was that a line?

Rosa

I woke up in his bed.

He was asleep next to me, an arm draped over my stomach. I heard his breathing, soft and relaxed against my neck. I lifted my head off the pillow and saw that it had just gone 6am. A dull headache was forming at the base of my skull. I lowered my head down onto the pillow.

We'd kissed and drunk whisky. I'd felt myself starting to doze on the sofa when he lifted me up and carried me through to his bed. He'd pulled my boots off and tucked the blankets around me then headed towards the door.

I'd asked him to stay. Dominic had looked at me then moved to the other side of the bed,kicked off his boots and had laid next to me. I had rolled over and lay my head on his chest. He'd stroked my hair until I fell asleep.

Now we were like this. It felt completely comfortable and natural. I tried to sort out my thoughts but I just couldn't. I cared about him. A lot. He made me feel like I was going to run off a cliff but I'd be ok when I landed at the bottom.

I heard him stir and tighten his grip around me. He burrowed his head into my hair. He started and raised himself up on his elbow, looking down at me. I rolled onto my back and met his gaze.

"Hi," we said simultaneously then we smiled at each other.

"I thought I was dreaming," Dominic said. His hair fell across his forehead. I smoothed it back.

"What about?"

"You being here, I thought it wasn't real," he said quietly.

"I'm real," I said.

"Good."

                                     ***

Dominic

Rosa was in the shower. I was making coffee. This all felt surreal. I'd woken up with her next to me and I thought my mind had been playing tricks.

I sipped my coffee and looked out the window. It was still dark and the streetlights were on in the village that was across the river. I heard the door open and turned to see Rosa in a towel.

Bloody hell.

She tied her hair up but some tendrils had fallen down onto her neck and shoulders in damp curls. Her cheeks were pink from the shower. She smiled at me and took the cup of coffee I offered her.

"Thanks."

Rosa stood beside me and looked out the window.

"What a great view," she said.

"It is, I love looking at it," I replied.

She glanced up at me and grinned.

"Was that a line?" She laughed.

I laughed with her, "I hadn't meant it to be!"

Rosa chuckled and looked back out.

I wanted to reach out and hold onto her. I'd never had this..this uncertainty before.

"Why did you think I was a dream?" She asked.

"The way things ended with us, I just didn't expect you to be in my bed with me."

She nodded.

"Are you sorry I called you last night?"

"No. Are you?"

Please don't say yes.

Rosa paused, "No. I don't think I am. It wouldn't have been right to have left without seeing you, somehow."

"That's g...what do you mean leave?" I asked.

Rosa turned and looked at me, her blue eyes sad.

"I'm leaving. I've sold up. It doesn't feel the same living here anymore and I need to go."

I stared at her, aghast. She's leaving?

Rosa picked up her bag and headed towards my bedroom, " I better get dressed."

"Rosa."

She stopped and I walked over to her and pulled her towards me. I could see her pulse fluttering in her neck.

"Don't go."

"Dominic, I can't stay here anymore."

"Please don't go."

I kissed her and she kissed me back, hard. She dropped her bag and ran her hands up my arms and around my neck. I slid my hands down her back and pulled her closer. We moved towards the bed and fell down onto it, a jumble of legs and arms.

She felt for my belt buckle and I yanked my t-shirt off. Her towel fell open and I ran my hand along the curves and angles of her body.

"Don't go."

***

When I woke, it was after midday and Rosa was gone.