Emancipation

thirty eight

"How do you feel?" He asks and I frown until I realise what he's asking and my cheeks heat up. "Sore?"

I nod, "Better than last night though."

"Good, it'll take some time for your body to adjust." He kisses my forehead again, and my stomach flutters because James has never been this affectionate with me as he is this morning.

My stomach grumbles from hunger, making him laugh a little and I groan, sitting up in the bed. "I'm famished."

"I did offer dinner in bed last night." He says, sitting up with me, our skins brushing against each others, every second a reminder of our lack of clothing.

"Well, I wasn't hungry then." I pout and my eyes drop down to his chest, raking over his built shoulders. I clear my throat before my thoughts can take a different turn. "I am now, though."

"For food?" He arches an eyebrow and my cheeks heat up again as I begin to move out of bed but he laughs, holding onto my waist. "It's so easy to tease you."

"It isn't winning you any points." I grumble and he laughs, shaking his head. There's a sudden realisation that hits me as I look back at him. "I don't have clothes here. We'll have to go back today and get our stuff, and I want a tour of the apartment please."

"You do have clothes here, they're in the closet so you can change but we do need to move some basic stuff, rest we can leave back at the house. And I'll give you the tour, but you need to eat first."

I frown at his response, negative thoughts racing my mind as I stare at him. "Who picked out the clothes?"

He seems to catch onto my words and gives me a look, "It wasn't who you're thinking. I hired a professional shopper, there's everything you would need in there."

A breath of relief leaves me at his words and I offer him a small smile, nodding. He slides out of the bed and my eyes immediately rake down his body, which he obviously notices and smirks, making me look away. The image from last night when I had my hands wrapped around him and he continued to moan my name comes to my head and I feel the familiar heat pooling between my legs.

Before my thoughts can go further, I get up from the bed, taking the sheets with me as James goes into the closet and I follow behind him. The huge closet is filled with clothes and one wall is fit with different footwear. He pulls out a pair of sweats for himself, then moves to throw shorts and a t-shirt my way.

"You had a professional shopper buy me cotton shorts?" I ask, not being able to keep in my amusement as I wrap the sheet around me tighter. He grins, shrugging in response as he continues to stare at me. "Turn around."

"Lillian." He gives me a look and I stare right back at him, making him cross his arms in front of his chest as he gives me a challenging look. "At least tell me the reason you get so flustered, just to make me understand."

I bite on my inner cheek as I stare at his naked chest, wondering if I can actually convey in words how I really feel. Open and honest communication, I remind myself.

"I'm not very confident about my body." I mumble out and his brows furrow in confusion until he realises my words and steps closer to me cautiously.

His arms come around me, moving to my lower back as he looks down into my eyes, "I'm aware how my words won't magically create an impact but you've got nothing to be ashamed of, especially not around me. I've told you before and I can remind you every day, you're damn beautiful."

He leans down and presses a kiss on my shoulder before moving away and leaving the closet after giving me a small smile. My body warms from his comment as I change into the clothes he offered before moving out to brush my teeth. The fact that he's willing to give me space until I grow comfortable instead of forcing the change of habits is just another tiny reason that adds to my love for him.