floating | ✓

18| heartbeats

Oliver pulls me closer. Our noses almost touch. “I don’t think you can do that now.”

“Why?” I say, almost shakily. I place my hand over his chest, trying to trace his heart beat, just to make sure I’m not in this alone.

“Because,” Oliver says, and his nose brushes my jawline.

I made a sound I haven’t even made when I was in a relationship.

Well. I-

His nose traces further down my neck.

“Because wh-hh-a-” I try to speak.

Keyword: Try.

His breath falls on my shoulder, “Because I-” 

His lips are so close to my ear. I am trying to keep myself steady. If I hadn’t been holding him for support, I would have fallen straight down from the roof.

Then Oliver softly bites where my neck meets my shoulder. I shudder. Then he presses his lips where he just bit.

I think I’m high. And I am also dreaming.

Oliver leans back and looks at my face. I think I look like a statue.

“Exactly what I was looking for,” Oliver comments.

I am still trying to catch my breath and steady my heartbeat.

“Are you a cannibal?” I ask shakily.

“No, Gwen. I am a vampire,” Oliver says, smirking.

“You just bi-bit me!” I say.

Oliver smirks, “Are my canines sharp enough?”

I touch where he bit me and try to look at it. Oliver glances at his work as well. I glance at Oliver. He looks satisfied.

“I-I-”

“Yeah? You seem to be pretty speechless tonight,” Oliver says.

Son of a-

I really am speechless, “You are doing all the talking anyways.” 

Oliver wraps his arms around me again. “Well, someone is rubbing off on me, don’t you think?”

It’s my time to be smug, “What did I say, stay with me I’ll drag you down to the gutter.”

“Ironic, since I was already there,” Oliver says, his eyes still dilated.

I gulp. I trace my hand on his jacket, looking for his heart.

“What are you doing, Gwen?” Oliver grabs my wrist.

“Looking for your heart,” I reply.

“It’s missing,” Oliver replies.

I stare at him. “Why?”

Oliver’s expression changes. “Because I was not careful enough.”

His words hit home. Somehow I understand what he means. Somehow I know how it feels to have a missing heart.

“I will find it,” I say softly.

Oliver blinks. “And what will you do with it?”

“Keep it with mine, safe and sound,” I say. smiling.

This time, I feel Oliver shudder underneath me. “Gwen.”

“Yeah, I’m right here,” I reply.

Oliver cups my face with his hands. His forehead brushes mine. His eyes are closed.

I think my heart is going to explode. That’s what it feels like.