I couldn't sleep.

Laying in bed between Jade and Tay on my back.

I was too… stimulated. Yes, laying in bed with Jade and Tay… I was starting to regret asking if I could sleep with them.

Tay was against it, but I insisted, saying that 'I deserve at least that, after all the stress!'

…..

I mean, at the time I was being sincere, I really meant what I said, but now…

Surprisingly, Jade was the one that understood and allowed it.

They really were like parents, huh?

I wanted to touch them in this California King size bed. I really, really wanted to… Jade was sound asleep, I could hear her steady and slow breathing.

If I snuggle up with Jade, there is a risk I might attack her breasts in a fit of envy. If I go to Tay, we'll, he's pretty much a big brother figure, nothing would happen.

Tay was obviously still awake, you could just tell.

I carefully turned to not wake Jade and put my hand on Tayler's forearm. My eyes were closed, I was trying my best to fake that I was actually asleep.

His forearm was so warm, he was radiating heat…

Tay sat up and took off his shirt… somehow the sound of the fabric coming off his body was so loud. I pulled my hand back.

He laid down on his back and pulled the covers a bit… Then he grabbed my hand and moved it to his bare chest.

My heart was beating like it was trying to fly out of my chest.

I felt his abs and snuggled up to him, practically humming.

I felt secure here, I had a sense of satisfaction just laying with my hand on him…

Oops! I hadn't stopped feeling his abs. I blushed.

There was another problem now, though, I was getting too hot, like I needed to take off the covers or strip, my clothes were starting to feel like lava.

I carefully slipped off my socks with my feet…

Hmm—I'll wonder if he'll stop me.

I ever so slowly lifted my blouse up and off, still laying down.

I had a bra on, so it should be fine, right?

Much better. my shorts were pretty breathy so those aren't a problem.

I sighed as I pressed my breasts into his arm, grabbing onto him.

He let out the smallest of sighs.

I could feel him breathing in a calming way… our breaths matched up, and his heart, strong and slowly beating, was like a melody.

He turned on his side, now facing me, and nudged me to face away from him. I turned, snuggling my body up against his—he wrapped his arm around my tummy and gave me a little squeeze.

I fell asleep in a minute after that.

- - - -

I stirred from sleep, that feeling of someone getting up. My faculties came back enough to tell me it was still the middle of the night. I knew it was Tay who got up.

I sneakily got up and followed, rubbing my eyes. I wasn't sure why, I just had a feeling he wasn't going to the bathroom.

He was sitting down on the couch with his hands on his knees, he looked exasperated, his jaw hanging loosely.

I sat down next to him. "What're you thinking about?" My voice was still a sleepy one.

He grabbed me around the waist and scooted me over to him, his body was like a heater…

"Thinking about life and the death of it… thinking about beginnings and endings."

"Are you talking about the proper time to end a book? If you end here, it's more like a novella, isn't it?"

"It's certainly true that this is the ending of a chapter, if I have any say in it…"

"I'm glad you protected all of us from that monster." It took me a while, but I realized he was trembling.

"Yeah… monster. That's what it was… but it feels like I killed a human. It feels like I did something inhuman, that I'm the real monster…"

Even up against his skin, he felt miles away from me…

"What's the difference?" I asked.

"Huh?"

"Humans are monsters. Worse than any sort of nightmare creature, humans have hurt me more than some Venus born four armed beast ever could. And that's OK. That's what it means to be alive, Tayler. Sometimes you have to hurt to not be hurt."

"...Where'd you hear that?"

"It's how I feel. I hate people, it might not seem like it because I don't let myself get that in the way… but I really hated people before I met you. It felt like everyone was going to stab me in the back eventually, I would think 'maybe I should go talk to them,' but also think, 'no, they'll just make my life worse.'"

"You've had a tough life, I'm sorry."

"I wouldn't trade any of it as long as I still have you and Jade."

"Humans are monsters, huh?"

"How would you feel as long as that monster didn't transfer into a human, as well? Don't be hypocritical in your head, Mr. Lovelace."

"Are you trying to say that killing anything is just as bad as killing a human? I guess you did pick up on Buddhism…"

"Well, it's true, isn't it? Just because it looked human doesn't mean anything. You've gotta fight for your spot in this world now, you might as well do it with a smile."

He looked down to me. "Hey, your boobs really are getting bigger. You're due for a new bra, huh?"

I couldn't suddenly feel how tight the fabric was around me. It was true, I was growing rapidly back to a young woman's body.

"If you think that's impressive, look at this," I got up and twirled in front of him. "My hips, see? They're basically back to normal size." I made a pose with a hand on my outstuck hip.

He made a thinking face, smiling at me. I blushed.

"Ending of a chapter… I wonder what's next."

I yawned—"For now, let's go back to bed…"