The room was dark and I couldn't see where I was going, but I didn't feel vulnerable. I felt almost brave.

"Which side would you prefer to sleep on?" Esayr's voice was startlingly quiet.

"The far side, against the wall and away from the door."

His touch was gentle as he directed me forward to the bed, allowing me to settle myself into the covers before he moved and had the chance to startle me, "Is it foolish to say I like the idea of being between you and the door? No one other than us can come in without our approval, but it's a baser instinct of mine, I think." His voice was thoughtful as I felt the bed move with his weight.

"Why didn't you just say you'd prefer that side?" I could feel the heat of his body beneath the covers, turning the bedsheets warm and toasty. My fingers itched to bridge that gap and touch him.

"I prefer you being comfortable more?" He said it like a question as if he were asking 'asking what could you possibly mean'?

The conversation lulled into silence and I was acutely aware of every breath Esayr took. I knew he was facing me in the darkness without being able to see him. Whether his eyes were closed or not, that was anyone's guess. I tried to stifle my innate urge to twitch and move into a more comfortable position.

Despite the fact that I was more comfortable with him there, I was still a restless sleeper. I kicked out my legs and adjusted constantly. The worry that I'd disturb him had me laying still as the dead, listening to his breath hoping to sense when he'd fallen to sleep so I could gently stretch out my legs.

"Addy," He sounded like he smiled when he said my name and it sent my stomach to fluttering. "You're uncomfortable." It wasn't a question.

"I move around a lot when I sleep. I don't want to disturb you." I stretched out then, getting into a more comfortable position. My leg brushed against his in the darkness and I could have drowned in the wave of peace that settled over me from that small bit of contact.

"I could leave."

"No! Please!" I reached for him and my hands grazed the warm expanse of his chest, "Please. I'm sorry." I backed off immediately, "If you'd prefer not to be bothered, that's fine I mean."

He laced his fingers through the hand that had palmed his chest, "I'm never bothered."

I slinked closer to Esayr under the sheets, and he sensed my intentions. He tugged me closer, bridging the last few inches of space between us until we were stretched out against one another. "Is this alright?"

"Yes. This is nice." I murmured into the warmth of his chest, I felt his arms snake around my waist immediately, anchoring me to him.

We were both quiet for a spell, but the silence wasn't strained or uncomfortable this time. I found that my jitteriness settled when I was in his arms and I was content to comfortably lay there against him with my cool hands pressed against his warm skin.

I kept waiting for the nerves --the embarrassment-- to surface, but it never came. Quite the opposite really. After a while, Esayr began to mindlessly trace light patterns against my back where he held me pressed against him.

The feel of his hands on me was intoxicating. I felt warm and where I'd been content to lay against him only minutes before, I began to get this almost squirmy feeling. An anxiousness that begged me to move, to press closer to him.

My hands that were pressed between us against the planes of his stomach wanted to roam. I traced lines in the dips between the muscles of his stomach. Sliding my fingers along his sides and up the edges of his chest. I learned the feel of his skin, warm and smooth beneath the tips of my fingers.

He let my wandering hands explore his body silently never pushing for more, he let me have my way with him. It made me feel greedy.

I traced the veins in his arms down to his elbows, and he quietly lifted his arm, allowing me to feel my way down to the palm of his hand and the tips of his fingers then back up again. My featherlight touches drifted across his collarbone and down the center of his chest.

They slid further and further down until I could scarcely believe my boldness as I traced the soft hem of his sleep pants.

His hands were still on my back now, waiting. There was a breath of silence before his whisper stirred the hair that had escaped to curl around my face, "...you're allowed to touch me...if you want."

My hand slipped into his pants easily. Far too easily I thought, for how large of a line I'd just crossed in our relationship. The whisper of fabric and the hard feel of him in my hand the only hint that I'd done something so forward.

Esayr's breath that had been so recently teasing my hair was non-existent now. He's holding his breath. "I-I don't know what to do." I sounded unsure, but I was certain I wanted to be here, to touch him and feel him. I'd never had these experiences fumbling around with someone and in that second before I crossed into this unknown territory I knew I trusted him to show me how to handle these moments.

"Anything." The word sounded rushed and ragged. Esayr pressed his forehead against mine, "Anything you want. Everything that I have, everything that I am, is yours."

"Tell me what you want, Esayr."

I want you. I knew it was on the tip of his tongue. I could feel it as easily as I felt our bond now. I slid my hand along his length and he let out a breath.

"Please...don't stop touching me." A sudden and unusual vulnerability flowed through our bond along with his desire. He was an Empath, and I remembered the fact that Empath's tended to bond even more strongly with those they were close to. I don't know what I would have done in his place, craving this closeness and this intimacy so desperately and living with the overwhelming possibility of it all being fruitless if I decided to leave.

My free hand buried itself into his hair and pulled him close until --this time-my own lips brushed his as I spoke to him. "Tell me how you want me to touch you." I can be bold. I can take what I want. I kissed him quickly and he returned the fervor.

He arched up against me, pressing closer into my hand, "More."

I fumbled awkwardly, unsure what he wanted me to do and then suddenly his hand was there, covering mine. His grip slid over my own showing me how to tease him and bring him pleasure.

Are males usually this large? I mean I'd seen dicks before in videos, but never up close and personal. He was large, easily large. But aren't all male aliens in the romance novels? If they all say aliens have big dicks then there must be some kind of truth to it.

Once I figured out his rhythm his guiding hand backed off and buried itself in my hair. He let out deliciously pleased noises as he pressed his face into the crook of my neck. His hips flexed lightly pressing deeper into the circle of my fingers in any way he could.

I slowed, enjoying teasing him and he let out a strangled groan that surprised me so completely that my grip on him slackened for only a moment.

"I'm sorry." His apology was breathy and barely controlled.

"No. Don't stop." I liked his noises. I liked knowing that he enjoyed what I could do to him. I liked feeling powerful. He's a vocal lover. "I like it."

"You like...hearing me...?" He panted the words out as I worked him into a passion.

"I like knowing you enjoy what I do to you." Hearing his pleasure and giving that to him only sparked a fire within me. I wanted more of him than I ever anticipated I would.

Abruptly, Esayr was gripping the sheets behind me, "Addison, please!"

I slowed, but he thrust up into my hands almost desperately, "What do you need?"

"I-I want to feel you." He sounded unsure.

Not inside me. Not yet. I was tearing at his pants, shoving them down his legs and he was helping me. I can give you something else, though. In one fell swoop, I ripped off the long sleep shirt and pressed against him letting him feel the heat of my body as I stroked his length.

He came with a shout, my name on his lips and his heat on my stomach.

*****A/N*****

This chapter is a little naughtier than normal isn't it. I'm actually not sure of wattpad guidelines when it comes to mature scenes. I know that the mature rating includes things like more explicit sex scenes, but I'm not terribly certain where wattpad draws the line between a scene like this and y'know going a little too far. I'm hoping this one is chill.

I'd expected this chapter since the very beginning. It's amusing that I was flustered by their kiss in the garden, but this, this was par for the course in the organization of my mind.

I'm pleased Addison is beginning to come out of her shell and explore outside of her comfort zone. Esayr is just...pleased :P.

Happy December,

Layla