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felt peace when she was with Maddox.

Being asleep beside someone who you trust is not something Evelyn was accustomed too. She was always used to sleeping on the edge, waiting for the fateful moment someone hurt her again. She wasn't one to never look over her shoulder. It had become a second nature.

Although the couch was not big enough for a spacious amount of cushion for two people, she didn't mind. Maddox's arm was slung around her waist, bringing her impossibly close to his muscular body. Her back pressed against his front and she could practically feel his eight-pack through the thin material of his shirt that she adorned. His head was laying softly by her neck, occasionally his breath would tickle her skin and she'd shiver with delight.

She woke up with no sense of paranoia for once. She felt content in his arms. Their bodies molded against each other perfectly, as if each curve was made to fit like a puzzle piece with the other. His soft snores had her small smile becoming a full-fledged one and as he squeezed her closer to him, legs tangled with one another, she cuddled even more against him.

He hadn't woken up yet, but that didn't matter. She'd lay patiently until the sleep left his body for she only wanted to stay in his arms and if he'd pull away once awake, she'd wish for him to stay asleep forever.

She would die in that beautiful boy's hold.

Bringing her hands to toy with his left hand that was settled on her soft stomach, she carefully slid their hands together. She held it gently as she traced patterns on the back of his hand.

A soft groan emitted from behind her and she stilled as she listened to Maddox shuffle a little. His hand fell away from her waist as he used both his arms to stretch while he yawned. Her shoulders slumped a little knowing the warmth that kept her safe was no longer completely there. Not wanting to be dramatic, she slowly turned around before making contact with his hardened gaze. She bit her lip, a blush fitting her cheeks as she offered a small, harmless smile.

As the fogginess cleared up and he became aware of his surroundings, his gaze settled into a soft and gentle stare. It caused her stiff figure to immediately melt and relax. A small smile danced across his lips, but the smirk was more prominent. He brought his arm to snake around her waist like when he was asleep, before crushing their bodies as close as can be.

Luckily, he preferred no distance between them either.

"Good morning," he mumbled softly, his lips grazing the tip of her ear. She tensed once more as certain thoughts filled her head that she knew were not the most innocent. Bringing her hands up to settle flat against his chest, she tilted her head up before flashing him a genuine smile.

"Good morning," she chirped lightly, her mood better than ever.

He watched as her eyes flickered down to his lips before turning her head slightly away from his gaze so he wouldn't notice her need to kiss him. Unfortunately, she was a little too late.

Or maybe he was simply too observant.

Bringing the hand that wasn't draped across her hip to cup her chin, he forced her head gently towards him before placing a very faint kiss against her lips. It wasn't a kiss that solidified their relationship to anything more. He was simply just testing the waters.

He pulled away opening his eyes at the same time as her and noticed how her eyes were wide with subtle shock. She truthfully thought that what had taken place last night might've just been one of her fantasies that she had dreamt about. Once his lips actually came down to graze hers, she felt her soul leave her body. It was as if he was taking it out of her for safekeeping. To make sure she'd always find her way back to him.

His eyes held a certain amount of doubt and that's when she realized she hadn't really reacted much to his kiss. Immediately, she leaned forward to initiate the next kiss and once their lips made contact, he took control once again. Rolling above her and propping himself on his elbows, he softly kissed her with a delicate passion that made her feel as if she receiving kisses from the Seven Sins.

Pride was quite the contestant seeing as she felt the arrogance roll off of Maddox, but not in a bad way. Envy was subtle as if another man kissing her wasn't a thought that settled well with Maddox. Wrath wasn't the biggest player unless it was the anger Maddox felt when thinking about Evelyn with anyone else. Sloth was all too noticeable seeing as the morning still held them both captive from becoming truly eager in the kiss. However, she felt Gluttony, Greed, and Lust all fighting for the top spot. Gluttony was how much Maddox enjoyed kissing Evelyn's plump cherry red lips. Greed was how much Maddox never wanted to stop, he wanted more and finally, there was Lust.

Lust was simply enjoying the sexual tension in the kiss all too well.

Eventually pulling away from the kiss to catch her breath, she heard Maddox growl lowly as a small frown graced his beautiful features. Ah, Greed was making an appearance once more.

She laughed lightly before pecking him on the lips again and moving out of his arms to sit up straight. She glanced outside to see the light shining in, bathing its reflection across every object in Maddox's living room. From the corner of her eye, she watched as Maddox also got up before pulling her into his lap. He leaned his head against the couch as she leaned her back against him.

"I rather like waking up to you," he spoke quietly against her skin with a smirk set lazily across his face, "especially with kisses like those."

Turning to face him, her cheeks went red with the embarrassment of the fact that she had basically attempted to maul his lips. She groaned softly at her own stupidity as Maddox chuckled and kissed her temple. Feeling the blush heat her cheeks even more, she shoved her face into his chest.

His chuckles soon died down and they sat contently with one another before Evelyn maneuvered her head to look up at him with something of confusion clear across her face.

Knowing all too well of what she was thinking, Maddox stiffened before letting his eyes break contact with hers. He didn't want to get into the specifics of the new turn in their friendship.

What are we?

Maddox didn't want to answer her silent question because truth be told, he didn't know either. He didn't want to commit to anything because he didn't want to give a part of himself to anyone, not even Evelyn.

She quickly disguised the disappointment on her face by getting off of him and pulling on his hand signaling him to get up too.

"Let's eat," she said looking into his eyes for not a second longer. The awkwardness had settled around them once more and Evelyn felt it be her fault. She didn't know how to react around someone who had kissed her a little too often in the last twelve hours than anyone had in a lifetime.

This is the first guy to ever treat her in such an intimate way and she didn't know how to go about that.

"Walking into the kitchen as if you know how to cook," Maddox jokingly chided. She shot him a disgruntled expression and he laughed lightly before coming closer to her. She had no time to react as he quickly placed his hands on her hips before gently picking her up and putting on one of the high stools that sat across from the white-marbled island table.

Not giving her a chance to recover from his kind and caring actions, Maddox turned around before causing some commotion as he brought out ingredients and pans to make them some scrambled eggs and bacon.

Watching him move around the kitchen as if it was second nature, she couldn't help but find more reasons to like him. Sure he wasn't the friendliest of characters, but he was too sweet around her. Although his kindness towards her only went so far, it was farther than how most people treated her. She had no time to judge the lack of compassion people showed her so she simply acknowledged the little amount they had displayed.

It is wrong to wish for what one has never experienced—- for it is wrong to want more than what someone already has.

She admired his personality in a different light than many. He was a unique kind of guy, that was for sure, but she appreciated him.

She appreciated his efforts.

And although she knew he wouldn't want to make whatever relationship they now obviously had brewing between the two official, she knew to just appreciate what was already happening for even this was a new experience.

She had no right to ask him of more just because this is the first taste she's gotten if something she hoped to call love.

Arms drew around her waist and a head settled itself in the crook of her neck. Not realize how deep in thought she really was, she jumped slightly as Maddox came from behind.

He'd never been so affectionate and it was causing tingling sensations in her that she wished to get rid of. At the same time, however, she had a selfish thought to engulf herself in the affection, to let herself drown and be completely submerged.

The smile she wore dimmed to a simple upward curve of the lips and although it was not as physically noticeable as a smile, it felt more intimate and special.

Noticing the change in emotion, Maddox raised his head slightly and turned it to see the expression of Evelyn's face.

"What?" he asked with a raise of an eyebrow.

She shook her head slightly, letting stray hairs frame her face to make her seem even more angelic and ethereal than before, "Nothing," she whispered softly once realizing how close his face was.

He watched her with a calculating gaze, one that told her to fess up or else he'd do something she wouldn't be a fan of.

Who knows? Maybe she'd quite enjoy his punishments.

Blushing at that thought, she bit her lip to stop herself from choking on her saliva as not-so-innocent thoughts once again entered her mind.

"I don't think I've seen you smile this many times in the almost six months I've known you," she commented with an almost amazed toned although she was more curious than anything to know what changed.

He inhaled sharply as she made this observation of hers a public statement. She watched him with doe eyes and she bit her lip for what had to have been the billionth time. She had an awful tendency to do that. Well, it wasn't exactly awful as much as it was inviting. He had to stop himself from kissing her again.

Instead, he brought a hand up to gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. The gesture wasn't very aggressive or forward, but rather a more plain gesture that simply called for an array of emotions to be spilled between the two.

"I'm happier than I was during those months," he stated with a shrug as if to explain his sudden need to smile.

He'd never admit to her that he smiled plenty in the last six months he had known her. He just never smiled when she watched him. He preferred to keep his smiles hidden from her before, but suddenly he didn't care much for keeping his emotions buried deep within.

The hand that had tucked a strand of hair behind her ear had now settled on her cheek, cupping it softly as his calloused thumb grazed her skin with a kind of affection he'd never felt for anyone before.

Boxing had given his hands a kind of hardness not many others possessed. It had made his hands rough and calloused rather than the soft skin she knew many others had instead. Weirdly enough, she'd rather have his rough hands than a pair of soft ones. His hands may have been almost prickly against her skin, but she felt an inferno bloom from deep within when he grazed her cheek. The feeling of his hands made her feel safe and warm. Not wanting him to place his hand back to his side, she found herself slowly bringing her own hand up to cover his.

She leaned into it without even realizing she had done so and her eyes fluttered shut. Her eyes opened back up only when she felt him lean closer to place an almost faint kiss on the top of her nose.

As their eyes made contact once again, she had the same question in her eyes as she had before and she knew he had seen it before she could blink it away.

What are we?

She wished to be something more but had no intention of pressing for more. She'd remind herself that what she had with him now was still more than what she'd had with anyone else. She engraved that thought in her head so she'd remain content.

Don't ask for more if they are not willing to offer it. Lay with what you have. Do not lay with what they may give away, but have chosen yet to do so.

She remembered her father repeating those words to her mother once upon a time. A time before her father became aggressive. It was a faint memory from when she was around four or five years of age. Her father had snapped at her mother about being unfaithful and so he stated that statement. It was a rather vague and almost riddle-like statement.

Luckily she rather liked the mystery of the statement. It allowed her to interpret it how she wished.

She watched Maddox drop his hands from her cheek before moving back to prepare their breakfast.

Her heart dropped a little at the action, but she pushed the pain away. She would let him hurt her as much as he wished. She'd let him choose the path of their relationship. After all, when he had kissed her that morning, it was as if he had taken her soul and she'd do anything to be beside herself.

She'd always find her way back to him.

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