When Desire Speaks
1155 Words
Chapter 4
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Aaliyah didn't see Marcus for four days.
Four days wasn't long.
She knew that.
Still, by Wednesday night, she was annoyed about it.
Not at him exactly. More at herself for noticing.
She had become used to his messages in the morning. A stupid little Good morning, beautiful that somehow made her smile while brushing her teeth. Sometimes he'd call during his lunch break, and they'd talk about absolutely nothing for twenty minutes.
Then suddenly, nothing.
No message.
No call.
Aaliyah told herself she wasn't bothered.
She was lying.
On Thursday evening, she was in her kitchen trying to decide what to make for dinner when her phone finally rang.
Marcus.
She stared at the screen for a second before answering.
“Hello?”
“Hi.”
His voice sounded tired.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. It's been a rough few days.”
She leaned against the counter.
“You could have said something.”
There was a short silence.
“I know.”
Something about the way he said it made her irritation soften.
“I wasn't asking because I'm—”
“Because you're what?”
She sighed.
“Forget it.”
“No. Tell me.”
Aaliyah smiled despite herself.
“You're annoying.”
“I've been told.”
“I was just wondering if you were okay.”
“I missed you too.”
Her stomach tightened.
She hadn't said she'd missed him.
“You didn't ask.”
“I didn't have to.”
She rolled her eyes, even though he couldn't see her.
“You're very sure of yourself.”
“Not about everything.”
“What aren't you sure about?”
His voice became quieter.
“You.”
Aaliyah stopped moving.
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because sometimes I can't tell if you're letting me get close or if you're waiting for a reason to run.”
She didn't have an answer.
The truth was, she didn't know either.
“I don't want to run,” she finally said.
“Good.”
“That's all?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I don't know.”
He laughed softly.
“I'll come over.”
Aaliyah's eyes widened.
“Now?”
“Unless you're busy.”
She looked around her apartment.
There were dishes in the sink and laundry folded badly on the couch.
She suddenly wished she'd known he was coming.
“You can't just come over without warning.”
“I just gave you a warning.”
“Marcus.”
“I'll be there in twenty minutes.”
He hung up.
Aaliyah stared at the phone.
“Unbelievable.”
But she was smiling.
Twenty-three minutes later, someone knocked.
She opened the door.
Marcus stood there in jeans and a dark T-shirt, looking tired but good enough to make her forget the complaint she had prepared.
“You really came.”
“I said I would.”
He stepped inside.
For a moment they simply looked at each other.
Then Aaliyah reached out and hugged him.
She hadn't planned to.
It just happened.
Marcus wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
She rested her cheek against his chest.
His hand moved slowly over her back.
Neither of them spoke.
Aaliyah closed her eyes.
She had missed this.
The quiet.
His warmth.
The feeling of being held without having to explain herself.
When she finally pulled away, Marcus looked at her.
“You missed me.”
“Don't start.”
He smiled.
“I won't.”
They sat together on the sofa.
They talked for almost an hour.
About his work.
About her business plans.
About nothing.
At some point, Aaliyah noticed that their knees were touching.
Neither of them moved.
Marcus looked down at their hands.
Then he looked at her.
“Can I kiss you?”
She smiled.
“You're asking now?”
“I thought you'd appreciate it.”
“I do.”
He leaned toward her.
The kiss began gently, but the moment Aaliyah's fingers slid into his hair, something changed.
Marcus kissed her again, deeper this time.
She felt his hand settle at her waist and pull her closer.
Aaliyah's heart was pounding.
She could feel the warmth of his body against hers, and suddenly the room seemed much smaller than it had a few minutes ago.
She pulled back just enough to breathe.
Marcus looked at her.
His breathing had changed too.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You sure?”
She nodded.
“I just…”
“What?”
She laughed nervously.
“I don't know what I'm doing.”
Marcus smiled.
“Neither do I.”
That made her laugh.
And somehow, the tension broke.
She touched his face.
“You're not what I expected.”
“Is that good?”
“I'm still deciding.”
He kissed the corner of her mouth.
“You've got time.”
Aaliyah looked at him.
That was the problem.
She was beginning to want more time.
More evenings like this.
More kisses.
More of him.
And beneath all of that was a desire she wasn't ready to name yet.
Marcus seemed to understand anyway.
His fingers slowly intertwined with hers.
“I don't want to rush you,” he said.
Aaliyah swallowed.
“I know.”
“But I want you.”
Her breath caught.
He didn't dress the words up.
Didn't make them poetic.
He simply said what was true.
Aaliyah looked down at their joined hands.
“I want you too.”
Marcus was quiet for a moment.
Then he kissed her forehead.
It was such a small gesture that it almost hurt.
Because suddenly this wasn't just attraction anymore.
There was something underneath it.
Something frighteningly close to love.
And Aaliyah wasn't sure whether she was ready for that.
But she knew one thing.
She didn't want him to leave.
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