Come closer
The question lingered in the back of Alessia’s mind long after they’d gotten home. She went through the motions, setting Leah up on the couch with a drink and her sudoku, putting away the laundry before trying to figure out what to do for dinner. Leah was quiet too, though Alessia wasn’t sure why. Viv had said that Beth was probably talking to her about the same exact thing they’d talked about, and Alessia suspected she was probably right.
Still, neither of them say anything about it, though Alessia thinks she probably should. She just couldn’t bring herself to do so, and it was apparent that Leah felt similarly.
The quietness lingered for the rest of the day. They talk, but it was only a few words here and there, the occasional smile shared between them when their eyes meet. But it wasn’t an awkward kind of silence. It was more of a…tension filled silence that neither one of them seemed willing to break.
After a quick dinner that consisted of chicken, mash and veg, Alessia scooped Leah up into her arms and carried her up to the bathroom. She placed her temporarily down onto the closed toilet seat as she starts the water, checking the temperature before plugging the drain.
“Hair wash tonight?” Alessia asked as she crouched down in front of Leah, waiting for her to grab her shoulders for support before helping her stand up.
Leah shook her head, cheeks flushed despite herself. “Nah, not tonight.” She murmured, and Alessia nodded her head as she tucked her hands into the waistband of Leah’s shorts, averting her eyes as she yanked both them and her underwear down before helping her sit back on the toilet seat.
“Okay. So I’ll help you in and then leave you for a bit, yeah?”
Leah nodded, unbuttoning her shirt and slipping it off of her shoulders. She tossed it to the side along with the rest of her dirty clothes before giving Alessia a nod, prompting the younger woman to bend and wrap her arms beneath her. She scoops her up with the same tentative ease as always, slowly lowering her into the tub. By now, it was half full, and Alessia reached over to stop the water before placing a couple towels on the edge of the tub for Leah’s leg to rest. She then takes a step backwards, eyes glued to the wall.
“Call me if-
“If I need you. I know, less.” Leah assured, and Alessia nodded, biting her bottom lip softly before stepping out of the room.
An hour later, they were settled in Leah’s bed, facing each other. Leah had asked Alessia to stay with her again, and of course Alessia had agreed. Then again, if Leah asked her to jump off a cliff with her, she’d probably do it.
Leah had a pillow propped up against either side of her body for support, ensuring her ribs weren’t jostled. It was quiet between them again, and they were both lying on their sides, close, but not close enough to touch.
Leah reached out first, tentative and hesitant. She rested her hand on Alessia’s arm, her skin warm, and Alessia couldn’t help the way her skin became littered with goosebumps as the touch. And then, as Leah’s hand slowly moved up to her cheek, she felt her heart begin to race. And when Leah tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she all but combusted.
Her eyes fluttered shut at the touch when the pad of Leah’s thumb trailed softly over her cheekbone, just briefly, and Leah smiled at the sight.
“Come closer,” she whispered, her voice barely breaking the silence of the room.
Alessia swallowed thickly, but she complied, shifting forward until their faces were mere inches apart. Close enough that she could feel Leah’s breath, warm and faintly minty.
Leah’s hand then slid to the back of Alessia’s neck, fingers playing absently with the baby hairs there. Alessia shuddered slightly at the sensation, and Leah bit her lip to suppress a grin.
After a second, in a moment of bravery, Alessia reached out too, resting her hand on the gentle curve of Leah’s hip. She squeezed softly, instinctively, and Leah hummed in content, wishing she could shift closer but unable to do so without causing herself pain.
Alessia, sensing this, or perhaps feeling the same way, moved forward again, closing the remaining distance between them. She was close enough now that she could reach over Leah’s body to rest her hand on her back.
Now, they were mere millimetres apart. Alessia’s heart was still pounding, so fast, so intense now that she feared for a second it might fall out of her chest. Her breathing was shaky, but all of that stopped when Leah tilted her head forward just slightly and grazed her lips against hers.
It was light. Barely there. A tease of a kiss. It lingered for one second, then two, and then Leah pulled back, just slightly, just for a second. And Alessia didn’t let herself hesitate. She leaned forward, closing the space between them, properly connecting their lips. It was soft at first. Gentle. Like neither of them wanted to break whatever delicate thing they had just created.
Then Leah deepened it, just slightly, her mouth opening as the hand on the back of Alessia’s neck coaxed her even closer. Alessia raised herself up onto one elbow, her free hand moving from Leah’s back to cup her cheek.
Leah’s tongue grazed along her bottom lip, and Alessia parted her lips without a second thought, without even the slightest hesitation to let her inside. Leah’s tongue invaded her mouth with absolute abandon, and Alessia has to physically stop herself from groaning at the sensation. It got heated then, just for a moment until Leah pulled back, slightly breathless, her forehead resting against Alessia’s.
Their faces were still close, and Alessia couldn’t help herself. She leaned in again, pressing a tender kiss to Leah’s lips, and Leah reciprocated, just as softly this time, just as gentle. They kissed for a long time. Minutes, maybe even hours. Alessia wasn’t sure. All she knew was that Leah’s lips were addicting, and she never wanted to stop.
She was pretty sure that if Leah wasn’t as injured as she was, this would transcend into something she wasn’t ready for. But Leah was injured, and so they do part eventually. Alessia laid herself back down, making sure to settle her head on the same pillow as Leah’s. Leah’s hand dropped to the curve of her waist, her fingers flexing lightly against the fabric of Alessia’s shirt.
Alessia reached up, brushing Leah’s hair away from her face, and Leah caught her hand, squeezing softly as she traced her thumb over the back of it. Neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to. Alessia simply held Leah’s hand as her eyes fluttered closed, lips quirked up into a soft smile.