Drawn to you

I pull up outside his building and stomp toward the entrance, continuing my stomping as I climb the stairs until I find his door.
“Gerard!” I yell, thumping on his door with my fist. “Gerard!”
“I’m coming. Hang on,” he calls from inside. “What is it?” he exasperates as he opens the door, water beading all over his body as if he’s just been in the shower… my mouth goes dry and my thoughts leave my mind as my eyes drag over him – to his hand as it clutches the towel about his waist.
“I… um…” I stammer.
“Jesus,” he hisses, grabbing me by the wrist and pulling me inside. “Just sit,” he commands, heading back towards his bathroom, pausing only to grab some clothes from his bedroom before he disappears back inside.
I sit at the small table, listening as he finishes his shower and berating myself for not being able to keep a hold on my thoughts around him.
As I look around, I start paying closer attention to his pin board, remembering that the first time I was in here, it was turned around and had a bunch of drawings on it.
Listening to the still running water, I twist the board around. The entire surface is covered with small pieces of paper. Some are lined, some are white, some are yellow and a couple are green or pink. It seems that it’s just been whatever has been on hand at the time and they’re all overlapping each other so you couldn’t possibly see each one without removing everything on top. On each piece of paper is a sketch. There’s no distinct theme, I’d assume he’s just drawn whatever has taken his fancy at the time. There are trees, chairs, hands, lips, eyes, people studying, people laughing, buildings, and at the very bottom – me…
“Seriously?” I say to myself, looking closer at the piece of lined note paper with my image on it. It’s picture perfect and shows me, laughing as My chocolate bangs falling into my eyes. I can tell by the clothing I’m in that he drew this on Friday when I was at the Uni Bar. How did I not see him doing this?
The clearing of his throat behind me, snaps me to attention, and I spin around to face him, feeling immensely guilty. “Why is there a picture of me there?” I demand immediately.
“If I wanted people to look at this, I’d have it on display.” He leans around me, smelling of soap and warmth as he flips the board back around.
“That doesn’t answer my question,” I whisper, leaning up against the wall – I kind of need it to hold me up right now.'He smiles, his hand resting just above my head as he searches my face. “Why did you come here?”
“I…” He’s too close to me. I can’t breathe, let alone think clearly.
“Do you need something?” he whispers, leaning close to my ear. His breath washes over me, causing my skin to prickle. I can’t help it, and I turn toward him.
My words, usually so important to me, have evaporated into the ether, and I can’t even remember what I was so annoyed about. All I want right now is him.
Softly, he brushes his mouth along my jawline, causing my breathing to increase as my heart thuds against my chest. My eyes flutter closed as my tongue sneaks out of my mouth, wetting my lips, wanting him to kiss me. But as his lips travel toward my mouth, he brushes upward, skimming the corner and leaving me wanting. I whimper in response, turning my head slightly toward him.
“Franklin,” he whispers. “Open your eyes.”
Slowly, I force my eyes open, meeting his.
“Do you want me to kiss you?” he asks, brushing his bottom lip right next to my mouth again.
Once again, I whimper, nodding my head in response, struggling to find my voice.
“I need you to say it.”
“Yes,” I whisper.
“Tell me what you want.”
“I want you to kiss me,” I admit, my voice barely audible as I force my voice to speak.
“Want or need?” he whispers, bringing his mouth to mine, gently grazing my bottom lip hitting my lip ring.
“Need,” I breathe, my body pressed firmly up against the wall, frozen and unable to move with him so close to me. It’s true, I do feel a need for him. I don’t think I can even move without his assistance right now.
Sliding his arm around my waist, he pulls my body against his, kissing my mouth with a controlled passion that makes my head swim, and my senses scream. I want more. His tongue snakes out, teasing my mouth, getting me to part my lips to let him in. Tiny whimpers escape my throat as his tongue slides over mine, smooth and minty from his mouthwash.
One of his hands cups the side of my head, holding me steady as he explores my mouth and I, in turn, explore his.
Our breathing grows heavier and somehow I manage to gain control of my body and find a way to move my limbs. My arms slide around his body, pulling him closer to me, gripping at his black shirt as my want – my need for him, increases.
Breaking the kiss, he pulls his head away from me, smoothing the skin on my cheek as he gazes upon my face. His eyes study me, as his thumb smooths, moving from my cheek, to my brow bone, down my nose and over my lips.
“I’ll take you home now,” he says finally.
“What?” I ask, confused – this is ending now?
“Come on,” he says, moving to collect his wallet and car keys, pocketing them in his black jeans and holding his hand out to me.
I move toward him, as if in a dream, still feeling heady after our kissing, and collect my bag, slinging it over my shoulder.
Smiling approvingly at me, he takes my hand and gently kisses the side of my forehead, before leading me back downstairs and out of the building.
“Oh, you don’t need to drive me. I borrowed my mum’s car,” I tell him, suddenly remembering how I got here. “It’s just this one here.”
He nods once, walking me toward the silver hatchback and takes the keys from my hand as I fumble with them, my mind a complete mess right now.
“Here,” he says, pressing the button to unlock the car, opening the door for me. As I climb in, he reaches for the seatbelt, and I don’t stop or argue with him. I want his arm around me, I want to inhale the scent of his skin as he leans in to click the buckle in place.
“Thank you,” I whisper, meeting his eyes.
I’m rewarded with a smile, a beautiful heart stopping smile. “Drive safely and text me when you get home.” He kisses me, just next to my mouth and my lips burn, wishing his mouth was there instead. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Nodding, I can’t keep the smile off my face as he shuts me in the car and steps back as I start the engine.
“Forcing my mind to concentrate on driving, I turn around to reverse out of the car space, glancing again at the man standing on the footpath, watching as I leave.
He nods his head at me instead of waving, his mouth curled up on one side in an amused smile.
As I drive away, the fog that occurs when I’m near him lifts from my mind like a veil. Of course he was smiling, he just managed to make me completely forget what I was doing there. I didn’t even get the chance to ask him why he lied about my father telling him to protect me. Moreover, why does he feel the need to protect me? It’s not like I’m prone to getting attacked.
“Oh! That man!” I yell, slapping my hand on the steering wheel, feeling like I’ve just been made the fool and what the hell did he mean by ‘I’ll see you in the morning’?
My annoyance returns tenfold by the time I’m home, and the last thing I want to do is let him know that I made it home safe. Instead, I switch off my phone and spend the rest of the evening studying before falling into a restless sleep. Tomorrow is the day I get my freedom. It’s the day I move.

Notes