“I’ll save you from the vicious, fire-breathing dragon, Princess!” Flicking his paper chain like a whip, Roark grinned wide as a laugh burst from my chest. My body trembled, eyes wide and face hot, and I pressed myself deeper into the corner while he readjusted his silver, paper hat on his head.

The scary, fire-breathing dragon had taken over my coffee table, and I glanced down at it to choke a giggle. Roark had made an origami swan out of orange paper, and it was damn near the cutest thing I’d ever seen. In slow motion I watched him whip his paper chain along the table, and the origami swan fell to the floor like the climax fight in an action movie. Clapping my palms together, I bounced slightly with a whoo that was nearly drowned out by the blood roaring in my ears.

Adrenaline surged through my veins, and I rushed out of my designated prison area to throw my arms around Roark’s neck. Locking my legs around his waist, I jerked in a violent shudder as his palms cupped my ass. Mindlessly smashing my lips on his, I moaned softly as he reeled. When he hit the ground, my entire room rattled around us, and I opened my mouth to lick his upper lip. Desire coated my tongue, making that tiny taste an addictive ripple across my taste buds, and he wasted no time returning the favor.

Thick and heady, Roark’s saliva sent tingles across my face as our tongues tangled together, and he cupped the back of my head firmly. Tilting my hips, I moaned loudly when he squeezed my butt cheek. Curling tightly, he fisted my hair to force us apart, leaving me panting and aching as I sat astride him. The bulge in his pants was barely noticeable, but it was there; he wasn’t hard from one, impulsive kiss, and he didn’t seem inclined to get to that point.

I didn’t realize I’d closed my eyes until I had to force them open, and I tensed at the frown Roark offered me. From under furrowed brows, he stared at me through narrowed eyes, and I licked my lips nervously. Tightening from the sudden loss of heat, my breasts welted in goosebumps before he opened his mouth.

“Don’t grind. I don’t want to take you on an uncomfortable futon, Ally.” My eyes widened at that- Take me? It would’ve been so much easier to call it ‘fucking’ or even ‘having sex’.

“I’m sorry. You’re right, Roark- I just… I got swept up in the moment… uh-“ Awkwardly pushing myself to my feet, I raked my hand through my hair only to feel my fingers tremble slightly. Tension coiled tightly in my abdomen, but before I could move my stiff legs, Roark’s hands were gripping my inner thighs. The rough calluses on his palms and fingers scraped sensually against my skin, and I sucked in air with a whistle when his fingertips came dangerously close to my panty line.

“Relax.” Deep and slow, the demand rattled my spine, and I dug my toes into the carpet as Roark massaged my inner thighs. “You did nothing wrong, Ally.”

My fingers had a mind of their own, burying themselves in Roark’s hair when he kissed my sensitive flesh. Clenching my jaw tightly, I squeezed my eyes shut to focus on the sensation of his lips and teeth and tongue. It was a soft graze or tiny lick, but it wasn’t enough.

“We need to stop.” Weak and breathy, I was blessed I didn’t stutter, and I forced my eyelids apart. Meeting Roark’s gaze as he gazed up my front, I held my breath in quivering lungs. His eyes were bright, and my legs gave out to send me sinking into his lap. Wrapping my arms around his neck once again, I stuck my face in his neck to take a deep, shuddering breath. There was no wine to taint his breath, and his manly scent slithered up my nostrils to caress the crevices of my brain.

Softly stroking my hair, Roark anchored his arm around my waist, and I relished his comforting warmth and the erratic beat of his heart in sync with mine.

“I don’t know if it’s possible to mess this up…” Mumbling softly against my ear, Roark inhaled loudly, and I pursed my lips together as he voiced what simultaneously excited and terrified me. “But we’re going to take it slow, Ally. I’m going to prove that you can trust me- with everything.”

“I don’t need you to prove anything, Roark.” Pulling back to capture Roark’s gaze, I held his cheeks in my hand as a small frown wiggled into place between my cheeks. “One day, you’ll feel like you’ve proven yourself, and you’ll stop trying.”

Emotion strangled my words, and I blinked hard at the memories of my last relationship. In truth, we’d both stopped trying- but I refused to make that same mistake again. I refused to let Roark make that mistake. He was in a terrible marriage for five years, and that alone should’ve wiped away any doubt about the issue. His smile was soft, understanding, and I blinked hard at the blinding sight.

“Even if we never become more than a collection of awkwardly intimate dates, I would never abandon you. Anything you do, anything you want, I’ll support you, Ally.” A hint of amusement sparkled in Roark’s eyes, and my lip twitched as my mind filtered through the absurd possibilities he offered. “I got my second chance- a clean slate. I don’t need to hit you with my car to give you that.”

Huffing a soundless laugh, I shook my head slightly and slid my hands to Roark’s shoulders. Using him to help me up, I stepped out of his reach to watch him stand. His fingers didn’t wait to reach out to me, and my eyes fluttered when he adjusted my forgotten hat.

“You make a beautiful queen. Maybe I’ll get you a crown.” A fierce heat flushed my cheeks, and Roark smirked broadly. The lump that formed in my throat stifled my breaths, and I glanced around before moving to sit on my futon. Without invitation, he followed me to drape his arm over my shoulders, and I nestled into his side as he searched for the television remote.

Flipping through fantasy movies, Roark stopped on what looked like a B-rated retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I hadn’t seen this particular rendition yet, and he made the decision to watch it in less time than it took to take a breath. Contentedness spread through my chest, and he slouched into the couch to cross his legs and hold me tighter.

This was a scene I had only seen in movies; Tommy would’ve never considered lounging on the couch to be romantic. We’d need to go to the movies, or dinner, or the park- the list went on and on but never included mundane tasks.

“… I didn’t peg you as a fantasy lover, Roark.” Speaking up softly past the opening credits, I tilted my head to feel Roark shrug gently. He didn’t look at all begrudged, and I smiled when his eyes flickered to me.

“You do, though.”

Throughout the movie, it was obvious that Roark wasn’t paying attention. He caressed my shoulder absently, staring at the television but not actually seeing it. Against my side, he was relaxed, but his jaw ticked every so often to send barely noticeable ripples through my hair. There were no other signs of what he was thinking, and I reached across him midway through to pause the film.

“Tell me what’s wrong, Roark.” For a long moment, Roark didn’t answer me; he didn’t even acknowledge what I’d said. Watching him stare, I opened my mouth to ask again before his nostrils flared and chest expanded to its limit.

“The funeral… That could’ve been me.” That was the real reason he was here, and Roark’s voice wobbled dangerously towards the end. “It was a closed casket… but when I looked, all I could picture was myself inside it. Everyone said I was lucky to be alive after the car accident, and I never really knew how to respond. But- back there- I really realized how lucky I was.”

Sadness pierced my heart, sending tendrils of ice threading through my veins, and I snuggled deeper into Roark’s side. My chest ached for him and his ordeal, and he exhaled roughly to frown into my hair.

“I never thought of what I went through as a near-death experience. I was just glad I didn’t have to deal with Carla. Being at the wake gave me a glimpse of what could’ve been my reality. If I died in that accident, I would’ve spent my entire adult life being manipulated by a terrible wife who was a worse person. I wouldn’t be here to help Julianne get through Wells Academy. So… I guess… I’m just realizing that not all of my problems were about Carla, and the ones that were- well, they’re not really problems anymore.”

The solemn quality in Roark’s voice watered my eyes, and I tore my gaze off him to stare at my lap. My mind was blank in the face of what he’d revealed, and he didn’t say anything more in the growing silence. Sticking to the roof of my mouth, my tongue dried even as I searched for something to say.

But Roark wasn’t looking for an answer, and he wordlessly grabbed the remote to turn the movie back on. Staring blankly at the television, I nibbled my lips before deciding that there just wasn’t anything I could say. I had no idea what almost dying felt like; I had no idea about what he went through because it wasn’t publicized, and I wasn’t going to ask.