STRAWBERRY MILK

2

i.

There is this warm place between the soft hums of bolsters and the fluttering eyelashes of laughter that John likes to call home. It is filled with delicate touches, light colors, constantly murmuring that this is exactly where he is supposed to be. It's soft hair, and creamy skin, and lips like strawberry milk.

Katy's hair is tickling his neck and her head is heavy against John's chest. Faint breaths brush over his collarbones, his pretty girl sleeping soundly beside him. Katy's legs are tucked in and tangled with his own, and the blankets are supple to their skin. John watches her sleep; her eyelids flit, and her nose twitches, and a little noise slips from her mouth and into the early morning air.

John smiles, runs his thumbs over the girl's cheek, and shifts so he is on his side and can pull her in closer.

(He kisses her lips softly, even though they are cracked.

There is no symbolism in it, just love.)

ii.

"Katy!" 

John wiggles against the circle rug that covers Katy's bedroom, only in his pants as Katy, who is laughing contently above him, straddles him. Her hands trail down John's sides, pinching here and their, making him spit out laughs with tinted cheeks. Katy is giggling too; her mouth wide open, dimples caving deep holes into her cheeks as she presses closer to John, feeling him squirm beneath her. John can turn his head against the floor and peek under Katy's bed; he sees a crown and a sparkly dildo tucked carefully under, almost like Katy is trying to hide them. John feels his stomach swoop with dejection at the cinch thought, but he ignores it, not wanting to make Katy uncomfortable by questioning her on it.

"Say you're sorry!" Katy urges above him, sneaking her hands under John's shirt to make him look back up at her.

Loud laughter pours from John's mouth, and he yells out, "Never!"

Katy pets at his side again, giggling above him with bright eyes that reflect back into his own in vibrant ribbons of golden elation.

God, he is so in love,

Despite Katy being the personification of a soft, glowing star in the distance, John can't help but to quickly grab Katy's waist to roll them over, so he is the one on top. He grabs Katy's wrists, pinning her down as his lips curve into a smirk and he cocks an eyebrow.

And it flashes quickly, but John catches it. He catches the way Katy's eyes widen, and her eyebrows line, and her cheeks turn white.

(She's scared.)

John's smirk fades as he swallows his hurt, loosening his grip on Katy's wrists before completely dropping them to her sides, retracting his hands back to himself. He smiles weakly, the silence of the room biting at his skin, crawling into his bones, making him feel a strange sort of weakness that sits in his throat, choking him, making him feel uncomfortable in his own skin,

Katy laughs below him reassuringly, though, cheeks returning to their natural pink color. She smiles encouragingly, so John returns it. Fingers are trailing up his arms and Katy's thumbs rub over the inside of his elbows.

But they both know. John lightly trails his fingers over Katy's sides, making quiet giggles fall from the girl's lips as he leans down, kissing her so gently it takes both of their breath away.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, baby." It's tender and careful, and maybe he is apologising for taking the last apple slice from Katy's plate and then running from her, or maybe it is for anything and everything.

(John never wants to be the reason she flinches, never wants to remind Katy of him. Not even for a split second.)

Reassurance is Katy's hands moving up his arms to his shoulders, gripping them lightly and pulling him closer. Katy kisses John with her lips already parted, licking into his mouth with fervour, letting one of her hands move down his back, pushing John down so they are flush against each other; breathing trust and love and 'it's okay' against each other's cheeks.