Fragile Love

by Mack Black

  "Me too," I said, barely a whisper.

  I wasn't sure what to say. I wasn't sure of anything right now. I was so afraid to get my hopes up.

  "It was so stupid. I was stupid. Please, can we just go back to the way it was? I miss you so much." She stopped, and for several moments, nothing was said.

  I could only hear the noises in her background surrounded with the sound of her breathing. It almost sounded like traffic. Was Bella walking somewhere?

  The sound of her heavy breathing mixed with an almost dinging sound now and it made it hard to hear her. "Open the door. I have something really important to tell you."

  For a moment, I didn’t move as I let the words sink in.

  I jumped up and rushed to the door, jerking it open. There she stood on my doorstep, staring at me with bright eyes. I made no attempt to move, too stunned and confused. Although, I didn’t turn away either.

  When she still said nothing, only stood there trying to find her voice, I snapped out of it and pulled her into my arms. As I kissed the top of her head, I closed the door behind us.

  She moved away, staring up at me again. Her mouth opened but nothing came out. I didn't know what the heck was happening. She closed her mouth and opened it again, hitting her palm against her forehead when no words came out.

  "What's wrong with me? Why can't I say it?" She berated herself, hitting her forehead repeatedly.

  I tugged on her arm, moving it away from her face and holding it by her side. "Say what Bella? What's going on?" My other hand came up to rest against her cheek as my index finger stroked it. "Tell me please."

  She looked into my eyes and a tear slipped out, falling down her cheeks. "I realized something that tore me apart inside, piece by piece," she said.

  "What did you realize?" I was hanging on every word, thinking of all the possibilities.

  "I realized that..." She paused, searching my eyes for something. "That…"

  When it became apparent she couldn't finish the sentence, I leaned down and kissed her, both of my hands cupping her face. My lips moved against hers and she closed her eyes and tilted her head back.

  I pulled back from the kiss, looking at her. She stared at me again for several seconds. Just as I was about to lean in for another kiss, she finally spoke, and her words blew me away.

  "I fucking love you, James."

  My knees suddenly felt wobbly and the room started to spin. I blinked several times and then everything went black.

  "James." I could hear Bella calling my name as something hard slapped across my cheek.

  I jumped up, searching the room for anything and everything all at once.

  "Fuck are you okay?" she asked, reaching over to feel my forehead.

  "Yeah. What did you say now?" I responded, wanting to clarify I’d heard what I thought I had.

  "I said, ‘I fucking love you James.’" she said, louder and more sure of herself.

  "That's what I thought," I said, closing my eyes again.

  She lowered her head, swallowing hard. Her chin trembled, and I thought she might cry. I stepped forwards and grasped her face in my hands.

  "I love you too Bella. I've loved you for a long time, and I'm not stopping now. Don't you ever doubt that." I leaned in and kissed her, reaching behind her to deadbolt the door.

  I turned us around and pushed on her shoulders, my lips staying attached to hers all the way into the bedroom, where I guided her onto my bed and trapped her beneath my body.

  "I've played this out in my head for a week now," I said, kissing the skin along her neck.

  Her head tilted back into the pillows, granting me access, as her fingers ran into my hair. I thought back to the coffee shop guy, and looked down at the girl beneath me, the girl who loved me. I realized in that moment, she was the replica of that guy.

  Everything about her was perfect. Each contour of her body was carved like art that should be displayed in a fine arts museum. And I was the luckiest guy because she was mine.

  It didn't matter that I wasn't perfect or that I had issues that went so deep not even superheroes could save me. This beautiful girl said she loved me. She loved me.

  My hands moved beneath her shirt and lifted it over her head. Then, I slid one behind her back and pressed her closer towards me, kissing along her chest. My free hand went behind her back, too, but to struggle with her bra clasp.

  "No James, I'm serious. I love you and I don't even know when it happened," she said, panting between words as I continued to kiss her.

  I slipped the straps down her arms and discarded the bra on the floor.

  "I don't even know when—oh Dio," she cried out as I bit down on her.

  She gave up talking after that. Her hands ran up and down my back. I captured her lips with mine again, then pushed her back into the pillows. My hands found her waist, my fingers hooking through the loops of her jeans. I yanked them down along with her panties and threw them to the floor beside her bra. I didn't really care about anything except putting my face between her thighs.

  She was my drug, and I had just spent a week without her.

  I got on my knees at the end of the bed and tugged her legs until she was where I needed her to be. Then I dove in. I groaned as the sweet smell of honeysuckles hit my nostrils, driving me into a frenzy.

  Her hips rose and met my face, driving herself into me.

  "Come è possibile si può essere così bravo a questo?" she cried out.

  "What?" I said, blowing a breath against her.

  “I said, how is it possible you can be so good at this?” She panted the words. Her fingers yanked at my hair, desperate for me to stop and come back to her lips. I didn't want to leave the sweet nectar between her legs, but I also wanted to be somewhere else too.

  I crawled back to her lips while I jerked my pants down. My shirt came next, but I fell on her when I was trying to look sexy. She burst into laughter, and I couldn’t help but join her.

  Without missing a beat, I grabbed a condom from my nightstand and put it on.

  She stopped laughing when I sank into her. So did I. I lost myself in how good it felt to be intimate with her again.

  I’d thought it would never happen again, that we were over. Man, I’d been surprised when it turned out she loved me. So surprised I passed out. No one ever did that, except me.

  Without even realizing it, I sped up and pounded into her. She kept saying my name, barely able to even get that out. When I looked down at her face once more, seeing her pleasure spelled out there, I burst.

  Completely spent, I fell over beside her and closed my eyes.

  "I love you Bella. It feels so good to finally say that," I said, grasping her hand between our naked shaking bodies.

  "Remember when I woke up naked next to you and freaked out a little bit?" she asked.

  "Yeah?" I opened my eyes and turned to face her.

  "That was when I think I realized I loved you, but I kind of panicked and brushed it off. I thought maybe I was just caught up in the moment because we had amazing sex and I didn't want to hurt you if that was all it was. I didn't really think about it again until we got into that fight." She turned and met my eyes.

  I leaned in and kissed her again, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and letting my hand hover there.

  It was silent between us for a few moments and I couldn't help but feel like everything felt right.

  "I think I liked you all along and just didn't realize it. I used to threaten girls who tried to talk to you, even the nice ones." She closed her eyes, as a laugh edged its way out.

  "Nice to know you were the reason I never had a real girlfriend." I mock growled.

  "I haven't introduced you to my dad yet because I'm afraid it will be worse than the dinner with my sister," I admitted.

  "I haven't told my parents about you either. My stepdad will freak. Since I mentioned you five years ago, he always told me I’d marry you. Which is why I haven’t said anything. When I do, he’ll probably start pl
anning our wedding. My mother too.” She wrinkled her nose, poking me in the side to get a reaction out of me.

  I was ticklish as all get out, and she knew it.

  "Bella, I need to ask you something serious."

  She stopped messing around and looked up at me, giving me her undivided attention.

  "Do you know about my step mom and my sister? We've never discussed it. I've never discussed it with anyone except the police. Not even my sister." This was incredibly hard for me, but it was something I needed to get in the open to stop it from getting between us.

  "Yes. I always knew when you were ready we’d talk about it, and until then it was best to just leave it be. I have to be honest about something too, James." Her words came out almost a whisper and I had to strain to hear her.

  I was starting to panic a little as I wondered what she was about to say.

  "I only approached you that day because I knew you were fragile. I heard all around campus about you and everything that happened. So, I befriended you because I knew you could use a friend. I knew exactly who you were that day, even though I pretended I didn't. When Elise brought it up and I saw the look on your face, I knew not to ever mention it again." She pulled away from me, probably assuming I’d recoil.

  I wanted to. That meant our entire friendship was based on a lie, but in the end, did she really do me wrong? Her intentions were pure. If it’d happened any other way, I wouldn't have allowed myself to get close to her. I would’ve thought her end game was the same as the rest of the pretty girls who used me for fun. So, should I even be mad?

  No. I shouldn’t. After staring at her a while, I leaned in and gave her a kiss.

  "Look, you didn't have malicious intentions, so it's not that big of a deal.” I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “The reason I’m the way I am is because I became emotionally crippled after Charlotte wrecked my family. I haven't really ever had a mother figure, come to think of it. All the women in my life hurt me. Then, add that to all the potential girlfriends I had that weren't even real. I was just a piece of meat to them.” I frowned, but continued anyways. “I have serious trust issues, but I want to believe you’ll be my anomaly. We are going to fight, and there will be times I question you, but if you are willing to work with me and stick with me, I think we could achieve something that not many people ever do." I stopped there, giving her a chance to process everything I said.

  "I'm here aren't I?" she asked.

  “I want that, and I'm hoping you’re that person for me. For six years now, I’ve hoped you were that person for me." I stared into her eyes, gauging her reaction, but she showed me nothing.

  "Spero che io sono quella persona per te," she said as she gave me a soft smile.

  "I don't know what that means."

  "It means that I hope I am that person for you too."

  I held her tighter, resting my forehead on hers. "I love you."

  She grinned, sliding her fingers into my hair to hold my head still. "I love you too."

  "Will you come with me to her execution? I know that's such a morbid thing to ask, especially after all the love talk, but I'm asking it anyways."

  She looked up at me with a tear in her eye and said, "Of course I will James. This is a big part of your life and I want to be there for you."

  I leaned in and kissed her, rubbing her cheek with my thumb. "I think that's enough talk about Charlotte today. Can we change the subject?"

  Bella nodded, crawling into my lap and taking my face in her hands. “Anything you want.”

  "You know, it would be fun to be other people for a while. I fantasize about that sometimes."

  "Tell me more," She demanded.

  I smirked. "Once, I fantasized you were my teacher and I was a horny student who did everything I could to get into your pants," I offered.

  "Sounds kind of fun."

  We both laughed. Then, even more scenarios flashed through my mind, and Bella was the star of each one. I had a feeling she was thinking the same thing based on the way she squirmed in my lap.

  "It is fun." I lifted my hips as I met her eyes. “We definitely need to try it sometime.”

  "Indeed. So, there's something I've been meaning to give you," she said, reaching into her pocket and pulling something out. She kept her hand wrapped in a fist around it, so I couldn’t tell what it was.

  "A gift?" I gasped. "For me?"

  She laughed, punching me in the shoulder with her fist. "Since we've taken a step forward in our relationship and admitted we love each other, I thought it was fitting to give you this." She took my hand and held out my palm, dropping a golden keychain into it, a single key dangling from it. "It's the key to my house. I've never given it to anyone. Not once. Which makes you the special one."

  "Say something James," she urged, grabbing me and shaking.

  "I don't know what to say." I let out a breath, trying to find the words to convey what I was feeling. "Was it too soon? Did I screw up?" She looked down at the floor, her cheeks red as a tomato.

  I lifted her chin, forcing her to look at me dead in the eye. "No. I just wasn't expecting it is all," I said honestly. "I like it a lot."

  I stood now, walking into the small kitchen and opening a drawer to rummage through the junk. I found what I was looking for and lifted it, wrapping my fingers around it. When I returned, she stared at the floor again while she toed the rug.

  "Here's mine." I opened my fist, letting the key dangle from my finger.

  She reached up and took it with a smile.

  "I'll just have to remember that you could walk in at any time, so I should keep some things hidden." I smirked.

  "Oh no.” She chuckled. “I'm going to come here while you're at work and find the porn stash. I might even have to watch them without you."

  "You wouldn't dare!" I said, my tone high-pitched.

  "I might even find your blowup girlfriend." She was so serious I wondered if she actually thought I had a blow-up doll.

  "You're the only girl I need." I even winked at her for effect.

  "Nice save, Winters." She tapped my nose with her long, tan finger.

  "You sound like a coach." I laughed.

  A glint sparkled in her eye as she thought about my words. "Drop and give me fifty." The corners of her mouthed curved upwards.

  I thought for a second, wondering if I should play along. Instead, I decided on another tactic.

  "I know something else I can give you fifty of." My eyes hooded as my gaze roamed her body, from head all the way down to foot.

  "Don't make me tell you again or it will be a hundred." She dragged a finger across my shoulders.

  "Yes ma’am!" I yelled, raising my hand to salute her.

  As I stood from the couch, I gripped my shirt and pulled it over my head, almost like a striptease. Bella’s eyes stayed on me, even when I tossed it at her and positioned myself on the floor in front of the coffee table. Then I glanced at her once before my first pushup.

  I did twenty-five before looking at her again. She was biting her bottom lip, gripping the edge of the couch as if she had to hold herself back.

  "Accidenti questo caldo!" She pressed her thighs together.

  "Does that mean I should do more?" I asked as I rounded off to an even fifty.

  "Oh yes."

  Since I usually did more, I hadn’t even broken a sweat, so I kept going. After another fifty, I stood and stretched my arms out, glancing back at her. “Anything else, coach?”

  She shook her head. "I think that was enough, but let me tell you, as I said before, that was hot." She spoke through clenched teeth.

  I plopped down on the couch beside her. "So, when you spoke in Italian, you were telling me how hot I am? Thanks babe." I grinned, reaching over and trailing a finger up her thigh.

  "Sorry I get riled up and forget you can't speak Italian. Even though sometimes I do it on purpose." She winked.

  Her breath hitched when my finger reached the top of her thigh. "Come to think of it, y
ou can do another fifty, but this time I'm going to lay right under you." She moved to the floor and laid on her back.

  I dropped to my knees and steadied my hands on each side of her head. I lifted and pressed back down, my body fitting perfectly against hers. When I went up again, her fingers dug into my back.

  By the time I made it to ten pushups, she grasped hold of me and refused to let me back up. Her lips molded to mine like a puzzle piece, and when she kissed me, it was with a sweet frenzy I’d never felt from her.

  "Coach, you shouldn't be kissing me. This is-this is—Oh fuck it," I said, pressing myself into her harder.

  Her legs wrapped around my waist and her fingers gripped my hair. "Shh, no one will know. Just take me right here on my desk," she cried out, arching her neck towards my open mouth.

  I used one arm to slide everything from my coffee table to the floor and I picked her up and laid her across it. In one swift motion, I had her panties around her ankles. I leaned down to kiss her as I inched inside her.

  Truth be told, I’d been ready to go as soon as I pressed against her, but playing along with the role, pretending to be in such a forbidden situation, was too much fun to pass up.

  She ran her hands up my abs, crying out in pure ecstasy as I pumped into her with reckless abandon. I didn't care that I hadn't wrapped it first since I was a master at the art of pulling out.

  "Oh Winters, you naughty, naughty boy!" she screamed.

  "I'm a very naughty boy, coach.”

  With one hand, I tucked her hair behind her ear. The other groped her nipple.

  "James!" she moaned as she lost herself around me. I pulled out and emptied myself with a long sigh.

  She yanked her panties up and we both stood. "Back to the game, Winters." She grunted, slapping my ass as hard as she could. "Win it for me and we can do this again."

  DING!

  "Hah!" Bella roared with laughter. "Saved by the bell. I don't think I can go another round. We have sex way too much, but I still love it."

  I burst into laughter beside her, rolling off the bed to pull my shorts on and dispose of the mountain of condoms on my floor. I wasn’t complaining.