Chapter 1572 - Testing The Boundaries Of Comfort

A light knock on the open door of the bedroom got Ron's attention.

"Hey…" Zula called.

Ron blinked at the sight of Zula in her pajamas, slightly out of breath because she was running. And she is holding onto a familiar box.

"I couldn't sleep, so I came here." Zula said. "I hope you don't mind."

Ron scrambled off the bed and a split second later, stood in front of Zula. "Of course, I don't mind."

Zula walked to the small table next to the sofa chair and took the crystal figurine with two hummingbirds out of the box. 

"I would like to keep it in the living room, but it can stay here, for now." Zula told Ron when she put the figurine on the table.

Ron smiled. Her comment means that she wants to move into the apartment with him! "Whatever you say."

He watched Zula remove her shoes and climb on the bed.

"Are you coming?" Zula asked.

Ron's smile widened.

Ron pulled Zula into a hug and kissed her forehead. "Thank you for coming."

Zula put her head at the crook of Ron's neck.

"Thank you for your patience." Zula responded. "I missed your hugs. I missed your proximity. I missed you. I don't think that I can sleep without you by my side."

Ron felt his heart expanding. "I am glad to hear that, because I feel the same."

He thought about everything they went through and how they are now in a dimly lit room, under the cover, sharing the bed and he confirmed how all this is amazing. But he was frustrated by the fact that he is not making much progress in getting rid of his demons. When he least suspects it, when he is not ready, the horrid memories come into his mind and mess up with him. So far it was only with him, but that morning, Zula was impacted as well. 

Ron got an idea. If the demons attack when he is not ready, he will get ready (how much possible) and not allow them to catch him unprepared.

He took Zula's hand and guided it to rest on his waist, under his pajama top.

Zula's eyes widened when she touched his skin. It would not be a big deal if so far Ron didn't reject any skin-to-skin touch that was beyond hands and face.

"Are you sure this is OK?" Zula asked in a whisper.

"I realized that I associate these things with my stepmother because no one else touched me like that. I want to erase bad memories with good ones. With you, and only with you, everything is good." Ron explained.

Zula was happy to hear that he is thinking of ways to erase invisible stains that despicable woman left on his life.

She moved her hand a bit. "Let me know if it's too much and you are uncomfortable."

Ron sat up on the bed and removed his pajama top.

"Zula, you are my girlfriend. No matter where you want to touch me, there is no need to ask for permission or to check if it's too much." Ron responded while getting back under the cover.

Zula's face was on fire. Did he remove his top? Oh, my… How is she supposed to hug him like this? Where should she put her hands? It's one thing to sneak a hand under the t-shirt, but this is a totally different level!

"Ah!" Zula exclaimed when Ron hugged her. Her hands were on the side, away from her (and his) body, like she is afraid to touch him.

Ron chuckled. "It's OK. If I can get used to this, so can you. And I know that you want to feel me out for a long time. This is your chance, don't waste it."

Zula was not sure how to react to this. "Uhm… you want to get used to someone touching you?"

"Not someone. You." Ron took Zula's hand into his and placed her palm over his chest. "See? Like this."

Zula stared at Ron while trying to figure out what is going on. But then she understood that he probably feels guilty about that morning and he wants to make it up to her. Somehow.

She wanted to tell him that he does not need to do all this, and that they can take it as slow as he needs, but then she felt his heart thumping wildly against her palm.

"Are you OK?"

Ron was surprised by this question. What is going on in her mind? "Yeah. Why do you ask?"

"Because I can feel your heart. And it's restless."

Ron smiled. "I am happy that you are by my side."

Well, Zula is happy as well, but part of her fears that Ron will have another flashback. She is not sure how she would handle that. "Are you sure that you are not… uncomfortable?"

"I told you that it's fine. As long as it's you."

Slowly, Zula inched closer, until she rested her head on his shoulder.

"It feels awkward." Zula said after some time.

"What?"

"That you don't have a top."

"You can remove yours, it will be less awkward." Ron said cheekily. He felt that Zula stiffened at his words and added: "You don't need to do it if you don't want to. It was a joke."

"A joke?"

"No. It was not a joke." Ron admitted. "I would love it if you remove your top, but I have a feeling that you are not willing, so I said that to make you feel better for refusing to do it." 

Zula felt guilt swell inside her. Ron is the one who is going above and beyond to prove to her that he is OK with her proximity, and he is comforting her while doing so. She thought about removing her top. Can she do it? It's just a top, and he already saw her and touched, and even kissed. And the room is dimly lit, and they are under the cover…

Ron widened his eyes when he saw Zula inching away before she dove under the cover. After a few seconds of shuffling, her head peeked out and her pajama top was on the floor, next to the bed.

She moved toward him and went back to rest her head on his shoulder, with her body staying a few inches away from his, not daring to look at him.

Ron reached and pulled her closer to him. He held his breath when he felt that skin-to-skin contact.

"You are not wearing a bra?"

"Not when I'm sleeping." Zula informed him. Didn't he notice that morning when he pushed her top up that there was no bra?

Ron felt Zula's skin pressing onto his. He was already aroused, but this made it several folds worse.

"I don't think that I will be able to sleep like this." Ron admitted.

Zula thought that he is uncomfortable because it's too much. Well, she was correct, but the type of 'uncomfortable' was off. She turned her back on him. "Is this better?"

Ron wanted to hug her, but he was not sure where his hands would end up. Actually, he knew where they want to go, but he didn't know if Zula will approve.

"Maybe you should put your top on." Ron suggested.

"Why?" Zula liked the feeling of Ron's chest against her back. "You don't like it?"

"That's not it. I am afraid that I might end up touching you inappropriately."

"Is there a part of me you didn't touch already?" Zula asked in a whisper.

Ron understood Zula's question as an OK to proceed with whatever is on his mind. He swallowed hard. "Zula, are you sure? I find your proximity to be intoxicating and with all this… I don't know if I will be able to stop. I really want to touch you, and much more than that."

Zula felt her heart thumping in her throat. Is Ron saying that he wants to go all the way? She thought about it so many times! Is it going to happen? Tonight?

"Ron, we spoke about this more than once. I love you and I don't mind you touching me. Everything you did so far felt good. But I know that you have reservations, so I will leave it up to you."

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