Fool's Gold

I lay beside Enola in the sun. Her eyes were closed as she soaked up the warmth of the summer. She smiled a bit. Could she feel the warmth of my loving eyes as well? She turned onto her side and opened her eyes. She seemed happy that I had mocked her actions. She smoothed her fingers up my arm as delicately as she could. I smiled and brushed my fingers against her waist with just as much care as she was showing me. I loved these moments with her. Sure, we weren't saying anything, but we really didn't need to. All that needed to be said was in her eyes and in her touch. I felt goose bumps form on my arms as she traced each of my tattoos with her fingertips. Enola let her eyes roam my body slowly, examining every centimeter of me. I smiled warmly when her eyes met mine again. I felt my heart jump in my chest. The way she was looking at me was different from the day before. I wanted to know what was on her mind. I pulled my fingers from her waist to cup her cheek. She smiled and leaned into my hand, closing her eyes.
"Noli." I whispered to get her attention.
She shushed me, "Just feel, baby." I blushed slightly but did as she asked. I tried to do what she was doing. I concentrated on how soft her skin was under my fingertips. The way her chest rose and fell slowly. My heart did another flip in my chest when I focused on the way the sunlight illuminated every inch of her. She looked like a goddess, so fair and soft. She gazed into my eyes. I saw something in the blue pools that made me warm from the inside. She looked so happy, so filled with life. She was different from the girl I met in Ireland but in a good way. I shuddered as her hand took its place over my heart. I could feel her pulse through her fingers but after only a moment, I couldn't tell if it was her pulse or mine that I felt more. That had to mean something? I felt so connected to her that I couldn't tell our heartbeats apart. Did she feel it too? Did she feel that connected to me? I knew she couldn't say out loud that she loved me but there was something in her eyes, in her touch that made me believe she did. She had to. The heat, the passion, the tenderness between us was love. Even if she wasn't ready to admit it.

I entered the kitchen with Enola right at my side. WE volunteered to make dinner because we could tell that we were making the other boys uncomfortable with our silences and intense moments of being completely wrapped up in each other. We weren't being inappropriate, far from it. Enola and I had just been watching one another. Not a word was spoken between us, not even a sound was made. Enola was all about observing. She took in details like they were light. She soaked them in without hesitation. I knew the boys were weirded out by it because none of them had stopped talking. Plus, I could see it in their eyes that they were uneasy. But she made me feel calm and relaxed with her silence. We'd been telling each other everything without the boys ever knowing it.

Enola moved around me cautiously as I stood at the counter. She didn't want to cause an accident while we were handling fire and sharp objects. I watched her out of the corner of my eye. She had a look of concentration that was far too heavy for just making a dessert. I gently bumped her hips with my own. Enola's head lifted up and she giggled seeing how brightly I was smiling at her. She shook her head then returned to her project. I dropped the knife in my hand and moved behind her. I wrapped my arms around her waist with care. I moved my lips smoothly and unhurriedly down her neck. Her breath caught and she began to chew on her bottom lip. I glided my fingers up her arm just as slowly. Her breathing became a bit uneven.
"Harry." It came out of her mouth almost like a whimper.
"Yes, baby?" I replied barely letting my lips leave her skin.
Enola giggled quietly, "Cut it out."
I whined, "Why?"
She elbowed me in the abs gently, "Because, the boys are in the other room and I've not be kissed nearly enough today." I spun her to face me quickly. She squeaked quietly which made me chuckle. I brought her arms around my neck, before winding my own arms around her once more. I smiled at the way she fit with me. Neither of us had to stretch too far to hold each other. Every curve of her body meshed against me, like we were matching puzzle pieces. I locked my lips with hers. She melted into me after only a moment. I backed her up to the counter as she twined her fingers into my hair. I smiled into her lips; she had a fascination with my hair. She hummed softly when I began to stroke her skin at the small of her back lightly. I deepened the kiss just a little more to distract her from what I was attempting to do.
I dipped my finger into the frosting that she had made. I pulled back from the kiss with a cheeky grin. Enola lifted her eyebrow at me. I quickly dabbed the frosting onto her nose. She gasped and hit me gently. I laughed and licked the sweet confection off her nose.
"That's really good." I smirked pressing my forehead to hers. She twisted my curls around her finger as she gazed into my eyes. I pecked her nose quickly. Enola giggled and held me tighter. "What's on your mind?" I asked cautiously. I didn't want to make her upset when the boys weren't too far away, and I didn't want to ruin our last night together. Her face dropped and she loosened her grip on me, her arms falling from around my neck. "Noli, please, baby. Just tell me." I pleaded. I wanted her to confide in me the way she had been. The way I confided in her.
"It's nothing, Harry." She smiled reassuringly.
I sighed heavily, "Noli, come on. Something is eating at you." She searched my eyes with nervousness. She rested her forehead on my jaw and inhaled slowly. I felt fear grip my heart.
"This week has been...a lot." Enola began as she looked at me directly. I didn't move or say anything. I let her speak her mind. "Being here with you has been one of the most...incredible experiences of my life." She chuckled, "Even with your boys crashing in on us. They are lovely." I smiled slightly. "And you are amazing. I've never been this carefree and optimistic." Her smile faded a bit, "This trip has been so wonderful, I'm just processing it all.”
I ran my hand through her hair, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
The smile I loved to see returned, "There's nothing to help with. I'm just soaking all of this in." After a moment she said, "Actually, you could just hold me."I nodded and did as she asked. She sighed in contentment, laying her head on my shoulder. I pulled my fingers through her hair slowly, trying to give her the comfort she obviously needed.

Notes