The Forever of Ella and Micha

but Anna told me to be my own judge of situations. Right now, I’m having fun and don’t want it to end, so I get to my feet and stand up on the mattress.
    “Just don’t break anything,” I warn, pointing at the glass lamps all around the room and the portraits on the wall. “And don’t break me.”
    He smiles darkly. “Oh trust me, I’ve got big plans for you when I win.”
    I start to head for the side of the bed, but he matches my move and blocks my path with his arms out to my side.
    To throw him off, I skitter to the other side but then whirl and backtrack, shooting for the open gap as I leap onto the floor and hurry toward the sofa.
    “This isn’t supposed to be a game of tag.” He winds around the couch toward me and I dash to the other side. “You have to at least try to pin me to the ground.”
    I back toward the bathroom, debating whether or not to lock myself in there. “As soon as I’m within arm’s reach, I know I’ve lost.”
    He stalks toward me, his lean arms flexing as he pops his knuckles. “Come on, challenge me. You know you want to. That is unless you’re too scared.”
    He’s intentionally trying to get under my skin and it’s working. I search for a solution and smile when I find one. With trembling fingers, I grab the bottom of my shirt, raise it over my head, and shake my hair out.
    He leisurely takes in my bare skin and black bra. “Nice move.”
    I inch toward him and he matches my steps so we meet in the center of the room. I extend my hand for him, with no other plan than to graze my fingers along his stomach muscles, but he seizes my wrist and crashes our bodies together.
    He lifts me up and my legs secure around his hips as his long legs stride toward the bed.
    “This isn’t wrestling,” I say, throwing my head back, laughing.
    His lips upturn to a conspiratorial grin as he brushes my hair out of my eyes. “I’m not going to throw you down on the floor to do this.”
    “Do what?” I ask as he falls down on the bed, landing on top of me.
    “This.” With a sinister look in his eyes, he gathers my wrists in one hand, rendering me captive, while putting a leg on either side of me.
    My body writhes. “How do I tap out?”
    He leans in closely and strands of his blond hair tickle my cheeks. “You don’t.” He grazes his finger along my rib cage and I jerk upward.
    “Don’t you dare,” I advise, squirming to get away “I mean it. It’s not funny and this time I’ll get you back.”
    His fingers move along my stomach, dithering, before he squeezes my side. My muscles tense as I squeal. “Micha, please don’t,” I beg, forcing back the laughter. “I’ll do anything you want, just don’t tickle me.”
    He moves his hand away, looking pleased. “And that’s how you win wrestling.”
    I stare up at him with anger in my eyes, but my body is ecstatic with being concealed beneath his. “That was a dirty move.”
    “What can I say, I like to play dirty.” He pauses, with his eyes piercing into mine as his breathing speeds up. “Ella… I’m not sure how far to push you. I know you said you needed time to get better, but you’re lying under me and it feels so fucking good—all I want to do is touch you right now.”
    My chest heaves as I imagine his hands all over me and my therapist’s words echo in my head:
baby steps
. “You can touch me if you want… But just take it slow.”
    He waits for me to retract my statement, but I clench my lips shut with nervousness and anticipation. Purposely, his hand tracks up my side and toward my breast as he gazes into my eyes. When his hand arrives at the bottom of my bra, he stops to test my reaction. I lay motionless, craving for him to go further, and bow into him.
    His aqua eyes blaze as his fingers slide underneath my bra while his mouth dips toward my neck. Sucking on my skin just below my ear, his hand massages my breast and his thumb brushes across my nipple. He doesn’t try to take my bra off and instead of his hand going into my pants, he keeps it on the outside as he rubs me between my legs.
    He’s keeping a boundary, so he won’t take it too far. I love him so much there are no words to describe it. I’m extremely lucky to have him. I make a promise to myself that I will work on giving him what he wants and try to make him happy.
    Seconds later, a blissful moan escapes my lips as he momentarily takes my anxiety away.

Chapter 13
Micha
    The next day is the transplant thing and we meet up with