Tatom had always resembled this pure, delicate white rose. From her very first baptism, Kennedy was the golden child of God. In that moment, kissing Lucifer, her mother would’ve told her that she was unpure. Yet, unpure had never felt so right to her. When the kiss broke, her hand’s untensed against him and she quickly cleared her throat. “I – No – you don’t have anything to apologize for…” Softly, she whispered to him while shaking her head. “I’m sorry.. That might’ve…That probably wasn’t a good kiss.” There was heat in her cheeks and this embarrassment that caused her head to drop. Pressing her palm flata gainst his chest, her teeth sank down into her bottom lip, “Don’t be sorry, please. I don’t want you to be.”

He shook his head at her, tilting her chin up and using his thumb to gently pull her lip from her teeth.  ❝ It was perfect... ❞ his voice cracked, because it was perfect. He took a deep, shaky breath, steeling himself for the heartbreak he was about to put himself through.  ❝ Tatom...I can’t...I’m not right for you. I’ve done horrible things and I c-can’t...I can’t ruin you like I did her...❞

    As if she couldn’t control how close her body moved towards him, her body impulsively came closer until there wasn’t a bit of room between them. No space at all, just relaxed into each other. His stubble against her fingertips were a new feeling, but one that she wanted to get used to. Never had she ever been in such a position with a boy, especially one that she had such interest in. Her mother told her that being in such a place with a boy led to temptations of any kind –.. and her mother was right. “Why – you – no, what are you sorry for?” Each word came out as if she were out of breath, and she hadn’t realized how tightly she’d been holding onto him. Before she could retaliate to the second apology, she felt their lips meet and static electricity surged through her veins. Her very first kiss, was she even doing it correctly? Letting her full lips relax against his, her muscles untensed with a long exhale before she began to kiss him back.

For the first time since the accident, he felt worthy. Worthy of forgiveness, worthy of hope. Worthy of love. He had always felt like a shattered vase, and since meeting her, Tatom had rearranged the broken mess and he could finally see a picture of what he used to be. As she responded to his kiss, he felt the pain slipping away ad in this moment, he was happy. Unfortunately, his self-loathing slowly started to creep back in under his skin and he forced himself to break the kiss. However he wasn’t able to go far, keeping less than an inch of space between them. ❝ I’m so sorry... ❞ He had torn out his heart to give it to her, and while he didn’t want it back, right now he was feeling the pain. It would be so easy to break her, and he couldn’t live with himself if he did.

    “Hey –..” Sliding her body in towards his, she felt the space between them slowly close. The ball of her thumb traced against his lips before speaking again, “Luce, you don’t know that. Nothing you have ever done or will ever do will cause me to hate you. I couldn’t hate you even if I tried.” Her gaze shifted up to look into his eyes, her free hand moving up to rest against his jaw.

He gave her a small, sad smile, but was soon distracted by her closeness. He wanted so badly to close the distance between them, but he felt that if he did, the blood on his hands would stain her porcelain skin and he couldn’t live with himself if he did. Even still, he couldn’t fight the pull he felt to inch just a little closer. The words slipped from his mouth before he could stop himself.  ❝ I’m sorry. ❞ he breathed, although he wasn’t sure what for. Sorry for what he had done, or what he was about to do.  ❝ I’m sorry. ❞ he repeated the words as the magnetism grew too strong and leaned in the last little bit until their lips met. It was beyond selfish of him, but didn’t he deserve a little bit of selfishness?

     Hearing his words caused her stomach to flutter. There was something so soothing in the way that he held her hand. “I don’t think that’s true.” Her tone matched his, words softly spoken as she brought the back of his hand up and rested it against her cheek. “You don’t give yourself enough credit, y’know?” Turning her head in, her lips gently rested against the top of his hand.

Her shook his head, gently guiding her hand towards him until the smooth skin of her hand pressed against his lips. ❝ I have done terrible things, Tatom. I have earned my name. If you knew, you’d hate me as much as I hate myself. ❞  

    Once he’d began to speak about his nightmares, she paid him more attention. Resting her head against her arm while still keeping her eyes on him. “That’s okay..” She wasn’t going to hold nightmares against him. “If you do – I’ll be right here, I promise.” Her words were followed by an assuring smile, soft-spoken words escaped her lips as her eyes trailed over him.

❝ I don’t deserve you. ❞ his voice was barely a whisper, and he carefully reached out and took her and in his, running his thumb along the back of her hand gently.

    “That sounds like a proper deal to me.” Her smile was enough to show the satisfaction that gave her, making her way over to the bed with the box of candy in hand. Collapsing onto the bed next to him, she rolled onto her side to glance over at him, “Though, if you do happen to fall asleep, I won’t hold it against you. I’ll probably even nap with you.”

He grinned, shifting over to make more room for her. ❝ You’re more than welcome to, but I’m apologizing in advance. I tend to...uhm...well, have n-nightmares, and can sometimes sc-scream... ❞

carpediemnat 

“Sadly not the worst pickup line i’ve ever heard. I’m Natasha by the way, but feel free to call me Nat or Sasha, whichever is easiest.”

❝ W-Well I ap-apologize on behalf o-of all m-men. P-Pleasure, I’m L-Lucifer. ❞

sebwyd 

 “By all means, sleep there as naked as you like. I will invite my boyfriend and we will stand by and watch you - you know, make sure no one disturbs your sleep.”

❝ I’m n-not n-n-naked, I still have m-my swim trunks on. A-And...uhm...th-that’s alright, don’t w-worry about me. ❞

   “I’m going to hold you to that, especially now that you’ve promised. All you can eat candy is the best kind of candy. Though, I don’t think I’ve ever found your talking to be annoying, so I’d much rather you be awake. You’d be depriving me of conversation, that’s awfully cruel of you.”

❝ I’ll make you a deal. You grab that box of candy and j-join me over here, and I promise I’ll stay awake for you. ❞

gtgharley 

“Don’t you have anything else besides candy?” she asked with a small pout. “I want real food, not tiny snacks.”

❝ A-Ah, no...sorry. Just c-candy. ❞

carpediemnat 

“I never thought I would say this, but a guy actually came up to me and used the pickup line “daddy’s home” to get me to give him my number.”

❝ Th-That’s...uhm..w-w-wow... ❞

auroraholtz 

“Nope nope, water freaks me out. No it’s okay, as long as I don’t physically get in i’ll be okay. You’re Candy Andy, that’s adorable, I want to put you in my pocket.”

❝ That’s alright, there are plents of other fun things to do in Cancun without water! Candy Andy’s is the name of my shop in London, but my actual name is Lucifer.❞

     “I wish you would’ve invited me. I’ll invite myself the next time and tag along. Though, knowing that it would’ve been me does make a girl feel pretty special. What’s the fun in that, though?”

❝ Next time, I’ll invite you. I promise. There is plenty of fun in that! You get all of the candy you want! Plus, my company, without all of the annoying talking! ❞

jessicascott 

“Well a two hour swim will definitely tire you out. I’m literally only here for the candy you don’t have to mind me or anything, i’ll be silent as a mouse!”

❝ Most people are only here for the candy. You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like, I don’t normally actually sleep when I try to. ❞

auroraholtz 

“You went for a two hour swim? Do you know what’s in the water out here? There could have been jellyfish, oh gosh i’m freaking out just thinking about it. You have a box of candy just lying around? You might have just become my new favorite person.” 

❝ Honestly, if I don’t think about it, I don’t worry about it. No! Don’t freak out! I’m sorry! I always have candy laying around. I’m Candy Andy, it’s what I do. ❞