THE CURSED LUNA
Chapter 34

Amira pov.

I sensed the tension radiating from them. I quickly ended the call, grabbed my main phone, and dialed Tris. I craved someone to wrap me in a blanket. The desire for intimacy was overwhelming. Was it due to the pregnancy or something else? I pondered as I paced the balcony, waiting for Tris to answer.

While I waited for Tris to respond, the city lights sparkled beneath me like a starry sky. A cool breeze brought the delightful fragrance of blooming flowers, yet my thoughts were elsewhere. The feeling of unease clung to me long after the call ended.

"Hey, what's up?" Tris's voice wrapped around me like a comforting embrace, easing my frayed nerves.

"I just had the strangest chat with... someone," I replied, reluctant to share too much. "I feel so off, Tris. It's like I'm yearning for connection or something."

"Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones," Tris suggested, her tone filled with concern. "But it could be more than that. You've been through a lot. Do you want me to come over?"

I paused, uncertain if I was ready for company. However, the thought of Tris's calming presence convinced me. "Yes, please come. I need someone to talk to."

As I waited for Tris to show up, I couldn't shake the feeling that this desire for closeness might signal something deeper. Was I looking for comfort amid the uncertainty of my future, or was it a plea for help from a part of me I had ignored for too long?

The doorbell rang, pulling me from my thoughts. Tris appeared at the door, a warm smile on her face and a cozy blanket in her arms. In that moment, I realized I was exactly where I needed to be - enveloped in the warmth of friendship, ready to confront whatever lay ahead.

We climbed the stairs, my heart brimming with joy, but I wondered how to tell Tris that I wanted sex when he wasn't my husband or boyfriend. What a foolish situation.

When we reached the top of the stairs, Tris looked at me with a curious expression. "Hey, are you alright? You seem a bit... off."

I inhaled deeply, searching for the right way to express myself. "Tris, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what's on your mind?"

I paused, feeling heat rise to my face. "This might sound strange, but... I was thinking if... we could... get closer."

Tris's face shifted from worry to surprise. "Wow, I didn't expect that."

Embarrassment washed over me. "I know it's odd. We're not even a couple, and I'm pregnant... it's just that-"

Tris raised a hand to stop me. "Hey, no worries. I care about you, and if that's what you need right now... I'm here."

I looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of doubt. All I found was warmth and compassion.

"Thank you, Tris," I murmured, my voice soft. "That really means a lot."

Without saying anything more, Tris embraced me tightly. As we held each other, I felt a wave of comfort and connection that I hadn't felt in ages. Perhaps this was what I truly needed - not a romantic relationship, but a profound human bond. In that moment, the outside world faded away, leaving just the two of us, enveloped in a space of trust and vulnerability.

"Emily, you feel warm. Have you been running a fever?" He inquired, and I realized he was avoiding the truth that I craved a deeper connection with him.

I stepped back, gazing up at Tris with a blend of frustration and yearning. "Tris, stop avoiding the issue. You know what I mean. I want to be with you, both physically and emotionally. I need to feel a connection, and right now, that connection is with you."

Tris's eyes shifted away, his jaw tightening in a familiar sign of unease. "Emily, I... care about you a lot, but I don't want to exploit your vulnerability. You're pregnant, and your feelings are-"

I pressed a finger to his lips, cutting him off. "Don't use my pregnancy as a reason, Tris. This isn't about hormones or being vulnerable. It's about connection, intimacy, and trust. We've always had that, but now... I need more."

Tris's eyes met mine again, searching for clarity. I could see the inner struggle, his desire to comfort me clashing with his fear of overstepping boundaries.

"Tris, I'm not looking for a commitment or a label," I said, my tone gentle yet urgent. "I just need to feel acknowledged, understood, and loved. Can you offer that to me?"

The atmosphere between us was charged with tension as Tris fought to replace the right words. At last, he nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "Yes, Emily. I can do that."

I urged him to kiss me, my gaze fixed on his as I anticipated the moment our lips would meet.

Tris's gaze met mine, his pupils expanding as he drew nearer. I could sense the warmth of his breath against my skin, causing a delightful shiver to run down my spine. His lips lightly grazed mine, tender and cautious at first, as if he were gauging my response.

I deepened the kiss, parting my lips to welcome him. Tris reciprocated, his tongue intertwining with mine in a slow, sensual cadence. The surrounding world faded away, leaving just the two of us enveloped in the moment.

As we kissed, a profound sense of liberation washed over me, as if I had been holding my breath for an eternity, and Tris's lips provided the life-giving air I desperately needed.

His hands gently cradled my face, his fingers exploring the contours of my cheeks as he drew me closer. I could feel the warmth of his body, the firmness of his chest pressed against mine.

Time seemed to freeze as we relished each other, our lips moving in perfect synchrony. It was a kiss that conveyed comfort, trust, and a bond that transcended verbal expression. When we finally parted, breathless, I looked up at Tris with a smile. "I have longed for that for so long," I murmured.

Tris's eyes glimmered with affection. "I have too, Emily. I have too."