beautifully guarded
in armor the color of malagan sunsets

he wears it a bit prouder than the rest

and i will never let him know how i can undress

him but i choose to let him own the facade of strength

words off his tongue that i know have been articulated before

(she only knew

half assed love, wannabe emotions whispered between sheets, lust at 2 in the morning, never kisses at dusk, never watching light grace her face, never realizing how naked she was for him)

transparent as he spread himself thin

my fingers are never tight

and i never feel his pulse