Page 147 of Goodbye Note

“I’ll fucking take it.”

* * *

We took the service elevator up to the top floor, and we dropped our bags on the floor in the dark room. It was after midnight for him and like seven in the morning for me. We were both dead on our feet.

But as soon as the door closed behind us, I grabbed his face and brought it to mine, kissing him because if I waited any longer, I’d suffocate. “Why does it feel like the longer you’re away from me, the more I can’t breathe?”

“Because I’ve stolen the oxygen from your lungs to keep myself functioning.”

“Give it back,” I said between the twists of our tongues.

“Take it back if you want it.”

I shoved him into the wall, pressing my body flush to his, every inch of me aching for contact. “Take me to bed.”

“Fuck, isn’t it like the morning for you?”

I nodded, and he slipped his hands under my shirt. “Let me help you.”

“I need help?” I said, amusement coloring my tone.

“You’re dead on your feet. So I’ll do it for you. I don’t have any other motivations.” He tossed my shirt aside and unbuttoned my jeans, dropping to one knee to look up at me while he slid them down my thighs.

“Do you know how fucking good you look on your knees?”

“I think I have an idea.” He untied my shoes and helped me step out of my pants. But Arik didn’t get up. He brushed his lips over my hips, hands splaying over my thighs.

“Do I get to help you?” I asked when he finally stood.

“Are you too tired?” he replied playfully.

I already had his shirt shoved up. “I think I can manage it. This isn’t the first all-nighter I’ve pulled. I am a rock star.”

Arik laughed and it was infectious. When we were both undressed, he hugged me, wrapping his arms so tightly it felt like he wanted to meld our chests together.

He felt like home, and I hated him a little for that. I wanted him to be home like I’d never wanted anything in my life. I might give up everything for him.

Every single thing. Fame, family, life, limb. And that scared me.

How did people just live with handing over this type of power to another human?

I pressed into the hug and locked my arms around his back. Arik melted into the embrace, letting out a huge breath, deflating.

“Are you okay?”

“I will be now.” He dropped his face to press into my neck.

I bit back emotion. If only Arik knew what he did to me. It was effortless, like floating. Much like I imagined the loss of gravity.

“I want to take it all away,” I muttered in his ear.

“You do enough.”

I didn’t.

“Thank you,” he said after a long time, but he didn’t pull away.

“For what?” I asked.

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