Page 206 of Goodbye Note

When he finally shifted, it wasn’t to get up. He laid out with an arm and leg draped over my bare skin. I kissed his chest. Then, I noticed the collection of ghosts he’d added to the one. Each of them with something else in their hands.

“You’ll have to tell me what all these mean at some point.”

“I will.” The simple reply promised more time with him, easing more of my anxiety. “I like that I got you to come so easily.”

“It shocked me.” I laughed, pressing my face into his neck. “Your tongue…”

“Liked that, did you?” I liked the happiness in his voice.

“Almost as much as your cock.” I slipped my arm around his chest, hugging him. “We should shower.”

“How nice is the shower in here?”

“Magnificent, and there is actually hot water and room for two.” I reluctantly detangled from him.

“Two?” he asked playfully as we got up.

“You don’t think I’m letting you out of my sight, do you?”

“I’m not the one who leaves without a word.”

I cringed. “I deserve that.”

As many times as he’d left me in a hotel room the next morning, he never did it without a goodbye. Even if it was cold and he was distant, he did it to my face, and now I knew it was pointed. My ribcage ached a little.

He caught my arm after I turned on the water. “You have to talk to me.”

I searched his face. “I know.”

“No, you don’t. I can see you spiraling and overthinking. I need you to talk to me because I can’t go through you leaving me again.” Pain swirled in his eyes, the green like a dark forest. His sweet soul believed I could ever leave again.

I cupped his cheek, knowing my words wouldn’t be trusted. I had to show him. “I will talk, I promise, but I’m not going anywhere. If you want me to leave you alone, you’re going to have to tell me to go.”

He closed his eyes, leaning into my touch, while our lips found each other.

We kissed, not breaking even to step into the shower. Making out under the spray, I grabbed his hips, dragging them to mine.

“There is no way I can get it up again. Just because you found the fountain of your orgasm youth doesn’t mean I don’t need some recovery!” He laughed, wrapping his arms around my neck.

“That doesn’t mean I can’t touch, right?” I slid my hands to his ass, bringing our bodies flush.

“You’re incorrigible.”

When we were showered, he took me back to bed and wrapped himself around my body.

“Are you really separated?” he asked.

FIFTY-SEVEN

ARIK

I had to know this was all okay. He’d made so many cracks in my armor, like I knew he would, and I had to protect myself.

“Yes.”

“When?” I needed all the facts.

Varian sighed. “A while. She’d moved our before we even talked about the tour.”

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