Page 37 of Shattered Echoes

With an effort, I crack my eyes open. It’s not my ex’s face hovering over mine. It’s Antonio. I take a moment to realize I’ve just had another nightmare.

And Antonio was here to witness the whole thing, I think, squeezing my eyes shut in embarrassment.

“Col? Are you alright?”

"Antonio," I whisper, the name sounding mumbled as I choke back a sob.

He cups my face, his eyes searching mine with concern. "Colette, what's wrong?"

Tears well up in my eyes. It's a battle to stay present, to fight the demons threatening to pull me under. "Nightmare," I manage, my voice a whisper.

He pulls me close, his embrace a warm anchor in the storm brewing inside me. "It's okay," he murmurs, his voice soothing. "I'm here."

His words are a lifeline, pulling me back from the brink. I bury my face in his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat a calming response to the frantic hammering of my own.

A sob escapes my lips as the images of the nightmare recede, replaced by the comforting scent of Antonio's cologne and the warmth of his body pressed against mine. My chest tightens, and I blush a deep red, ashamed, as tears fall from my eyes. Here I am, a grown woman, crumbling into the arms of a man I know, seeking solace from nightmares I can't even explain.

“I’m here, Col,” he says. “You can talk to me. What happened to you?”

"It's… it was an awful marriage," I confess, my voice raspy. The words feel like a betrayal, a crack in the constructed facade I've built around myself.

His body tenses, but he says nothing, holding me tighter. I take a deep breath; the words tumbling out in a rush. "It gave me these panic attacks, this constant anxiety. I left him a few months ago, but the nightmares… They haven't stopped."

The silence stretches for a moment, heavy with unspoken understanding.When he speaks, his voice is lowan unfamiliar touch and gentle. "You don't have to talk about this if you don't want to."

"I know," I whisper. "But I…I don't want to be alone in this."

He lifts my chin, his thumb wiping away a stray tear. "You're not alone, Colette. Not anymore."

His words are a balm to my soul. In his arms, I find a strange sense of peace, feel safety I haven't felt in years. He leans in, his lips brushing mine in a question.

"Can I help you? Maybe, with a distraction?" he murmurs, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

The vulnerability in his eyes mirrors my own, and a shaky laugh escapes my lips. "I think that might be just what I need right now."

He pulls me in closer, holding me. His lips find mine. Although the contact terrifies me at first, the nightmare is still fresh in my mind. His whispered encouragements between kisses helps me relax a little.

Without breaking the kiss, Antonio guides his cock inside me. The sensation of him so deep inside leaves me breathless, but it’s a welcome feeling. He turns on his back, flipping me around so I sit astride him, his cock still buried inside. Letting go of my nightmare, I allow myself to focus on Antonio, rocking back and forth on him in slow, circular motions.

The nightmare bleeds out of my mind; the world disappears from view in that instant, and all I can see is him, everything else shrouded in deep, impregnable shadows.

We explore each other's bodies with tenderness, the intensity of our earlier encounter replaced by a slow, deliberate dance of rediscovery. Antonio's touches are as light as a feather, sending goosebumps through my entire body, melting away the lingering remnants of fear.

Each caress feels like a silent apology, a promise of a different touch than the one I endured in my marriage. He traces the lines of worry etched on my forehead with his thumb, his touch a silent vow to chase away the shadows that haunt me.

As the night deepens, the surrounding air grows more passionate, fueled by a desire that goes beyond just the physical. This is more than just a hookup, more than a fleeting moment of escape. This feels like a connection, a fragile thing blooming in the wreckage of our individual pasts.

When I climax, it arrives in a gentle crescendo, a wave of pleasure that threatens to overwhelm me, leaving us breathless and tangled in each other's arms. We lie there for a long time, hearts pounding in sync. The silence feels peaceful, more peaceful than anything I’ve ever experienced.

After I’ve regained my breath, I break the silence. "Thank you," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.

"For what?" he murmurs, tracing patterns on my back with his fingers.

"For everything," I say.

He doesn't respond for a moment, then leans in and kisses my forehead. "Sleep, Col," he whispers. " We'll talk in the morning. I’m here, remember? I won't let anything happen to you. Not on my watch, Col."

I snuggle closer to him, the warmth of his body a reassuring presence. Exhaustion wins over, pulling me into a deep, dreamless sleep for the first time in weeks.

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