Page 38 of Until We Fall

The server smiles at us. “I can see that.”

Rory’s mouth drops open after the server takes our plates. “How do you just keepdoingthat?”

“Doing what?”

“Making me feel like…” He licks his lips. “Like I’m in one of the books I read. Like I’m…”

“Worth it?” I shrug because it’s the most obvious fact in the entire world. Even if he doesn’t see it, I always will. “Because you are.”

I wake slowly, pillow under my head, warmth all along my side. Rory’s next to me, a soft light illuminating his face, his glasses relaxed on his nose. I’m surprised I’m not smothering him, but then I realize he’s propped on a pillow. It takes me a moment to realize the light’s from his reader.

“What time is it?” I mumble. The room is dark, everything quiet, sleep still heavy in my eyes. My skin is clammy from being under the sheet, so I throw it off and groan at my boner, which is ever present with Rory now.

“Sorry.” He slides his teeth over his lip, his gaze moving down and taking in my erection before tearing his eyes up to my face. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“I’d rather be awake if you are.” I turn on my side and inch closer to him, careful not to brush my dick against his thigh.We haven’t touched dicks, and I don’t want to make it weird, especially since I haven’t forgotten he’s got some unease around that. But I want to be closer to him, so I reach out and set my palm on his stomach, feeling the way his breath catches.

Will I get to do this when we return? Will I get to fall asleep with him right next to me? Will he crawl into the space under my arm like he did for a few blissful minutes last night?

What if, when we get home, everything goes back to the way it was before?

“Why are you up?” I ask him. “Trouble sleeping?”

“I was thinking.” His stomach rises and falls under my hand. “The last couple of days have been… a lot.”

“What’s a lot? Give me details.”

He hesitates then nods.

I think he’s getting used to me pushing him more.

“You,” he says.

“Me?”

He nods. “And graduating. Moving. All of it.”

“I feel that too.” I stroke my thumb over his navel, careful not to dip lower. Although, Jesus, I want to make him feel good. But making him feel good isn’t just about his dick.

So instead, I pick up his free hand, moving it to my mouth and then flipping it over to kiss the inside of his wrist. “I like your wrists.”

He sputters out a laugh. “My wrists?”

“The skin here.” I lightly lick the inside of his wrist, enjoying the gasp that leaves his mouth and the way his hips shift up, the strain of his erection against the sheet.

Ohhh fuck. I’m waking up quickly.

I smile against his wrist. “The skin is so tender here.”

He moans softly, his eyes sliding down me, lingering on my crotch. But then he takes his hand away and settles the reader over his lap. Is he covering himself?

A dart of worry stiffens my shoulders. I want him to feel good around me. And not like he needs to hide.

I drag my teeth over my bottom lip. “I like what I see.”

He blinks, lashes brushing the inside of his glasses. “What?”

“Everything,” I say. “I like what I see. Covered up or not, it’s completely up to you. But I like it all.”

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