Page 85 of Closer

With painstaking care, I lift the edge of the duvet enough to slide beneath it.

She’s still fast asleep, curled on her side, facing away from me. I mold my body to hers, slipping one arm under her pillow and draping the other around her waist. She’s so warm, so soft. This is exactly where I want to be. Where I belong. With her.

Ibrush my nose over the bare skin of her shoulder, her chocolate scent that haunted me for years enveloping me. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I promise.” I won’t fuck this up. Not this time.

She nestles back against me with a sigh, a content little sound that makes my heart ache. I let my eyes drift shut, hoping to will myself to relax and let the events of the night fade away.

But then Lil shifts, her ass rubbing against my dick, and I’m instantly hard. I bite back a groan, my hand tightening on her hip. Gotta keep it together, now’s not the time to be getting hard for her. But my body doesn’t seem to care, responding to her nearness like a goddamn teenager.

“Princess…” I breathe out, my voice strained.

She wiggles again, and I swear she’s doing it on purpose. “Mmm, Sebastian…”

Fuck.

I try to subtly adjust myself, to put some space between us, but Lil’s not having it making a small noise of protest.

She reaches back, her hand finding mine and guiding it to her stomach, under the hem of her shirt. “I need to feel you.”

Christ, those words. I splay my fingers across her soft skin. “Sweet dreams, princess.”

We lay with her bottom pushed right up against me for a while, and I keep my hips angled back so she won’t feel my growing erection. I don’t want her to think I’m taking advantage when she’s like this.

But damn, it’s hard not to react to having her in my arms. Knowing it’s Lil, my Lil, and I’m the one holding her. Protecting her.

Eventually, her breathing evens out again, and she drifts back to sleep. I let my eyes fall shut, too, focusing on the warm press of her body and the sweetness of her hair.

I’m about to nod off when she shifts again. This time there’s no mistaking it—she rubs her ass right against my hard-on.

A groan slips out before I can stop it. Fuck. I should move away…

Lil rolls her hips again, arching her back. She’s definitely still asleep but must be having one hell of a dream, judging by the way she’s moving against me.

And goddamn if it doesn’t feel incredible, even through our clothes. I know I should stop this, but the sensation of her ass rubbing my cock is too good.

My hand on her hip flexes, fingers digging in. Gotta keep control here. But she keeps grinding on me, letting out these little breathy moans.

“Sebastian.” My name falls from her lips with a sigh.

Fuck, she’s dreaming about me. About us, together like this. I grip her hips harder, and she goes rigid, her breath hitching. My whole body freezes. Did I wake her? Is she scared?

“You okay?” I loosen my hold on her hips.

She twists in my arms, facing me now. “Is this… real?” Even in the darkness, I can see the glimmer of her eyes.

I nod.

Her hand slides down my chest, over my abs, teasing the waistband of my sweatpants.

“You should sleep,” I say, my whole body tense.

Her fingers trace the lines of my chest. “I like this dream.”

The raw need in her voice is almost my undoing, but I tighten my grip on her, willing myself to stay grounded in the moment. “This isn’t a dream. I’ll be here in the morning. Now, please, let’s sleep.”

“Make me.” Her lips brush my neck, fingers skimming lower. “That’s what you said at the spa, too. Remember?”

“We shouldn’t do this. You’ve been through a lot tonight.”

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