Page 117 of Inception

He must have noticed the strange expression on my face because he reached over and took my hand into his.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered, lacing our fingers together. “It’ll be okay.”

And in that moment, I really believed him.

34. UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENT

I awoke sometime later in Trace’s arms. Warm, humming arms that wrapped around my shoulders like a lullaby. I was amazed at how good they felt there. Like they belonged there. Like we were always meant to be this way—or had been this way before—me and him, two hearts beating as one.

“Sleep well?” he asked, voice strained.

How did he know I was up?Oh, gawd, had he heard my rambling thoughts again? Panicked, I immediately tried to pull myself away from him.

He tightened his hold on me, keeping me pressed against him. “Careful,” he warned. “I’m injured, remember?” I could hear the smile in his words.

“Sorry,” I frowned, peering up at him under my lashes. “I don’t know how I got over here.”

“I guess you just liked it better on this side.” The deep whisper of his voice sent a molten shiver down my back.

This was bad.Must. Detach. Now.

“I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable,” I said, stumbling to find a safe spot to place my hand for liftoff support. “I’m pretty much delirious from the moment I wake up until I have a shot of caffeine or something so, you know, anything I say orthinkuntil that point should really just be ignored.” I settled for his thigh and gently pushed myself off of his taut (though surprisingly comfortable) body.

His cheek hitched up on one side, revealing his dimple.

“Did Gabriel call?” I asked, discreetly smoothing out my disheveled hair as I tried to change the subject. This was beyond embarrassing.

He pursed his lips, rocking his head side to side.

“What time is it anyway?” I’d noted the sun had already set and figured Gabriel was probably on his way, but I wanted to be sure. The truth was, I wasn’t sure how much longer I could take being alone with Trace like this. Apparently I couldn’t keep myself off of him. Even in my sleep.

“Almost ten,” he said, spreading his arm against the back of the couch as he kicked out his legs in front of him. There was something wildly enticing about the way his body untwined.

“Great,” I croaked, hugging myself as I glanced around the room looking for something to distract my eyes with. Coming up empty, I turned back to Trace and found his eyes were still on me, watching me thoughtfully. The butterflies ignited again. “So how about that math test?” I asked out of nowhere.

He cracked a smile but didn’t bother entertaining my idiotic attempt at a conversation. Thank God because I really didn’t want to talk about math, or tests, or anything school-related for that matter. What I really wanted to do was—

Bang. Bang. Bang.

A series of hard knocks erupted at the front door causing me to catapult myself off the couch as if I’d been caught doing something naughty. Trace, obviously amused by this, made no attempt to stifle his laughter, even as I speared him with contempt all the way to the front entrance.

He peeked through the window before unlocking the door. “It’s our friendly neighborhood vampire,” he informed and then swung the front door open in a gust.

Gabriel stood on the other side of the threshold wearing his black leather jacket and a worried expression. He looked as though he was working hard to hold it all together.

“Are you alright?” he asked, tipping his head as if to scan my face for injuries or signs of distress.

I stepped outside and gave him a quick hug. “I’m fine. Thank you for coming.” I pulled back and motioned for him to come in.

“I can’t,” he said, shaking his head as he glanced over my shoulder to Trace. “He needs to invite me in.”

I turned to Trace expectantly, but he just stood there, stone-faced with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Trace!”

It felt like an eternity before he spoke.

“Come in,” he finally said, though it sounded a lot more like a dare than a welcome.

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