Page 116 of Roses in Summer

“That was…” she begins, trailing off as she tries to find the right words.

“I know,” I whisper, reaching over her body to grab her jaw and twist her face toward mine. I bend over, intent on kissing her, when I stop, surprised by the wrinkling of her nose. “What?”

“I just realized we never brushed our teeth.”

I bark out a laugh, humored by her realization. “I just ate my cum out of your pussy, Seraphina. Do you honestly think I give a shit about morning breath right now?” I complete my descent and press a light kiss to her lips before lifting my head and looking at the analog clock on her nightstand. “I have to be at work in a few hours. Let’s sleep until I have to leave? We have at least two hours.”

“Mm,” she mumbles, eyes already closing and head turning back toward the window.

I snort at the display, the obvious trust she has in me. “I love you, ciern,” I murmur against her cheek, kissing her one last time before settling down beside her and closing my eyes, the taste of us on my tongue and the feel of her in my arms.

It’s fucking perfect.

43

Seraphina

“Remember, I’ll pick you up tonight after my shift, okay? Wear something comfortable; we’re going to be outside.”

I nod my head, biting down on my lip to keep the smile from taking over my face. Despite everything going on, I can’t help but feel excitement. “Okay.”

Lincoln stares at me, eyes scrutinizing my face until a small smile breaks out over his features. “You can smile, ciern. I won’t tell anyone.”

A snort breaks from my nose at his comment, and I shake my head, pushing him out of my apartment with a half-hearted shove. “Go to work before I decide that I’m not going out with you tonight.”

“Wouldn’t matter.” He shrugs, the shoulder strap of his overnight bag moving with the motion. “I’d just show up anyway.”

“Stalkerish behavior, Lincoln Simmons.”

“Nah, just dedicated. Give me a kiss before I go?”

I pretend to consider his request for a moment, teasing him before I throw my arms around his neck and bring his face down to mine. It’s a chaste kiss, just a pressing of our lips together, but something about the simplicity of it is satisfying. It’s like a homecoming.

“Be good for me, ciern, okay?”

“I’m always good. My sisters are the questionable ones.”

“I don’t know about that, Seraphina.” He nips my lips before drawing back, and I’m forced to lower my arms. “I’ll see you tonight. I’ll text you when I leave.”

Grabbing onto my door, I lean against the frame and stare at him as he walks backward. “Bye, Lincoln.”

He winks, and it takes me a minute to absorb the full enormity of the moment. Outside of this moment, this man, the safety of my world is crumbling. There are things to look forward to: the wedding, beginning my master’s program, being back in New Jersey and close to my family. But there’s also a hell of a lot to cause anxiety and confusion.

With Lincoln teasing me with a wink in the middle of my apartment building, there’s something surreal and almost magical. It’s cleansing and cathartic and otherworldly that I get to experience this with him. I bite the inside of my lip, letting the pain serve as a reminder that I’m awake and this isn’t a dream. With a final look, he disappears into the stairwell, and I close my apartment door.

I look up just in time to see the knowing gaze of Olivia pouring coffee in the kitchen.

“Hey, how did you sleep?”

“Fine.” She crosses her arms and leans against the counter. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard that. Want to repeat that one more time?” I tease, knowing that an apology from Olivia is rare. Not because she’s opposed to giving them, but because in the years I’ve known her, she’s never done anything to warrant giving an apology, at least not to me.

She rolls her eyes. “Don’t be a jerk. But look…” She pauses, sighing heavily before continuing, “I let my desire to avoid the shit happening around us cloud good judgment. In retrospect, asking you and B to turn off your phones with everything happening was selfish, and I’m sorry I caused panic. I just wanted a little bit of normal, I guess.” She shrugs as though her explanation is no big deal. But I know Olivia, and I know that if she’s trying this hard to avoid a situation, she’s mentally and emotionally in a bad place.

I wave off her apology. I’m a grown woman and wasn’t forced to turn off the device and hand it over. I did it freely, making my judgment call just as poor. “Did you have fun last night? I feel like I’ve barely seen you lately.”

“Sure.” Olivia turns around, busying herself with her coffee and effectively avoiding my eyes.

---