Page 89 of The Casualty of Us
I need all of it.
And that’s exactly why I end it, scratching my nails lightly down his back, feeling goose bumps erupt over his skin and kissing him back deeply for one more breath before pulling back. Knowing that if I stay wrapped up in him for one more second, there’ll be no turning back. No take-backs from there.
He drags my lower lip through his teeth again, gently releasing it and leaving me chasing after him for a split second before he teases me with another barely there kiss. His eyes crack just as mine do, and the hazel and blue drown in each other as we both gasp for the same air.
My mind suddenly firing again with an instinctual knowing. One that resounds so loudly through my head that I’m surprised he can’t hear it.
No take-backs from here either. Regardless of what I said.
We’re in it now, whatever it is.
But I’ve known that since the day in the closet, haven’t I? That there was never going to be any going back when it came to him.
It’s why I’m committing fraud for him, I guess.
His thumb runs over the line of my jaw slowly, eyes moving between mine with his voice coming out hushed and gravelly. “What does this mean, O?”
And even though it makes my still racing heart clench up, I lie.
“Nothing.” Running my fingers over his back quickly, I pull him a little closer to lessen the blow I can’t help. “Just go to sleep, Dimples.”
Because I can’t just give in either…I justcan’t.
Not without having time to work it out myself.
“You sure about that?” His eyes narrow on mine, and I hold my breath, probably giving myself away but too edgy right now to care. “Cause that’s the first time you’ve called me Dimples since you told me to drop dead.”
I purse my lips, seeing the determination written all over him now but still forcing out a “Yeah,” holding his gaze even as it narrows further, and adding. “I’m sure.”
Lie. Lie. Lie.
My brain practically malfunctions with the force of its denial, and his gaze runs over my face, pausing on my lips before coming back up to mine with a quiet, “If that’s the way you want it.” He rolls off me with a harsh exhale, immediately sliding his arm under my head and pulling me up against his chest with the other. “At least for now.”
I scowl at that, ordering him quickly, “Go to sleep.”
A quiet puff of laughter fills the air, and he tucks me in right up against him, reaching down to grab my hand that’s still lying against his abs. “I’m not sure I’ll ever sleep again now.”
He winds our fingers together, tapping away at the back of my hand, and a tease rises to my lips despite the fact I know I’m running out of cop-outs to what’s starting to feel inevitable here. “Now you know what it’s like in my head.”
“Hmm.” He hums under his breath, the note drawing out happily before his hand squeezes mine, and I feel a kiss being pressed to the top of my head. “Sleep, Freckles, I’ve got you.”
I close my eyes, leaving the rest for later, and let myself sink into him to find exhaustion pulling at me that was missing before. Still, I can’t help but whisper, “Thanks, Dimples.”
Part of me knows I’m not being fair, and the other half argues I haven’t been fair enough as sleep starts to claim me with his voice filling the air again. “Every better part of me is already because of you.”
Chapter Twenty-One
OPHELIA - MAY 2013
The soundof my phone ringing rouses me awake the next morning, dragging me from the forgotten bliss of sleep and into a world that’s much too bright for my liking.
“Hmmm. Make it stop.”
I force my slitted eyes to crack open at the rasp and find a face that looks way too pretty first thing in the morning waiting to greet me. Head on my chest with his brows scrunched together and the one that has the nick through it a little higher than the other. Displeasure all over his face at the sound that’s waking me up more by the second and making me realize I have no hope of getting to it in my current predicament.
“Get off.” I give his shoulder a push. “You’re going to crush me.”
“Am not,” he groans, squeezing my middle. “My Ophelia.”
