Page 142 of Oblivion

Ill-timed arousal sparked low in my abdomen. I waited for Dante to strike the match. His other hand left its support hold and smoothed up my back. Weaving fingers into my hair, he cradled my face to his chest and hummed through an exhale.

He walked us to the bed, laid me down, then wearily climbed in beside me. I rolled onto my side as he reached for me through the darkness. With him settling in my cleavage and a content sigh relaxing his entire body, I squeezed my eyes closed and willed everything to be okay in our world again.

Four words, murmured against my breasts, made my lips tremble.

“I love you, Penny.”

A lingering kiss was pressed to each of my breasts, before another heavy sigh was breathed into the valley.

Rhythmically massaging my fingers through Dante’s mussed hair, I dozed while my hand worked, eventually easing to a stop when his snores came from below.

“I love you too,” I whispered into the darkness.

CHAPTERFIFTY-FOUR

Dante

Morning came with a sea of severed and questionable memories from last night.

I inhaled through my nose while trying to summon the energy to crack an eye open. My mouth housed dust bunnies and a jackhammer constantly drilled holes in my head. Plus, the deep inhale brought a new type of pain.

Gingerly touching two fingers to my face, I paused, pressed a little harder, then groaned when the pain intensified.

“I don’t think it’s broken,” murmured a sweet voice from nearby.

I reached out a hand, sighing with relief when it contacted a smooth belly.

“Penny.”

“No, it’s Sadie.”

My hand recoiled so fast I almost broke myowndamn nose, and I sat straight up in bed despite the pounding headache threatening to create fractures.

I held my head, then glared at the woman beside me. Penny’s sadistic laughter shook the bed as she curled into a ball and laughed into her hands.

“That was cruel,” I deadpanned, and laid back down.

“So was me having to carry you home last night… which you probably don’t remember.”

I groaned and rubbed at my aching cheekbone. “I remember last night. I also remember asking you to move in with me, and you didn’t give me an answer.”

“And I don’t owe you one right now. But I’ll tell you whatyouowe: a new mailbox for the residents of 265 Morgan Road. You literally beat the shit out of it, then got in a fight with the guy who lives there.”

“That explains this, then.” Tentatively touching my nose again confirmed it was indeed swollen, but not obviously broken.

“And your VIP ticket to the black eyes club.”

“Shit.” While I remembered some things, other memories were hazy at best.

Penny’s warm touch landed on my forearm. “Yesterday was rough, and last night, well… it was… intense.”

I rolled into her, forever grateful she was still here. “Thank you for not leaving me.”

She made the desolation a little less lonely and a little more bearable.

“I couldn’t leave even if I wanted to.”

I caught the disappointment in her tone, and it stung.

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