Page 43 of Fall Twice

He leans in to brush his lips along my own, before firmly planting a kiss on my mouth. I return as much as he gives, but we’re soft. As if we are simmering together in a pot of confusion or a spell that has possessed us.

Pulling away, our eyes connect in recognition, a simple fact that I confirm. “We can’t lie like this all day.”

“A shame.” He caresses my cheek in his palm. “Your skirt when it hits the floor makes a sound. I like it.”

I give him a peculiar look. “It doesn’t make a sound.”

“It does, and it reminds me that I’m undressing you.”

I swallow and drag my fingers along his collarbone. “I like the sound when you unbuckle your belt. It reminds me that you’re going to take me.”

“I like that.” He grins proudly then taps my hip, indicating that I should unhook from him. The moment he slides out of me, I feel a loss that it’s the end of this moment. He kisses a line down my thigh to my knee before leaving the bed.

When he goes to the bathroom, I sit up to search for the clothes that did make it to the bedroom, and it doesn’t give me many options, so I don’t leave my position. Instead, I fall back and let my fingers draw along my stomach like a feather to touch myself, to ensure I haven’t left earth.

When Reid returns with a cloth, he grabs hold of my knee to part me open, and then he hovers over me and cleans me up with the cloth. Our eyes never blink or part. This whole action is an intimate reminder that we find ourselves always entangled, especially as I rest my arms over my head with my body on display for him.

His eyes skim over me, and he groans softly in approval right before he throws the cloth to the side to lie on the bed next to me. Reid’s fingers land on my skin, and he teases me by circling along my hip.

But I’m smarter than that.

“What are we doing?” I ask, with my eyes wistful.

“Relaxing a moment before I make you brunch then insist you ride me.”

Gah, his fingers move so affectionately.

I give a pointed look. “I brought bagels, so I think I made brunch,andyou know what I mean.”

Reid’s jaw flexes, and he seems to be thinking of how to answer. “Enjoying one another.” He sounds honest, at least.

I take in his words, and I feel a familiar flame ignite inside of me. It causes me to roll off the bed and grab my panties off the floor. Every move is extra sharp because I feel emotions, a lot of familiar emotions.

It’s a mixture of déjà vu, like a jar opening that housed everything I once felt then buried.

Reid also leaves the bed. “Lena, what is it?” he innocently asks and finds his clothes too.

“I came here to talk, I think we should talk, so let’s—”

“Talk.” He’s trying to be funny.

It frustrates me, and I walk out of the room, following the trail of our bad idea on the floor, with Reid not far behind me. But it wasn’t even a bad idea, because sex with him is perfect, mind-boggling, and I don’t have the will to regret it.

Grabbing my bra, I struggle to clasp it back on. Reid steps behind me and slowly helps, but it sends a shiver across my chest because his touch somehow possesses me to want more; it’s a talent he’s always had.

He lingers and rests his hand on my shoulder causing me to feel anchored. “What are we doing?” I softly repeat my earlier question with my back to him.

“In general, or my current plans? I was going to convince you not to put on another scrap of clothing.” His tone is serious, which causes me to turn to meet his gaze, but I’m not impressed. Reid steps back and seems to be pondering his thoughts. “I’m not sure.”

“Me neither, but I do know one thing. You’ve somehow managed to stay in my life all these years, even if you had no idea. A constant problem in my head.”

“You’ve mentioned.”

“With you it was always so incredibly passion-driven. We were…”

He squints one eye. “Sexually compatible? Yeah.”

I glance to the side then back to him because his stare is tense. “It also taught me that amazing passion doesn’t equate love. You didn’t love me, nor did you want a relationship beyond whatever we were doing.”

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