Page 16 of Endless

“Relax, LizBelle. I’m joking with you. Well, sort of.”

“Can you see in your dreams?”

“It’s like you close your eyes to remember stuff. I see when my eyes are closed.” He tilted my head up slightly. “Prize, please.”

This wasn’t happening, was it? As in really happening? I’d not kissed a guy in more than three years. Sixteen when I shut myself in, I… Hell, I’d had only a few kisses.

“You’re scared.” He combed his fingers through my hair. “I’m pretty harmless.”

Nothing about this situation was harmless.

“I mean, I’m blind, LizBelle.”

“Damon,” I whispered, pressing my hand to his chest. “Stop joking.”

“Your pulse just jumped.” His thumb pressed my bottom lip, and the contact pushed it down. His tongue swiped his lips. “LizBelle, don’t let my aim be off.”

He leaned in and was on target to kiss my nose. I shifted up slightly and met those lips I’d been staring at for weeks. He pulled in a sharp breath and eased forward.

Sliding my hands up his chest, enjoying each and every curve his pecs had to offer, I curled my fingers around his neck. His silky hair sifted between my fingers, and I’d never felt anything so amazing.

Well, I had, but kissing him and lying with him was what made it so amazing.

His body tensed, and his grip on my face tightened. A groan vibrated through my lips. He yanked back, his eyes squeezed shut.

“Damon?” I pushed up, so not enjoying his response to my kiss.

“Head. God.” He clutched his temples. “Shit.”

“Omigosh!”

He reached for me. “LizBelle. The prize rocked.” He grunted. “But this, this sucks ass.”

I rolled out of the bed, my chest aching. I slapped the call button on the wall three times and pressed my other hand on his chest. Three caresses.

“Ahhh!”

Three more. And another three turns of my ring. Where were the nurses? “Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.”

“Trying,” he heaved.

“It’ll be over soon. It’s okay. We’re okay. We’re on the beach. Blue skies. Like your eyes. Warm water. White sand. Calm. No breeze.” I closed my eyes, going to my safe spot. I needed to take him there with me. “Salty air. The water splashes on our feet as we’re running along the beach. You’re chasing me. It’s only me and you. No one else. No one can see. Just me and you. We’re safe. There’s no pain. No darkness. Only fun.”

“And Blow Pops,” he grunted. “Strawberry.”

His jaw was clenched, and his back arched, forcing his head into the pillows. His hands were fisted in the blankets.

“Strawberry. Grape. You bet.” How did he know about my Blow Pop addiction? “Blue raspberry until our tongues are blue.”

“Tongues. Can taste yours.”

“Even now you’re thinking of kisses?”

“Only yours.” His eyes opened, still unseeing, but he eased to his left.

The door burst open, and the nurse stormed in. The light clicked on, but Damon didn’t shield his eyes, like I did, at the sudden onslaught.

“LizBelle?”

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