Page 90 of Beneath Cherry Blossom Memories

I’m still shaking. In his arms. Breathing him in for way longer than is acceptable.

“We need to get going,” Jorge says gently.

“I know,” Phoenix grumbles, cinching his arms around my waist tighter. “Give me a minute.”

“It’s been like fifteen.”

“It’s alright,” I tell Phoenix, knowing I need tolet him go.

He sighs heavily, kissing my neck right over my tattoo. I hear him sniffle in my ear, a click working in his throat as he swallows hard. We pull out of each other’s grasp, eyes locked. It lasts for about three seconds, and we’re sealed back together. Hands grabbing, touching, feeling. Why is this sofuckinghard?

“Go,” I rasp, knowing they could miss their flight if they don’t get through security in time.

“Don’t wanna.”

“Go, baby. It’s okay.”

“Nope.”

“Phoenix,” Kelly barks.

“This is ridiculous. Wearecoming back, you know. I don’t plan on the plane crashing,” Michael blurts, and I hear a slap followed by anoomph.

“Kiss your boyfriend so we can go,” Jorge urges.

“Kiss me,” I whisper.

“Then that means goodbye. I’m not ready. I can still cancel this whole fucking thing.” His voice is muffled into my skin. God, he is stubborn.

“My ride will be here, and I need to be at the facility in three hours. Gotta let me go.”

“Fuck,” he whimpers, doing as I asked and pulling back. He captures my lips in a searing, wet kiss. Slipping his tongue into my mouth, he seeks mine out, no doubt drawing attention to us because he’s making it filthy. But I don’t stop him.

Several throats clear. I groan against him and pull my lips free. “You call me as soon as you can,” he demands, lashes wet.

“I will.”

“Don’t make me wait. Don’t make me worry more than I already will.”

“I won’t.”

He nods, throat bobbing as he releases my torso with one hand to reach into his leather jacket. When I see what he removes from it, I choke back a sob. He slides his lucky socks into my hand. “To keep you grounded and so…you have a piece of me.”

“Fuck you two, man,” Jorge croaks and cries.

Again.

Phoenix lets a watery laugh free, then presses our foreheads together. He has to bend a bit to reach mine, but he makes it work. “I love you,” he whispers, just for me.

“I know,” I tell him, unsure if I should say it back. “I’m going to be okay. It’s going to be okay.” The words are more for me than him, but he nods stiffly and kisses me three more times.

“You have the keys?”

I nod and show him the keys to his apartment. He’s letting me stay there…well, Kelly, too, when I get out. Just in case I’m done with the program before they get back. Tracy never wrote back to my texts, so I might have to prove I’m serious eventually.

I hug him one more time. Jorge sniffles loudly and throws his arms around us, damn near purring. “You guys. We gotta go.”

“Ruining the moment, Jorge,” Phoenix bites out.

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