Page 56 of Mission Shift

Laughter.

A shadow moved over me.

Fedorov’s voice slithered through my ears, but I couldn’t process the words anymore. Couldn’t process anything.

Suddenly, I was in the river.

The water was warm. Soft. It curled around me as I swam, weightless and free, the sun sinking behind the trees, casting everything in gold.

I turned, and there he was.

Braxton.

With a crooked smile, his hair wet. The sun caught the golden flecks in his eyes as he watched me.

I was kissing him.

Rivulets of water cascaded over my heated skin as his lips devoured mine, his hands gripping my waist, pulling me onto him.

His body was fire and strength, his mouth trailing down my throat, my skin tingling in the wake of it.

I felt alive.

I gasped.

He was inside me.

His arms, his rhythm, his warmth surrounded me as I clung to him, breathless, lost in ecstasy.

His mouth was kissing, sucking, nipping.

He whispered praise against my lips.

Tucking me against his chest afterward like I was something precious.

He held my hand.

He trusted me.

He listened to me.

He never judged.

I fell asleep in his arms.

For the first time in my life, I let go.

I let someone in.

And then—

It was all a lie.

The memories snapped apart like glass, shattering into nothing.

A scream tore through me, but this time, it wasn’t from the pain.

Darkness rushed in, cold and merciful.

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