Page 35 of Come to Me

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"I'll be back before you know it." He lets me pull him onto the bed. I kiss him, trying to sink into him. My hands slide to his jeans. But he stops me. "I wish I could."

"You could stay." It's a moment of weakness.

"You'd be okay with that?"

"No," I sigh, dropping back onto the bed. "I'd hate myself for making you quit your job."

He cups the side of my face.

"I know exactly what you mean."

"I know," I murmur, kissing his palm. "That's why I'm not asking."

He smiles slightly, his eyes sympathetic.

Reaching down, he offers my bra. But I shake my head.

"No underwear."

"That's just cruel," he mutters, watching as I slip my dress over my head. "That's all I'm going to think about the entire flight."

I laugh.

"I can't believe you've got anything left in you." I pull him close, enveloping him in a hug. His arms are so safe, so warm, so God-damn comfortable.

"I love you," he offers. "More than anything."

I close my eyes.

"I love you too."

For a minute, I feel like everything is going to be okay.

But then, we're in the hallway. In the elevator. On the street, hailing a cab.

He's kissing me goodbye, a long, sweet kiss.

Then he's in the cab, and it turns a corner, and I'm standing on a street corner all alone.

I'm in New York City all alone.

And soon he'll be 3000 miles away.

Chapter Eight

Luke

The next few days aren't the best.

Work consumes me. I barely have time to call Alyssa to wish her goodnight. And the three-hour time difference isn't doing me any favors.

She calls late one night, late her time anyway. I'm still at work, but I answer without hesitation.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself."

"How is everything?"

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