Page 109 of A World Without You
He kisses me, loves me, and takes me in ways I’ve only experienced in my dreams. It’s all too perfect. The weight of his body. The feel of his skin. The sounds he makes. The way his gaze stays on mine. The ease in which he anticipates what I want without me having to tell him.
He takes me to my peak a second time deliberately, winding me up slowly, slowly, until...
I snap and come completely undone, panting and shaking underneath him while he picks up speed.
“Liv...” He breathes out my name, his voice thick and rough. I wrap my legs around his waist, digging my nails into his back until his shoulders shudder and he collapses over me.
He bites my ear and grips my thigh, breathing into my neck, and I want to hold onto this entire feeling. He pulls back slowly, his heartbeat slowing against mine as he rubs his nose against mine, a small smile tracing his lips. I smile and run my hand up his neck until his jaw is in my palm and his beard is tickling my fingertips as he says, “Dream of me tonight, Liv.”
I know that I need to.You haven’t talked to him since the accident...
I swallow the memory and stare at him, memorizing the curve of his upper lip and the freckle below his left eye. The ghostly turn of his eyes from green to brown and back again. This might be a wild regret in the morning. Sleeping with your friend is never a good idea. I swallow hard and kiss him once more, certain each kiss with Bennett can never be the last.
TWENTY-FOUR
DREAM 9
Sunday, Christmas Eve
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MY HEEL WOBBLES ASI walk in a hallway—ourhallway. The hallway of our apartment building that I share with Colin. He’s gripping my hand, nervously smiling at me. Guilt grips me because all I want is to be with Bennett. Uncovering the beginning and end of Colin and me was a rude awakening. Just days ago, I wanted to blame the stars not aligning or my stupid choices. I wanted to test the realization and convince myself I could make it right in another world, I could tempt the fates and pull his invisible string to me no matter who else it was attached to. I’d wrap it as tightly as I could around my wrist until it bled, then I’d stare at the drops and say, love hurts sometimes. Nothing is perfect.
I’d make excuse after excuse because I wanted something different than what I chose. Graham and I were wrong for each other. But so are Colin and I.
Two wrongs don’t make it right. Two wrongs just make me wrong...again.
“You okay? You look a little pale,” Colin’s voice cuts into my internal rant and I let go of a tension-filled breath.
“Yeah. Sorry. I’m just anxious for my flight,” I confess, because it’s partially true.
Colin pauses before opening the apartment door, chewing on his bottom lip, his eyes a dark shade of gray. He opens his mouth to say something, but my intrusive thoughts take over, and I blurt, “What was the accident, Colin?”
His chin snaps back. “What?”
“Last week. Or maybe a few days ago—God, I don’t fucking remember—” I press two fingers to my brow. “Whenever it was you said I haven’t talked to Bennett since the accident...what accident? What happened?”
