Page 67 of The Awakening
His eyes flash open and he jumps away from me, startling me as well. We blink at each other in the ambient darkness for a moment before I say, “Hey… you alright?”
He’s trembling. I can see it as he runs his hand into his thick curls atop his head, and his eyes are bewildered in a way I’ve never seen. Usually, Jun’s black irises are so cool and calm. Sometimes I can’t tell what he’s thinking because he’s got such a swaggery poker face. His face is not like that right now. It’s distressed.
Worried, I lean onto the bed with both palms flat, careful not to invade his space or startle him. “What’s the matter?” He’d glanced off, but now he’s looking at me again. His hand is still shaking when he reaches, wraps it around one of my wrists and gently urges me onto the bed.
Understanding, I climb on. He slowly pulls me down. As I adjust on my side, he snakes his arms around my waist, pulling me into him. Embracing me. He nestles his body into me so that his face is at the center of my collarbone and just underneath my chin. I can feel his breath there as he holds me tight, so I shift and cradle his head in my arms. My chin rests against the top of his soft head.
He’s not saying anything, but after a minute, the shaking subsides. His breathing is slow and deep with his arms wrapped tightly around me. His skin is a bit cold at first, but after a moment, he warms up as he relaxes against me. Perfectly still. Soon, I feel myself drifting off to sleep as well.
This is even better than a heavy duvet. This is winter sleeping elevated.
* * *
My fingertips are pressingand rubbing up against something firm and taut. There are silky hairs there. I smile because it’s nice and I remember this texture. This sensation. When I remember why I like it and why it makes me smile, I open my eyes wide.
It’s morning. I’m halfway atop Jun’s body, leaning into him on my belly. He’s on his back. I push myself up slightly. He’s got his fingers in my hair, caressing my scalp as I look down at him, panicked. I’m even more anxious when I realize he’s naked. Wonderfully, perfectly, but the towel is gone—unraveled somehow in the night.
“Shit.Sorry, Jun.”
He’s awake and lazily watching me, a gentle smile on his lovely lips. “Good morning, sunshine.”
I rub my palm down my face. God, he’s gorgeous. “Morning.”
“What are you sorry for?”
I look down the length of his naked body again. Shit. Stop that. “I shouldn’t be in here… but, are you alright? The cat made me come in here to check on you. I amliterallywhat the cat dragged in.”
Jun laughs, and the anxiety in my chest eases a little. I keep rubbing my fingers against his tight abdomen because, well, he doesn’t seem to mind it and I’ve missed this. Very much.
“I’m pretty sure my mother did something to that cat,” he says. “She liked science and had a curious mind.”
I frown. “The cat or your mum?”
“My mother… clearly.”
“Right. Why do you think?”
“Lulú was my mother’s cat. She’s been alive and perfectly healthy for… Maybe it’ll be eighty-three years this year?”
“You havegotto be shitting me.”
Junichi shrugs against the bed. “Nope. My best guess is Mom injected her with her own blood, but I’ll never know. I only say that because she weirdly reminds me of my mother sometimes.”
“God…” I shake my head. “A vampire cat.” I’m one part amazed, one part anxious and one part wondering if I need to show Lulú much more respect going forward.
“Not technically. She doesn’t bite or feed—at least, I’ve never seen her do that.”
“Maybe she needs to be awakened,” I whisper, slightly horrified. “Like me…”
Junichi is laughing when he pulls me down toward his mouth. The ridiculous B-list horror movie tension I feel fades. Normally, I part my lips immediately, but I don’t now because I’m not sure how far he wants this to go. Soon, he’s urging me to part them, so I do. Meeting the warmth and wetness of his mouth, his tongue is divine. I’ve missed him. He’s been kissing and nipping at me for the past month, playfully. Innocently.
It drives me mad.I feel like a hungry bear, and he keeps petting and teasing me, but I want to turn around and swallow him whole. Maybe I’ll dry-hump him first.
Just as the kiss is getting good and my skin is getting hot, he breaks it, staring up at me with soft black eyes. I’m preparing myself for the worst when he whispers, “May I have you?”
Ialmostsay, “But what if we bond?”
I’m not stupid though, so instead I say, “Yes.”
