Page 45 of Casualties of War
It didn’t help. Rubén wasnotthere and his absence was a radiating coldness against her flank. She was tired, and driftedin and out of a restless doze, annoyed at her own neediness.
Somewhere in the night, she had fallen into a sounder sleep and now she had woken to find Rubén sleeping beside her.
Had he sneaked into the attic during the night and that was why she had slept? Scientists said sleep did not shut down one’s hearing, that the brain processed what the sleeper heard. Had he whispered a reassurance whichhad allowed her to sleep?
Rubén shook his head. “I think everyone was quiet this morning to letyousleep. They told me, when I got here last night, that you were tossing and turning.” His gaze was steady.
Téra grimaced. “It’s stupid of me. I can’t relax if you’re not there. I told myself to get over it and sleep, then I got annoyed because I wasn’t sleeping, which made it worse.”
“Give ittime, Téra,” Rubén said. “Eventually, you will be able to sleep alone.” He smiled, his clear gray eyes dancing. “Not that I mind that you can’t sleep without me.”
Téra’s heart gave a little jump and hurried on. Her gaze dropped to his mouth.
She wanted him to kiss her as he had done at the motel. She wanted to experience the touch of his lips once more.
She recalled that he would not kiss her.He would not touch her. It was up to her.
Téra pushed herself from the wall and turned on the mattress so she was facing him. She kept the sheet up against her chest, her hand gripping it hard, her heart strumming. She pressed her mouth to his.
It was a terrible kiss—she was off balance and her pulse was shrieking in her ears, making it impossible to enjoy the kiss. Yet it would signal her need.
Her balance wavered and her lean became a tilt, then a topple.
Rubén caught her arms, holding her up. His gaze met hers.
“Maybe you should kiss me,” she said breathlessly. “I seem to have forgotten how to do it.”
“You did fine,” he murmured and kissed her.
Itwasdelicious. She had not remembered it inaccurately.
His touch and his body sparked her need and ignited it. It was not like thecrazed lust she had felt for Lucas De la Cruz. This was a deeper, wholesome yearning, tapping into good feelings.
She trusted Rubén and she liked him, which she had never been able to say about Lucas.
Rubén broke the kiss, breathing hard.
“Wow…” Téra whispered, her body throbbing.
“Yes, wow,” he agreed. His voice was hoarse.
She gripped his jacket. “More.”
Rubén hesitated. “Are you sure?Because I am not even close to being able to judge impartially right now. I want you too much.”
Her body leapt. So did her heart. She pulled on his jacket, drawing him over her and onto the mattress. “Reckless abandon will have to do,” she murmured as his weight settled over her.
