Some time later, I was awakened by wet drops hitting my face. A rare Los Angeles rain.
“Jessie,” I said, trying to wake her. Her face was spattered with rain drops, her eyelashes covered in them. I stroked her arm, but she didn’t budge. “Jessie Girl.”
I tried it all. She wasn’t waking up. I stretched my shoulder.It seemed better than before. Jessie’s magic fingers had done something to reset it. I could carry her without hurting myself, right? I lifted probably double her weight at work.
So, I slid my arms under her and carried her to the elevator.
Chapter 7
Jessie
All of this part is in a daze.
Thunder. Lightning. A jolt through my entire body. Silence.
It was one of my nightmares, but like usual, I couldn’t tell that it wasn’t real. It’s hard to tell sometimes what’s reality and what’s still part of the dream, almost like they have layers.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” a voice asked me. Tears poured down my face. I tried to explain it, but all I could do was cry. “It’s okay, honey. It’s just a dream. You’re okay.”
Strong arms surrounded and held me. A hand stroked my back. I sobbed as a soft cloth wiped my tears. “You’re safe, Jessie.” A kiss pressed to the top of my head. “I’ve got you. It was just a dream.”
I let myself be wrapped up in the warmth. Vibrations of a familiar song shook through whatever I was snuggling. A sweet, deep voice, like honey, slowed my pounding heart and lulled me back to sleep.
* * *
Hours later, I actually feltgood.
I’d slept. My muscles felt good. I was warm. My head was nestled onto Cole, something he rarely let me do because he doesn’t like cuddles when he sleeps. His arm was even wrapped around me, keeping me snug and secure. Maybe all wasn’t lost with Cole and me.
I hadn’t slept that well in months. Maybe years? I couldn’t remember the last time I slept like that — no sleeping pill, no insane sleep hygiene routine.
Except Cole didn’t smell like Cole. It was cleaner, an aquatic scent. And his body felt firmer than usual. I stirred, trying to put it all together. I pressed a kiss to his neck, which was scruffier than his typical clean shave.
“Morning, babe,” I rasped. “You smell good.” My hand slid down and brushed over a very impressive hard-on. I moved my fingers over his shaft, thinking ahead to a morning romp. Maybe it would be more successful than the night before.
“Hey,” came a deep voice. Deeper than Cole’s. My head snapped up.
Oh my God.Mikey.
I shoved myself away, shaking. “What? What the fuck happened?!” Panic was the undertow that threatened to suck me under. Mikey reached for my hand, but I held it away.
“Hey, relax, Jess. It’s okay.”
“Okay?! I was snuggling in your chest and touching your dick! I kissed your neck!”
“I’ll forgive it,” he said with a chuckle. “But you can go back for more if you want.”
“Jesus, God, no!” I shrieked.
“Okay, you don’t have to act horrified.”
“What happened?!”
“You fell asleep on the rooftop. I stayed up there with you because I didn’t want you to get murdered. Then it startedraining. I couldn’t wake you up, so I carried you down here.”
“Raining? Was it storming? Was there thunder?”
Ben looked confused. “No. It wasn’t. Anyway, I tried to get into your apartment, but Cole didn’t answer and I didn’t want to dig through your pockets for your keys.”
