“That you’re intense.”
“Words can never express the way I feel about you, Lily Papas.” Choking back everything I’ve always wanted to say, I press a kiss to her forehead—gentle, an unspoken promise.
She lets out the tiniest noise—a mix of a sigh and a sob. Her grip on my wrist tightens, and for a second, we’re alone and not surrounded by all our friends. It’s just us.
When she blinks her eyes open, her eyes are washed with unshed moisture. “Show me.”
I do.
I pull her up by the hand, and we weave out of the room and leave everyone’s confused looks behind.
Our laughter creates the best song in the quiet streets of Spain. A light sprinkle of rain dances around us as I usher her to my side, and we run back to the hotel as fast as her short legs can muster.
Once we burst through the doors, a nervous giggle flies out of her mouth. We wait for the elevator, touching and kissing, trying to memorize each other’s bodies. When the doors open, I pin her to one of the walls, unable to take my hands off her body. Angels would cry at the sight of her damp black hair sticking to her face, plump and rosy lips, and eyes that would light up the entire sky after a storm.
We rush through the hallway once the doors open. I fumble behind her back with my key card. Hearing a low buzz, I push the door open, kissing her like my life depends on it. She kisses me like I’m a language only she knows. Her hands slide up my chest, pulling me closer. There is no hesitation between us. Only two heartbeats that understand that something is about to change.
She walks backward through my room, nails digging into my forearms, not once parting from my lips. I lift her gently and lay her on the bed, and her hair fans out around her like a beautiful mermaid. I touch her like I’m memorizing a miracle. Clothes meet the floor, naked skin meets, breath hitches, and sweaty foreheads collide.
“I missed you.” Full of longing, she wraps her legs around my waist, clinging.
“I never stopped missing you.” I close the gap between us, scared she might snap out of whatever is happening. “The urge to have you in my life only grew stronger by the day.”
She melts under me.
Outside, the world keeps spinning, but it stops right here on this bed. Names are being whispered in the dampness, and tangled sheets rustle.
Together, we’re like a sparkler crackling to life, throwing off white and gold tiny little stars all around us. It chases the dark away, like a slow-burning storm. The room fades. Our past, present, and future don’t matter anymore as her lips and body move perfectly in sync with mine, like it was always meant to.
Deep down, I know this isn’t just a moment.
It’s our return.
THIRTY-EIGHT
LILY
I wake up to orange.
The culprit is the sunlight blinding me.
But I also wake up next to him—my childhood best friend.
With my back fused to his front, his veiny, sun-kissed arm is slung around my torso, holding me close.
So, last night wasn’t just a magical dream.
It was reality.
Without wanting to wake him, I turn very slowly and inspect his peaceful face. I slide a hand up to his neck, and his chest rises and falls with his breath.
Memories of last night come back in snippets. His body controlling mine, his sweet words talking me through it. Feeling everything he was doing to me physically and emotionally, I was so scared he might break me, but he kept me together the whole time.
I knew he would be perfect.
His hard body stretches slightly. Looking up, I find his tired eyes assessing me like a puzzle he can’t believe he solved.
“Good morning.” His voice is deep and rich with sleep.
