So help meGod—I believe him.
His straining, hard cock nudges at my entrance. Raw.Unprotected.
I guess I gasp because his fierce, tortured gaze seeks mine. “I’ve... never. I’ve... I’mclean. There’s been no one except...”
A hysterical sob rips out my throat. His pained face mirroring mine. But I know what he wants to say. And what it forcesmeto reveal.
“Her?” I whisper.
His face crumples in agony—managing a weak nod. Just as he attempts to shift away, I grab his hips, forcing him back near my entrance. “It’s okay. I’m... clean too.”
“B-birth control?” he whispers softly.
Now it’s my turn to crumble under his misty gaze. “I... I can’t. It’sokay.”
His eyes widen at my admission. His breathing unnatural—almost panicky. “Baby—”
“Take me,” I plead with all my might.
I have a feeling we’ll be talking about this if we both survive tomorrow. But now isn’t the time. Ineedhim. Inside me. For possibly the last fucking time.
The moment he fills me up, I gasp at the familiar stretch. My body instantly recognizing the pain and love mingling.
“Oh God...” I breathe out.
His lips crash on mine instantly. His gasping words hit my ear. Words of love, of affection—of a bleeding heart.
“My Greesha.”
“I love you, Gree.”
“My ghost. My warrior ghost.”
My mind threatens to dissociate when he goes silent. He’s probably lost to the throes of pleasure—but the rhythm of his thrusts starts to strangle something inside me. Likehisonce did. Like Karim’s.
But the kisses... they’re still Advik’s. Still soft. Stillmine.
And now I’m caught in a battle I never prepared for.
The war between my ghosts and my salvation.
Two worlds that were never meant to bleed into each other—are finally doingjust that.I don’t know how to hold both.
I’m here.
I’m with Advik.
The chant rises again in my mind. But not quickly enough to hide the way I’ve stiffened.
He pauses. Hovering. Staring down at me with a kind of terror I can’t quite understand.
“It’s me,” he whispers with a trembling smile—like he knows I need the reminder more than air.
“It’s me,” he repeats, gently resuming his rhythm.
And I smile too.
Because this—thisis what I think I needed. Not to forget Karim. But to take himoutof my body. To carve him out of the places he buried himself. To reclaim every inch.
