Page 77 of Ex Somnis

Her expression falls. “I can’t.”

“You can’t what?”

“I can’t wake up, Ridge.” Her voice is small, and she’s still a little out of breath. “I made it out of 5D, but now I’m stuck. I keep reaching for the surface, and it’s not there.”

I stare at her.

The fuck did she just say?

She stares back, eyes already going bright with tears she’s trying to hold back. I’m not equipped for that. If she cries right now, I’m going to lose whatever composure I have left, so I kiss her again with a quick peck.

“Okay,” I say, pulling back. “We need the one with the doctorate for this.”

With a wave of my hand, I dress her in soft clothes, then myself in my usual black. Taking her hand, I close my eyes and think of Paul’s stupid fucking plants.

Of his stupid glasses and his stupid kindness…

…and when I open my eyes again, we’re standing in Paul’s pristine white dreamscape.

Lennon grabs my arm, swaying a little.

“I’m sorry, I should have warned you. You okay?”

“Yeah. Just nauseous,” she mutters, swallowing hard.

Paul turns and freezes, his eyes going wide behind his glasses.

“Darling.”

He crosses the room in four long strides, cups her face with both hands, and kisses her like he’s been holding his breath for seven days.

I look at the nearest potted plant and grind my back teeth.

“Are you all right?” His voice has completely dropped the clinical mask. “Are you hurt? Are you…”

“I’m okay,” she whispers, reaching up to stroke his cheek. “I’m okay.”

“We don’t have time for this,” I mutter.

Paul glances at me over her head, one eyebrow raised in silent question. I glare at him and grab his hand too.

He frowns at the contact.

Then I think of a sea of clouds, tousled blond hair, a hairy ass…

…and we drop into Nevan’s dreamscape.

Paul immediately bends over, hands on his knees, breathing hard.

I can’t quite hide my smirk. “You good, Doc?”

“Did you…” He pants out and straightens, eyes wide. “Did you just pull me into someone else’s dreamscape?”

“Yeah. New trick, I guess.”

“How—”

“Guys,” Lennon cuts him off softly.