Page 90 of Midnight Ink

He laughs. “Whatever happens on the wheel stays on the wheel.”

My world narrows as he kisses me.

His mouth is soft, slow and unhurried. My future crashes into me. Perfect little flashes of the life I want so badly. Waking up together. Going home together after work. Kissing him when I see him. Touching and hugs. Weekends spent on the couch watching movies, just existing side by side. It may seem like mundane shit, but it’s my dream. It’s what I want more than anything.

I want him to be mine.

Ian breaks the kiss and pulls me into his chest. I melt against him, hugging him around the waist. I can’t go back after this.

There’s no undoing it.

“Tonight is a great night,” Ian murmurs against my temple. I can’t speak. Chewing the inside of my cheek, I just stare ahead as the wheel descends. My arm around him gets tighter.

There’s no coming back from this, and that scares me worse than anything.

Later, we’re walking along the boardwalk. The pier smells like sugar and smoke, and some of the noise from the carnival is muffled as we walk further away, watching the beach. Hundreds of lanterns are being lit. Ian leans against the railing, watching as they begin to lift.

They rise into the night. Reds and golds. Their reflections make the ocean look like it’s on fire.

Ian watches as they lift into the sky. There’s this softness about him now that wasn’t there before this week. He seems so relaxed.

“I’m going to miss this place,” he says.

“Yeah.” I’m going to miss a lot of things once this is over. “Me too.”

He turns to me. “I’m sorry about the start of this trip. But I’ve had the best time. Thank you. For pushing me, having patience with me, everything.” His arms wrap around my waist. My heart screams at me to say the words my mouth won’t.

I love you.

“What are you thinking about?” he asks me quietly.

Nothing. Everything. The fact that I’m falling and don’t know whether I’m falling alone.

He kisses me again. Gentle and searching. “You okay?”

No.

But I nod anyway.

“I’m okay,” I lie. “Just thinking about how good this week’s been.”

He smiles, unaware of the war inside me. When he kisses me again it’s careful, but deeper. Heat curls low in my belly. The world keeps moving around us, but I’m frozen in this moment. It’s only him and me.

When he finally pulls back, he rests his forehead against mine. We watch the lanterns disappear into the dark. Then he turns his back to me, and I take the opportunity to pull him against my chest with my arms wrapped around his waist. My chin rests on his shoulder as we watch the lanterns float and glow through the air.

It’s beautiful.

And I don’t know how to survive not having this forever.

TWENTY-ONE

JULIAN

Ifeel a warm hand run faintly over my stomach though I’m still half asleep. Then lips press to my shoulder. “Jules. We have to get up.” I groan, rolling over, then feel him engulf me in his arms. “We have to get to the airport soon.”

“Ten more minutes—holy f-fuck.” Warm lips wrap around my dick. My eyes flutter open, looking down between my legs as I widen my thighs for him. “Fuck, Ian.” Hard as a rock, I watch as he sucks me slowly.

Well, now I’m awake.