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He closes his eyes, his jaw snapped shut. He looks like he
’s in the worst kind of physical pain and I hate that I’m the cause, but still I don’t turn to leave.
“You know what day it is, don’t you?”
His eyes slowly swing to me, darkening with a sudden clarity.
No, he didn’t know. But he does now.
His shoulders fall and I can tell he’s lost the fight within himself.
“Come here.” His voice is gravelly, low, and I feel it through my entire body.
He reaches for me first, gathering me into his strong arms. We stand in the open doorway of his condo as he hugs me, pressing the right side of his cheek to the top of my head. My arms come up slowly, taken by surprise with this sudden turn of events. When I come to terms with the fact that he isn’t going to push me away, I wrap my arms tightly around him. The muscles in his back flex and a small groan rumbles from his throat.
“I should have known,” he murmurs, and I swear he kisses the top of my head.
“You forgot,” I accuse, my fingertips pressing against his naked back. I dig my nails in a little bit, selfishly wanting him to feel a tiny bit of the pain I live with every day. “Everyone forgets.”
After all, the living very rarely like to acknowledge anything to do with death. They’re too scared of the finality of it.
“I didn’t forget, but you took me by surprise. You shouldn’t be here.”
“But I am.”
He sighs. “But you are.” Not releasing me, he tugs me inside and closes the door. “Your brother?”
I crook my head back to stare up at his tall frame. “Sleeping.”
“He can’t find you gone.”
“I know.”
“You need to go back.”
I tighten my hold on him. “No, not yet,” I beg. “Hold me a little while longer. He won’t wake up for a couple more hours, I promise.” He takes my face and looks down at me. His Adam’s apple bobs and he looks so torn. “Don’t make me leave.”
He lets out a shuddering breath and gives a single nod.
“You can stay,” he finally whispers, the words cracking as he says them. “Down, Zeppelin,” he scolds. I was so lost in the moment, in him, in my feelings, that I didn’t even notice the big dog rubbing against us.
I squeak when my legs go out from under me and I find myself cradled against his warm chest with his arms around me. My arms automatically twine around his neck as he carries me. “What are you doing?”
He arches a brow. “Carrying you?”
“Why?”
He bumps the door to his room open with his elbow.
“Because you asked me to hold you.”
I bite my lip as he lays me gently in bed. He climbs over my body, settling behind me. He pulls my back against his chest. I close my eyes.
If this is a dream, I never want to wake up.
Wrapped in Lachlan’s arms like this is the perfect kind of distraction.
I wiggle against him, trying to get comfortable, and he lets out a groan. “Please, don’t do that.”
