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GRAHAM

It’s been a long time since I’ve been this content Not that I don’t want h to forsake the need to hold her close, to feel her heart beat againstof our ers over each other

We lie entwined in the center of the bed, spent fro that set fire to every eirl I know she can tell that I’ve held myself in check a couple of times, physically--a sinal withdrawal of her own I hope she knows there’s no need for her worry Asin love with her forwith so to a o there alone I have to know she’s going with hts, she turns her face up froertips continue caressing her arm, up and over her shoulder, down her back, and I shareen eyes, savoring the unguarded way she allows me to study her My head tellsI want to do is scare her away I’ll take as long as she needs, be more patient than I’ve ever been, if it means she’ll be s I’ hers

The words lay on ers have wandered up her back, rising and falling over each tiny arch of vertebrae until I reach her neck Shifting, I lean over her and kiss her gently My lips are sore and I know hers h I’ve tried to use restraint I s that any restraint I’ve e I’ve practically devoured her for the past two hours From the bedside table, our phones have beeped and buzzed a couple of times each, but neither of usabout?" she asks, her voice rasping between regular speech and a whisper, a tentative answering s about how soreif yours are, too"

She nods, her s "I don’t think I can feel the closer to runinside her h

"M ue slips inside rowl and then I’ sentences in my head (I was so sure last selish would never come to any practical use)

"Maybe," et dinner… or solad to see she’s as affected as I aestures to the television, reading my mind

"Sounds perfect I don’t want to leave this room Well, I mean, not until I have to Um--"

"Would you… want to sleep here?" Her eyes fall, watching her own hand where it lays onwith every breath I take My heartbeat accelerates with her words; sheunder her palm "We only have a couple of days, and I’ll probably fall asleep if we’re up late…"

She doesn’t est impediment--the fact that thanks to the ruse she and Reid are perpetrating, she and I can’t be demonstrative in public Her room--and mine--are like private islands The only places we’ll be safe to touch unguardedly

"And you want me here when you wake up?" She nods, and I kiss her carefully "I would love to stay with you tonight, E her chin up, I look into her eyes "And I’ other than sleeping next to you"

After dinner, I walk to rab a toothbrush and clean stuff to wear toes on the way No calls from home, but one missed call and a text fro back that I’ the three-hour time difference as an excuse for my exhaustion

True to her word, Eainst my side, she sleeps on her stomach, a pillow flattened under her face and chest, one of her knees drawn up against rin and shake my head that such a small person can take up so led towards me, her lashes lay across her creahtly… and they actually do look a little puffy

That thought hasnoun phrases (Emma’s lips) and verb phrases (are swollen) and prepositional phrases (fro to help roan escapes , her ar to sleep Still, I wouldn’t trade the feeling of holding her like this for anything

It’sat the swirling patterns on the ceiling, trying to concentrate on anything but my t-shirt loosely bunched in Emma’s fist A fewlance down, she’s awake, sort of A drowsy, slowly-blinking stage of awake

"Hi," she whispers

"Hey," I whisper back My arrateful when shefor a heartbeat?" I ask, stretchingthe other behind o toto flex it and be impressive She props herself on her forearms, chin on her hands, and stares at me

"I can’t believe how comfortable I feel," she says, a confused note in her confession "How do you do that?"