While I Was Away(76)

“I don't know what exactly I believe,” he told her the truth. She held her breath while he searched for the right words. “I know what science tells us and what school taught me and what the real world says is right.”

“Jones.” She only said his name because she was afraid to say anything else. A shiver ran over her skin, even though she wasn't cold.

“And I believe ...” he paused once more. “That I've never loved anyone more than I love you right now. And I can't explain it and I don't know how it's possible, but I know it's right. I know it's the most real thing I've ever experienced. From the first moment I met you, I knew you. Our souls were meant to meet, and will always meet. In this lifetime, in the next, in any reality, in any dream, wherever, whenever. I believe in that.”

And she was crying and she was laughing and her heart was going to burst, but it was okay, because Jones was laughing with her and brushing her hair away from her face and kissing her so much it was hard to breathe.

“Why did you make me wait so long?” she cried, combing her fingers through his hair. His arms wrapped around her, squeezing her tightly to him.

“I didn't know,” he panted, his tongue dragging along her ear. “How could I know? You had all that time in your dreams. I only had right now.”

“Forever,” she moaned. “It felt like forever.”

“I'll make up for it,” he assured her, then he stole her breath away with another soul sucking kiss. Her toes curled up from the intensity of it.

“When?” she gasped when he finally pulled away.

“How about right now,” he suggested, and she pulled back a little.

“Right now? Now now?” she checked. “Like five minutes after our orgasms nearly killed us right now?”

“I heal quickly,” he said, squeezing her breast. Her own hands weren't idle, and she slid one down his stomach and between their legs, then raised her eyebrows at him.

“You are an amazing man, Jones,” she laughed. He pulled her back to him and kissed her again.

“I give all credit to you. Now be quiet and let me show you how much better real life is than your dreams.”

She kept laughing while he rolled her onto her back again, but then her breath caught in her throat as his mouth latched onto a nipple, and then all laughter died away when his mouth moved lower and lower and lower, so low she had trouble breathing at all.

So much better than any dream.





34




“Ocean?”

Zoey Blanke was half asleep as she peeked through the peep hole in her door. It was the middle of the night – why was Ocean Reins on her doorstep?

“Hey,” he called through the wood. “Sorry – I've been trying to call you. I don't take rejection very well.”

Zoey laughed, then undid all the locks on her door and pulled it open. He slid into the apartment quickly like he was afraid she was going to shut him out.

“Good to know,” she said, wrapping her oversized kimono tightly around her and crossing her arms. “Who rejected you?”

“Um, I left you enough voicemails to convince a judge to issue a restraining order,” he pointed out. “And you never once responded, so I'm kinda assuming you rejected me.”

“Hmmm,” she decided to milk this. She tapped her finger against her chin and turned away from him. “What's that saying about assuming things? Something about you being an asshole ...”

“Ass,” he corrected her as they walked into her tiny kitchen area. “And yes, trust me, I'm being a huge one right now.”

His voice was light and teasing, but when she turned to face him again, she could tell he was nervous under it all. She sighed and dropped the act.

“I lost my phone, Ocean.”

That seemed to bring him up short. He blinked his eyes rapidly in surprise, then glanced quickly around her living room, obviously looking for the device. She was almost offended, but then she remembered this was Ocean Reins she was dealing with.

“You did? When?” he asked. She gestured for him to sit at the table, then she went over to a window and jerked it open.

“This morning,” she explained, sitting down on the sill and crossing her arms. “Right down a sewer drain. Isn't that a bitch? I bet there's a number I can call and someone would get it for me, but I just couldn't imagine touching it ever again. Que será, or whatever.”

“Lost your phone down a sewer drain,” he groaned, putting his face in his hands.

“Yup. Boy, don't you look like an idiot now,” she teased.

“Yup,” he echoed her with a little chuckle.

“I was gonna get a new one at lunch, but we were swamped, and time just got away from me. I'll get one in the morning, and then I promise, I'll listen to all your sad little voicemails,” she assured him. He snorted and lifted his head.

“You're a peach, Blanke.”

She flashed him a wolf like smile.

“Don't I know it. So what's with the light stalking?” she asked.

“August is leaving for good day after tomorrow,” he said, and she nodded.

“I know. Hence that random little going away party.”

“I was thinking I should leave with him.”