Weightless. That’s the way I felt. A grogginess swarmed around me as strong arms held me close. I snuggled closer to the warmth, rubbing my nose into it, inhaling his familiar male scent. The few nights I could sleep soundly were always filled with him. Instead of fighting it, tonight, I would succumb to it. Let the joy of having him here with me, taking care of me, seep into my bones, curl around my heart, and protect it. I imagined Wes putting me in bed. Our bed. The pillow smelled of him, of ocean, sand, and that little extra richness that was purely Wes. It lingered there. I rubbed my face against the soft cotton. “I miss you…” My voice cracked as a tear slipped from my eye.
A feather-light touch whispered across my cheeks. “I’m here. With you,” he whispered against my ear. Dreams were magnificent in their ability to be both cruel and splendid. Giving me all that I wanted only to vanish at dawn’s light.
My eyes flickered open, and in my exhaustion, I saw a form. His form. “Don’t leave me. Stay.” I blinked rapidly trying to keep my eyes open. The window was open, letting the chilly breeze off the ocean stream through. I burrowed into the heavy comforter, pulling it to my chin. Then I was encased in nothing but heat. An arm curled around my waist and I gloried in the dream. Of feeling him close, holding me, and wisps of his breath along my neck.
His large form curled around my body from behind, and I pressed back into the imaginary Wes, not caring that he wasn’t really there. I’d pretend he was, and for one night, I’d sleep. It felt so real the way he held me close, nuzzled at my hairline, neck, shoulder. I clasped my hands around the arm over my waist and brought it up to rest between my breasts, setting my lips against the knuckles, breathing in his essence deep within my soul. Enough so that when I woke up tomorrow, I’d have the impression of him there. His weighty sigh tickled the hair around my ear. Tears fell as I closed my eyes tight not wanting this mirage to disappear. Eventually the heat at my back, the sense of peace surrounding me, cloaked my sorrow and anguish for the night.
Deep within the dream he spoke, “Sleep, sweetheart. I’ll be here. I’m never letting you go again.”
“That’s good,” I mumbled to my dream Wes and held him tighter as the Sandman was about to claim his newest victim. Wes’s arms locked around me, bringing a flicker of recognition to the surface. Every part of Dream Wes’s body touched me in some way. Exactly how he would if he were here. I sighed and let myself sink.
The sound of Wes’s voice seemed far away, garbled when he spoke. “I remembered you, Mia. Every day I was gone, you were right there, with me. I lived off the memory of you.”
Chapter Two
A raging inferno of heat licked at the surface of my skin, undulating over every curve until it was blistering hot. The heaviness on top of the fire made it hard to move. I tested the ability on my legs and found them locked down. A hairy leg was clamped over my thighs. Wait. What? As my brain came back online, everything within me stiffened. My heart started pounding so hard I worried it was a base drum on my chest, loud enough to wake the person who slept behind me. Instantly my skin became clammy, anxiety sending the fear receptors spinning.
Ever so slowly, I maneuvered anxiety-soaked limbs and prepared to strike. I tightened my hand into a fist, readied my elbow to jab, tuck, and roll, kind of like I’d been taught in grade school when there was a fire. Only then it was Stop. Drop. Roll. I repeated the chant in my mind. Jab. Roll. Drop. Meaning drop off the side of the bed and run like hell.
A male groan came from behind me and the extremities surrounding me locked even tighter. “I can hear you thinking.” His voice was roughened by sleep.
Just as I was about to strike and go for gold with the well thought out jab-roll-drop method, that voice cut through the plan like a sharp blade through a satin ribbon. A new sensation shimmered all around me as gooseflesh skimmed across my skin followed by uncontrollable chills. Tears pricked at my eyes, and I turned over. The death grip around me loosened enough so that I could move. I was now face-to-face with the only man I wanted more than my next breath.
Wes.
The tears fell. His hand came up and cupped my cheek. “Miss me?” He grinned and I lost it.
As fast as a ninja, I had him on his back, and I straddled his hips. A very impressive part of his body was eager to say hello too, but I’d get to that later. My mouth was already on the move. I layered kisses over every single inch of his face. All over his forehead, down each cheek, over a bearded chin, which tickled and teased my lips as I passed. I avoided his neck where a bandage protected his wound.
God, I can’t believe he’s here in the flesh.