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I think about it for a moment, trying to analyze how I’m feeling about the entire situation. I feel like in a normal situation this should make me upset, but I’m weirdly not. I’m highly uncomfortable with unknowns, this is true, but I don’t feel jealous about him wanting to explore his feelings. I just want to know.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“I don’t like unknowns, but I understand the need for further research. I can’t pretend that I’m not a little apprehensive. I’m not sure I can handle losing you again. I want to hold on to every scrap I can get, but I will admit that there’s a part of me that is afraid you’ll leave again or choose her over me.”
“I can respect that. And I’m so sorry that I did that to you, I should have talked to you in the first place.”
“You’re talking to me now. And it means a lot to me, even if the situation is… different.”
He looks up at me, his elbows resting on my knees. His gaze searches mine for a moment.
“Can I kiss you?”
I barely start nodding before he takes my face in his hands and pushes his lips against mine. I relax into his kiss, my knees parting and pulling him closer. I break the kiss just to hold him, to be held by him.
When I pull back, we both have tears in our eyes. I bend down and kiss each of his closed eyelids, and then slowly, sensually pull his bottom lip into my mouth, and when he moans just slightly, I open my mouth and kiss him. I put every bit of longing that I’ve been feeling for the past two years into that kiss. I kiss him until we’re both breathless, lips swollen and raw.
And then I get up, adjust myself, and say, “So are you going to help me pack?”
Bennet
Waking up confused, I look around me and pull my phone out of my back pocket. It’s just after 5 AM. I’m shocked that I actually slept through the night, especially considering the cramped position we’re in.
I’m lying on my back, so close to the edge of the bed that I could have easily fallen off at any second if I had shifted even slightly to the right. My ankles are crossed, my shoes, jacket, and belt all still on. There is a bandaged and bruised, yet beautiful, woman laying against me with her head on my chest, my left arm wrapped around her shoulders.
On the other side of the bed, Luis has his tall, lean, lanky body curved around the same woman that has her head against my chest. He is laying on his right side, facing me, spooning her lower half with his left arm thrown around her waist. He, too, is fully clothed, wearing heavy black boots, black jeans, and an army green V-neck t-shirt that is rumpled from sleep.
It’s definitely not a situation I’ve woken up to before, but they’re both sleeping so peacefully that I just lay there for a while longer, contemplating the day ahead. Jackson confirmed that all my deliveries have arrived, paperwork is in order, and everyone has their instructions. I breathe a sigh of relief that everything is coming together.
I’m really not expecting any trouble on our way out, but I think it’s prudent for us to cover all our bases. Despite me noticing him following me, Luis is incredibly observant and knows what to look for to notice anything out of place. Lukas is clear headed and sensible, almost to a fault. They are the two key components in our quiet exit. Micah’s medical knowledge and amicable nature, paired with Jackson’s hospitality and calming personality, will help her heal. I’m honestly just a facilitator. Once we make it to the house, I’m not sure what my real use will be.
Not that I plan on leaving any time soon. No, I plan to see this through. We’ll take however long we need to get her healed up, and then we’ll find her some answers. I’m already working on the surveillance photos of the guys looking for her, doing everything I can to figure out where the uniforms came from. I also did some damage control with the trucker incident, making sure that it didn’t become a huge media circus to attract more attention. I’m hoping this is enough to keep them off our trail.
When we leave in less than two hours, there will be a campus wide security system glitch, thanks to a resourceful employee of mine. The cameras will all cut out for exactly five minutes, so everyone has to be on their game.
Texting the group to confirm time and details, I ask for check-ins to confirm when they’re on their way and in place. I text Micah to ask what address I should send a car to and send a similar text to Lukas to find out if he’s coming. They all respond quickly.
Jackson: Ready to go here, see you at 7. Will confirm when I’m in place.
Micah: 321 Budding Court, I’ll be ready whenever the car arrives.
Lukas: Yeah I’m in, I’ll ride over with Micah.
Luis: Here ;)
I raise an eyebrow at Luis, who I hadn’t realized was awake.
“How long have you been awake,” he asks me, his voice rough with sleep.
“Only about half an hour. Sorry if my text woke you.”
“Nah that’s alright, I’m usually up by now. I’m surprised I slept so well.”
“Me too. Maybe the adrenaline is waning.”
He makes a noncommittal noise, looking down at the woman between us affectionately. Assessing our tangled situation, his gaze traces the way part of her body is tucked into him, the rest snuggled up to me. He raises an eyebrow in my general direction.
