22
New York City
March 10, 2013
My internal clock woke me earlier than necessary. But all that eight a.m. lab work had gotten my body used to waking up at dawn. I stretched my arm overhead as I slowly came back to myself. An arm banded across my middle. Slow, heavy breathing filled the quiet room. My eyes adjusted to the dimness, and I made out the sleeping form of Derek Ballentine.
Not only had he not left in the morning, but he was still sleeping. I’d never seen him look quite so peaceful before. His hair had fallen forward in his face. It was messy from a night full of s*x. His lips were slightly parted. I scooted in closer, pushing my body against his and lying on his pillow. His grasp around me tightened.
I gently dragged a finger across his bottom lip, up his jaw, around the she
