Fall from Love

than I need my next breath. Her hands run up and down my back, before knotting in my hair, pulling me harder against her. When her legs reach up and wrap around my back, I slip inside her gently and instantly feel her warmth. Our bodies come together as one, moving in sync, and her thighs tighten around my hips.
    I kiss her softly each time I press inside her and with each movement I make; it’s as if all the pain, all the grief I’ve been holding in, melts out of me.
     
    HOLLY
    Did that really happen last night or was that just a really, really good dream? I ask myself, opening my eyes and squinting from the bright light shining in through my bedroom window. I feel Carter shift beside me, wrapping his arm tighter around my stomach, pulling me closer to him. Oh yeah, it was real. The memories and images of the night before flow through my mind and my chest constricts just thinking of how good he felt and how sweet and gentle he had been with me. I bite my lower lip, remembering how my whole body shook with pleasure and how we fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.
    He shifts again and, when he removes his arm from around my waist, I’m tempted to pull it back, not liking the emptiness it leaves behind. His arm doesn’t go far, though, as he slowly trails his hand, starting at my hip, then running along my ribs, up to my shoulders, and then back down. He repeats this path a few times and my eyes fall closed; enjoying the feeling and what it’s doing to me.
    “Did you sleep well?” I ask after a long minute.
    “I slept better than I have in—” He pauses and kisses my shoulder. “I can’t remember the last time I slept this well.”
    “Yeah, me either,” I sigh, leaning my head back, welcoming his kisses that continue up my neck, knowing we aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
     
    ❧
     
    “I’m starving,” I say, tracing designs across Carter’s chest.
    He laughs and I can feel the vibration in his chest. “I’ve been hungry since we woke up, I just didn’t want to move.”
    “Yeah, it is pretty nice here, isn’t it?” I sigh heavily. “I’m not sure if we have anything that’s edible, we may be forced to go out.”
    “Well, we’ll have to find something because going out will entail getting dressed and I’m not quite ready for you to do that just yet.”
    A smile breaks across my lips.
    I search the pantry while Carter hunts for something in the refrigerator. “Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much junk food in an enclosed space before.”
    Laughing, I turn my head towards him, remembering the junk food binge Jenna and I had gone on before she left last night.
    “Were the two of you trying to overdose on sugar or something?” he asks, looking to me and then back to the fridge.
    “Something like that.” I laugh and then make my way over to him. “This,” I say, reaching in and grabbing the cake pan, “is amazing.”
    “So, we’re having cake for breakfast?” he asks, smiling.
    “Chocolate cake with strawberry icing to be exact.”
    I cut us each a piece and we stand in the kitchen, each of us leaning against opposite counters, facing each other.
    “Man, who knew cake could taste so good for breakfast.”
    “Well, it’s almost one in the afternoon, so technically it’s lunch.” I shove another large bite into my mouth. “We’ll have to remember to thank Jenna for this later.”
    “Hey, you’ve got something—” He uses his finger to point to a spot on the corner of his mouth.
    Reaching my tongue out, I try to find the icing or crumbs that seem to be lingering on my lips.
    “No. It’s still there.” He takes a large step towards me. “Here, let me.” Using his finger he scoops up a glob of strawberry icing from his plate and then trails his finger across my bottom lip, smearing it. He leans in, taking my bottom lip in his, massages it with his tongue, sucking all the icing off... and leaving me breathless. “Got it.” He pulls back, smiling.
     
    CARTER
    Four months later...
    Josh hasn’t let up since we left the house. He keeps giving me crap, telling me how bad I’ve got it for Holly and how whipped I am. I keep my mouth shut because, in all honesty, it’s the truth and I actually don’t mind him giving me crap. I don’t mind that he’s telling me that I’ve got it bad for a girl that I’m absolutely crazy about, for a girl that brought me back to life.
    When it came time to cross that line, to end our friendship and start something