Love in Limbo

Chapter Ten

It was the first night of many that Sarah and I would sleep cuddled up on the roof terrace of the facility. The management had put some decent outdoor furniture up there when they got their last government grant, to try and encourage the residents to get outside and enjoy some fresh air. The plush double seat by the outdoor heating, and under the canopy became our spot.

"I missed you" I whisper into her shoulder.

"Ditto" she whispers back, pushing her fingers into mine further, and placing her hand on my lap, entwined with mine.

I glance down and sigh involuntarily at the comfort I feel. Sarah is so warm and comfortable, she smells like coffee and freshly baked cookies. Her lightly curled hair rests on her shoulder blades messily, and it tickles my nose when the breeze catches it just right. I wrinkle my nose and let out a contented laugh as the wind whips another curl under my nose and tickles my nostrils. She turns and glances down, smiling as she pulls her hair into her jacket collar.

She pops the collar up high, to keep her hair from escaping. "Sorry" she apologised, sitting back down into a resting position and taking my hand again.

"That's okay" I reply "It reminds me that I'm really here... with you"

I nudge Sarah sideways, and she lands on her back on the seat. I lean forward over her, catching her lips in a smile as I capture them in my own, my weight resting on either side of her waist on the seat beneath my knees. I feel her hands rest either side of my waist, before reaching out my hand to her cheek, my thumb tracing her jaw lightly as my lips slip into hers in soft rhythmic motions. Sarah's fingers clench the material of my t shirt at my hips as she pulls me closer. The kiss deepens, and sends a cascade of tingles down my body. She moans pleasurably, as if she's feeling the same thing. I pull away, sitting backwards on the back of my heels above her. Her face is flushed and her breathing is off kilter as she glances at me with dark dilated pupils. I smile at her pink tipped ears and lips. I press my hand to her chest, feeling the sharp rises and falls of her ribs below my palm.

"You are so beautiful" I whisper, not withdrawing my gaze from her own.

She smiles and takes my hand from her chest and places it on her cheek. "Cassidy" she asks.

"Yes" I return.

"Don't ever leave" she practically begs.

I feel my breath hitch in my throat, knowing I can't promise it, but that I feel it deep down inside of me, that I would never willingly leave. Sarah Cooper was in some way a part of me, a feeling I couldn't explain but knew to be true. I can't answer right now, not in any way that will soothe her racing mind, but I can show her what I'm feeling. I lay myself beside her on the cushions of the double seat, and rest my arm over her waist, my head on her shoulder. We look up, finding our eyes on a cloudless night, and the sky is filled with twinkling white stars.

I reach up and kiss her cheek "We have a whole galaxy above us Sarah...yet I can't imagine being anywhere else. I don't want to be in any other galaxy, any variation of this life, or in any other existence...right at this moment..."

She kisses my forehead, and pulls me further against her body into a warm embrace.

We must have stayed there for hours, because the light is breaking when Sarah finally sits up "I have to go" she says, taking my hand and kissing my fingertips.

"I have work" she reminds me, with a disappointed frown.

I sit myself up beside her, and sigh "okay" I offer unenthusiastically "I guess it's time you returned to the real world"

She leans forward and kisses my cheek "I will be back tonight" she promises. "Maybe we could meet up here" she asks.

I watch her stand and fix her hair with her fingers, before pulling out a hair tie, and with both hands behind her head she fixes her hair up in a long pony tail.