CLOSER (SAM FENDER)

NINE

Sam

I woke up with Violet in my arms.

My head was pounding from the remnants of the whiskey, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered right now, except for her.

She was absolutely perfect as she cocooned herself into me and breathed in and out slowly, still a victim of sleep. I'd waited years for this, dreamed about it, thought about it and then buried those feelings so far down in myself when I knew j couldn't have her that I'd almost all but forgotten them. But they came back to life last night. Fiercely.

Once we started, there was no stopping. It was better than I imagined and what made it better was the way she said my name. It was like she'd wanted me too, for a lot longer than she even knew. I sighed against the memories taking over my mind as I tightened my grip around her and burrowed my face against the back of her neck.

She jerked awake, sitting up quickly as I backed away from her at the motion. She looked around the room anxiously before turning toward me, terror on her face. I instantly felt a pang of disappointment wash through me.

"Sam..." she whispered as she looked at me nervously.

"Ye...yeah..." I grumbled as sleep still coated the vowels in my response.

She bit her lip and looked me up and down on another sigh. "It wasn't a dream this time?"

I shook my head. For a moment I wondered how much regret she was sifting through. The look on her face was filled with both shock and fear. But then something in her demeanor changed. She breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed back into the pillow beneath her, turning her body toward me.

"I was afraid I'd dreamed it up again and would wake up to nothing."

Relief flooded over me and I reached for her face, trailing my fingers down her cheek like I'd done it a thousand times.

"It was real." I mumbled.

She closed her eyes on a smile. It was like she was relieved and happy all at the same time. I was immediately calmed by her response. "I'm so glad it was real."

My chest heaved at her confession.

"You're beautiful, you know?" I said lowly as I leaned down and pressed my lips softly against hers. We moved slower than last night, taking our time exploring each other as we kissed softly. When I pulled away from her we just stared at each other for a few moments, drinking each other in. It would have been like this when we were younger if we'd had the chance to give each other a try.

"What are you thinking about." I whispered to her.

"This. You. Everything." She smiled lazily.

I let my hand rest against the nape of her neck, twirling my fingers in a few strands of her hair. It felt unreal being in bed next to her, naked except for the sheet wrapped around us, breathing her in. All I wanted to tell her was that. That I'd dreamed of this to, that I'd wanted this forever even when I thought I didn't. That she was everything and always had been.

But something startled us both. Something reminded us of the situation we were in, and of the reality surrounding us. The lock of the front door clicked as it squeaked on its hinges and shut quietly in its frame.

Jake.

We both moved quickly, jumping toward our clothing and moving out of the bed. I handed her shirt to her in a fury as I pulled my boxers on.

"Shit." I mumbled as I heard Jake and Violet's bedroom door open. He'd realize momentarily she wasn't in there. He'd start looking for her throughout the house.