Darkness's Flower: Pulling It Together

Chapter 27: Slipping Away

~Lilly~

I jumped up and out of Nico's arms, scared to death. I couldn't see anything at all, so I started feeling around me. I could feel Nico's muscles on his stomach and chest, giving me the reassurance that he's actually beside me.

"Lilly, what are you doing?" Nico mumbled.

"Thank the gods. I thought I fell! I'm sorry. I can't really see anything. I can feel you, but everything is dark," I replied.

I felt him sit up. "What do you mean?"

"In the dark, you can usually see at least the outline of things. I can't see a single thing."

Nico's fingers brushed against my arm, then slipped through my cold fingers. I started to be able to see. I turned and put my other hand on his face, which I could now see. I smiled and kissed him.

"That was nice, but why did you do that?" Nico asked.

"I can see you now," I whispered.

He smiled and kissed me like I did to him. I pressed my body against his, making me warmer. My hand moved onto his cheek as he pulled away very slowly.

"What happened?" Nico asked softly.

"I was falling through darkness. Then you caught me, holding us both up. I slipped through your grip and fell. That's when I woke up," I explained.

He came closer. "You won't fall. Never. I won't let it happen."

I managed a smile as he pulled me down with him. Our bodies were pressed together, making each other warmer. I could feel his abs on my stomach through my shirt. Yes, I was basically lying on top of him.

Nico rubbed my back. "Go back to sleep. It's only eleven-forty-five."

"I will." I kissed him right on his jawline. "Good night."

He continued rubbing my back very slowly, but it was nice. He knows I'm a little stressed over that and he always knows how to make me feel better. My eyes fluttered shut and I fell back to sleep, comforted by Nico.

I was falling again. My screams for help and Nico were echoing. I felt his hand around mine.

"I've got you! I won't let you go! Not now, not ever!" Nico yelled.

Something was pulling me down, making Nico come stumbling down, almost falling too. He caught himself, but his fingers started getting looser and looser. I slipped through his fingers and woke up again.

I was still laying on Nico. I ran my fingers over his chest and stomach, looking at his face. I rolled off of him and sat up, putting my head in my hands.

"Same dream?" Nico asked softly.

"Yeah. I fell again, into the darkness, out of your grip."

He put his arms around me and pulled me into him. "I've got you. I won't let you go. Not now, not ever."

I gasped. "You said that in my dream."

"But your dream is all wrong."

I nuzzled my face into his neck and let him hold me. I closed my eyes, but forced myself to stay awake. I couldn't deal with that dream. Nico moved, making me flinch.

"Yeah, I know. I moved. I'm sorry," Nico whispered.

I giggled and kissed him hard. Like, really, really hard. He kissed me back even harder and we started making out. He pulled me into his lap, making my legs wrap around his waist. He pressed his chest against mine and started kissing me even harder. I played with his hair as he put his arms around me very tightly. I was out of breath and Nico pulled away.

He gasped for breath with a smile. "I love you, so much, Lillian."

I giggled. "I know."

I kissed him hard again. We kissed each other until neither of us could breathe, causing us to break apart and gasp for breath. Nico lied back down and pulled me next to him. I put my head right next to his.

"I love you," I whispered in his ear.

I kissed him on the cheek and settled into him more. I pressed my face against his chest and felt his lips on my forehead.

"I love you too," he said.

I giggled and ran my fingers over his muscles, over and over again. He had his arm around me, putting his hand right on my side. He squeezed the bottom of my ribs, by my hip, causing me to laugh. I heard him chuckle slightly.

"You are way too ticklish," Nico said.

"Shut up!"

He squeezed my side again, making me keep laughing. He ended up poking me and squeezing my sides over and over. I was laughing so hard and I hate him for it. He finally stopped when I was almost started falling out of bed.

"I wanted to go back to sleep, Nico! But I guess that's not happening now!" I said.

He smiled. "You can go back to sleep. It's only about one. I won't do it again, I promise."

His arms wrapped around me tightly, right around my midsection. I giggled and nudged his neck with my nose. He leaned his head against mine and I let him hold me. I felt so helpless at the moment, but it was the good helpless, knowing that he's there.

"Nico, can we at least lie down?" I asked quietly.

"I don't want to move. Just go to sleep," he whispered back.

"FYI, you're very comfortable."

"Yeah? So are you, sweetheart."

I smiled. "Sweetheart? Since when do you call me that?"

"I guess recently. I think I've done it before."

Nico leaned back against the headboard. I snuggled into him and he started rubbing my back. His hand went lower and lower, going towards my side.

"Easy there, Nico," I whispered.

"Sorry. Just go to sleep. I'm not tired. Just, please, let me hold you. I'm never letting you go, Lillian. Not right now and not ever. You're mine and I'm keeping it like that forever."