Thomas & January (Sleepless 2)

“I’m not just saying them because I think that’s what you want to hear. I’m telling you this because it’s the truth. I can’t live without you, J. You’re it. You’re it. Get me?”

I nodded, afraid to speak. He took me in his arms and brought me closer, inching me nearer to his chest slowly as if he was frightened I’d spook. His eyes searched my face like he was drinking me in for the last time. “God, I love you,” he said without thinking.

He brought his mouth to mine and I could feel the desperation he felt for me. It matched mine completely. I grazed my hands up his shoulders and wrapped them around his neck. Staring at him afforded me the first sense of peace I’d felt in the weeks since I last saw him.

His lips moved over mine languidly and I felt drunk from the warmth of his breath. His bottom lip trembled against mine in restraint and I decided to give him the permission he was begging for.

I pressed the kiss deeper, breathing in deeply through my nose. I was on the brink of ecstasy. Incredible, I thought. I broke free a moment and told him how I felt before diving back in.

“January,” he whispered, sending a thrill up my arms and legs, where it pooled in my belly.

His tongue stung sweetly and I realized I wanted to be the only one who would be able to taste him forever. We edged slowly toward the bed, never breaking the kiss and toppled onto my disheveled quilt. Tom was wedged between my legs and my robe came undone a little, the edge of my breasts exposed.

We stopped for just a moment, realizing where things were headed. His eyes roamed my entire body before he ran the backs of two fingers over the exposed skin at my chest. “You’re so beautiful, January,” he told me.

I brought him closer to me and I kissed him fiercely. I was ready for him.

“I want you,” I told him.

“I want you too,” he said, kissing me deeper.

His right hand followed the line of my body starting at my shoulders, his thumb cupping underneath my breast before continuing down, pinching my hip and holding the back of my thigh, bringing my leg up and around him.

o;She’s not ill,” Cherry said.

All the girls seemed to agree, including my mom.

“She’s upset,” Harper added, nodding happily. “This is good.”

“What? That’s awful!” I told them.

“No, it’s a good sign,” my mom said. “It means she’s not over you. This is a very good sign.”

I gulped. “What should I do?” I asked them.

“We go to her.”

“I don’t know where she lives.”

“How is that possible?” Jason asked.

“It never came up!” I seethed.

“Fine, I could get into trouble for this, but I’ll look it up. Be right back.”

Jason left to do his thing and everyone visibly relaxed.

“What should I say to her?”

“Tell her you love her,” Kelly suggested.

“What if she doesn’t want me?”

“Patience, Tom,” Cherry said again. “She does love you. Pride’s getting in the way, for both of you, it seems.”

“Tell her you know she still loves you,” my sister Christina said. “Tell her you know what she did for you. That it’s your proof.”

“Okay,” I said, absorbing it all.