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Laying my head on his chest, I savor the heat of hiainst hiether, completely comfortable

I’ether Slow, languorous, and completely in sync It’s a different kind of need that rises inside ether in a steady build, aching pleasure filling and expanding

I love the way he kisses ether

I fall asleep, cradled in his arms

8

I come to consciousness slowly In little bits and pieces, like beco aware of the fact that Bryce’s arainst my back, hand draped over my hip, and I can feel the steady movement of his breath

The first thing I do is think How do I feel? I was in soht, and I wouldn’t exactly think that it was a good thing Except I feel stable Cal that happened feels too enormous for me to process, and yet it was perfect

And now, more than ever, we need to talk Because I can’t do this if it’s just going to end the way it started: quickly and brilliantly

Slowly, I turn over in the circle of his ar the delicious soreness that is the afterether

I like watching him sleep It’s a different way than I’ve seen hi this close Seeing his tiny movements He has the same beautiful face, but smoothed out None of the worries, concerns, or even joys of waking life are bothering hi painted by some Renaissance master

I can’t help ently stroke the lines of his face He’s so beautiful I’ve always thought so And now he’s ht showedThis is real

After a few es and he opens his eyes to mine There’s no transition between sleep and wakefulness, and he doesn’t look drowsy He’s simply there

“Good ,” he says His voice is deep with sleep, and that resonance that I love so much is even richer now

“Good ,” I say