Please Don't Go (The Midnight Strike, #1)

by E. Salvador

I hold her, wishing I could take all her pain away. I hold her like my life depends on it. I’ll hold her until morning if I have to. I’ll keep holding her until I can’t any longer because how the fuck am I supposed to let go?

“Josie…” “Hmm?” Her eyes never leave mine. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

If you need anything, I’m just a text or call away. I’m so happy you’re here, Jos!

“I’m so happy you’re here, Josefine.”

Estás seguro?” “Contigo, siempre.”

Dios, no tengo suficientes palabras para explicar qué tan hermosa es.

ahhhh

“What’s the special occasion?” You being alive. You being here. You letting me in. You.

I made her a card. On the front of it, there’s a yellow duck with a black top hat, black shades, gold leis around its neck, and a gold fringed noisemaker hanging from its beak. Next to it, it says, Have a Quacking New Year! On the inside, the duck looks like it’s passed out drunk, feet up in the air, and on the other side it reads, Here’s to making more bad quacking decisions! Happy New Year! Underneath that I wrote, And to making new friends. You can call me Danny now.

I’m here for you. I see you. You’re not alone. I’m so happy you’re here, Jos!

“No, God no. It’s hard to think when I’m looking at you.”

“Sto facendo di tutto per non baciarti in questo momento.” I lift a brow, holding back a smile. “Well? You know I have no idea what that means.” He stares at me for a long beat, his amber eyes holding me in place and burning me up. “I said, I hope you’re ready to eat.”

On the other side, it says, To Your New Toaster. The bottom has two different toasters drawn inside that look like little homes. One is old with two slots for bread, while the other is new with four slots.

I hope you enjoy, and I’m so happy you’re here! With love, Garcia

affectionate. I may be overstepping and you can tell me to never bring this up and I won’t, but I just want you to know that I see you. I see you, Daniel,” she reaffirms, like she needs me to understand that she knows what I’m feeling, that she can see it and isn’t going to pretend it’s not there. “I don’t want you to feel like you need to make yourself cheerful or useful in order to be around me. I just want you to be you. And if you need someone to talk to, vent to, someone who will just listen, I’m here.”

“Daniel?” “Yes, Josefine?” His voice is light and teasing but haughty. “Disrespectfully, fuck off.” Mine, not so much. He throws his head back and laughs. “I like it when you’re mean to me.” “I thought you were into being praised?” I say, a little quiet and playful. “I’m into anything you do,” he murmurs just as quietly and playfully. Then he winks at me and we part.

“You matter, Daniel.”

You’re the best toast mate ever! On the bottom, he wrote, I’m happy you’re here, Jos!

“Shut up,” she mutters, scowling at me like it pained her to say it. My grumpy girl.

But for me, her eyes are drowning with all the patience in the world. I don’t deserve it.

“You’re a fucking godsend.”

“You’re fucking phenomenal. I love the way you listen. Love how responsive your body is to me.”

“It is as long as you’re spending it with the person you want to be with.” He stares at me so endearingly, it makes my skin itch again. “How we celebrate doesn’t matter, as long as I get to be with you.”

“Fuck, Josie,” he groans and lifts me a little higher so that my breasts are closer to his face. “I dream of this. I dream of you,”

“Josie, baby, is that what you like?”

I promised her I’d help her fill the emptiness, and I promised myself she’d never have to go through life alone.

“What did I do to deserve you?” I pinch her pebbled nipple, drifting my fingers to the hickey on the right side of her breast. “Stopped me from dying,” she playfully says but then winces. “Too soon?” “I’m so happy you’re here, Josie.” I caress her cheek.

“Don’t be mean to me. It’ll only turn me on more,”

You were made for this. For me. You’re so good at this.

I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m really excited now. It’s kind of hard to believe that a few months ago I didn’t look forward to anything, and now I look forward to moments with Daniel.

Only on you, I think every single time.

Dying would’ve been easier than feeling what I’m feeling.

ugh my heart

“Because, Josefine, you’ve rewired the way I feel touch. Touching anyone that isn’t you feels overwhelming and so wrong. It’s like my brain can’t process that it’s not you. I don’t know how to make sense of that but I don’t want to touch anyone that isn’t you. You’re incomparable. And no, I haven’t touched anyone to find that out. I just know. I can’t and won’t touch anyone that isn’t you. Does that answer your question? Can you answer mine now?”

“Happy?” “Always with you.”

“Eyes on me, baby,”

“I care so deeply for you and it’s not because of how we met. I care for you more than I care about anything or anyone. I need you to understand that I’d do anything for you. I need you to understand that I don’t regret what I did and wouldn’t change anything about it.”

“You say I’m stubborn, but you should look in the mirror. You’re worse.” I’m smiling again. “For you, I’ll be whatever.”

“My heart begs for you.” “Maybe it’s heartburn?” she mumbles into my shoulder.

“Annoyed? Baby, I want the whole universe to know you’re mine.”

Eyes on me

“No. You electrified my soul. This is the most awake I’ve ever mentally felt.”

“I’ll love you even on the dark days.” He gapes at

I don’t need you to be loud about loving me or do big gestures to show me that you do. I know that you do, in the way you hold me, how you see me, how you let me in, how you accept me for me. You are loving, Josefine, and I’m privileged to be the one you choose to love.”

You make the world brighter and better! I’m so happy you’re here! With love, Jos<3

“I’m so happy we’re here.” She seals the space between our lips.