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

by E. Salvador

“I’m strictly yours like I hope you’re strictly mine.” My heart thrashes, liking the sound of that. Her lips stretch into a small sm...

open my eyes and spot the bag that I remember why I brought her up here. “I hope you like what I got you.” I stand and sit her on my bed. “You really shouldn’t have.” Her tone is aloof, but I note the curiosity burning in her eyes. “You know me; I love a good holiday.”

“Did you just call me baby?” “I was testing it. Not sure how I feel about it though.” It’s cute when she blushes and she’s doing that now. “What do you think?”

don’t like cuddling with anyone, but I really like it with you. I like doing things with you. So, uh, if you want to, you know, hold my hand, or hug me or even kiss me, you can. Whenever you want. If you want.”

“Talk to me. I’m your person, remember?” “It’s stupid. It’s nothing.” But she defeatedly drops her head on my chest and sniffles louder. “I’m here,” I softly offer and rub her back.

pushes away from me. “I’m okay, I promise. You can leave. I’m not going to be mad. Like I said, I just need a minute. I’ll be all right.”

“When I said I like you, I didn’t say that for the hell of it. When I said I like you, I meant I like every version of you. That includes all the moments whether they’re good or bad. That means all your little expressions, all your dry snarky comments, all your smiles, laughs, and everything that comes from you. I like it all, Josefine. I know it’s hard for you to open up. I know it’s scary and I know this is probably a lot for you, but I am here and as long as you want me in your life, I’m not going anywhere. So…”

“I’ll give you a moment. Take your time. I have forever.” I kiss her forehead and let her go, but I don’t make it far before she’s clutching onto my hand. “Please don’t go,”

“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

just got back. I thought we’d watch a movie and cuddle, not be here. It’s not that I don’t appreciate you doing this. I do. I just really want to hold you.” I circle my arms around her waist, tugging her close to my chest. Her lips curl up just a little. “You’re so needy.”

“I want you to learn. It’s important to me, and it should be to you too.”

kiss the top of her head, and stare over the horizon, absorbing my surroundings. It’s a pretty peaceful Thursday. The air smells saltier than ever and the seagulls are loud but not obnoxious. In the distance, I hear the ocean’s wave lap, and the sky is painted in pretty streaks of pink, purple, and orange. I hardly see her.

“I don’t want to give you my pain.” “I have pain; you have pain. I’m pretty sure they’ll somehow cancel each other out.”

“Grief is funny,” she repeats my words from a while ago and squeezes my hand. “And really weird.” “Do you…do you want to talk about your mom?” I ask, remembering what she said not too long ago about which version of her to miss or what she should miss about her.

She nods. “Things like…waking up with you in the mornings. Sharing coffee with you. Talking to you. Being with you. You,” she shyly says, and I smile. “I feel the same way. I look forward to all things consisting of you.” She bites her lip as if she were trying to conceal her smile, but it’s so big, I see it.

“You think I should take it?” “I think you should do what makes you happy. You already do swimming lessons, and I know you enjoy those.”

“Do this because you want to, not because you have to fulfill something that your mom would’ve wanted.”

“Knowing he’s not here to watch me do it. Knowing he won’t get to do it.” I admit, “I don’t feel like I deserve it.” “I get that, but you do deserve it. Don’t let your mind trick you into feeling you’re not worthy of it because I know no one deserves it more than you.”

“You deserve good things, Daniel. All and every good thing, you deserve.”

hate I’m sorrys wholeheartedly. Anytime I hear them, my skin itches. It’s all I heard when Mom passed,”

“I’m sorry you’re hurting. I’m sorry I can’t take your pain away. If I could, I would.”

“Don’t be sad. I’m okay. I promise. Come on, let’s keep the lesson going. I really want you to come tomorrow.”

“I kind of gave Daniel an ultimatum. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here.” That’s a lie. I would have definitely been here. Before, I didn’t have a reason, but now I do. He’s mine.

“That if I didn’t see any improvements during our lessons, I wouldn’t come.”

He cooks, he’s sweet, his love language is acts of service, he’s loyal. That’s not even one fourth of all his great qualities. Put him out of his misery and give him a chance. I promise he’ll be good to you.”

“Don’t listen to me, and don’t feel bad about it. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be pushy, but Danny likes you and I thought maybe you liked him because of the kiss at the bar. I completely misread the signs.”

This is something I should probably talk to Daniel about, but this is his sister. Maybe he won’t mind. “We’re together. We’re just taking it slow.”

“Yeah, we’re dating. Daniel’s my boyfriend.” That sounds crazy to say but so nice. I really like the sound of that. “I knew it!”

“I’m so happy you came. I brought you the bread you told me you like so much. Conchas, mantecadas, and orejas but we left it in the hotel room. I would’ve brought it if I knew you’d be here. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you, but it’s okay. This was kind of last minute.”

I brace my hands on the thick railing, and he rests his on either side of me. “I messed up.” He cocks his head, brows cinched with worry. “Why do you say that?” “I know we said we’d take it slow, but I slipped up and told your sister we’re dating. I also said you were my boyfriend and had no idea your parents were behind me, so now they know about us.”

really trying to play it cool right now and not look like a dork, but you’re standing here wearing my jersey and then you tell me that.” “You’re not annoyed? I’m the one who said slow and now I’m telling the world you’re my boyfriend.” It was just his sister and parents, but I’m sure they’re his world. “Annoyed? Baby, I want the whole universe to know you’re mine.” Now I’m cheesing. “Oh, so you and me, we’re official now?”

“You look beautiful.” “Is that what you’re really thinking?”

“The jersey and the green when we get home.” I roll my lips together and shrug. “Win first.” His dark eyes lock with mine, and challenge and heat swirls in them. “Here. I’ll see you later, baby.”

“It is but it’s harder for him. Especially around this time of the year. The anniversary of Adrian’s…death is coming up. So just a heads-up, if Danny looks off or acts a little different, that’s why.” “No, he didn’t tell me, but I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You know…” Julio takes the seat next to me. “I’ve seen Danny smile but never like that. Well, I have, but it’s been a while.” “Really?” I find myself saying. “Yeah…” He trails off. “I also never thought I’d see the day he’d willingly want to learn how to swim.” “I kind of coerced him.”

Despite my strange relationship with my mother, I regret not talking to her when I had the chance. I don’t want the same to happen between Daniel and Julio.

I’m actually enjoying this. I’m really happy. I think I might cry. Don’t be weird. “You make me so happy,”

“Holiday? I don’t think there’s a holiday today.” “It’s Josie said I’m Her Boyfriend Day. This is one the biggest holidays of them all. So naturally I had to get my girlfriend these.” The backs of my eyes burn. “But you got me flowers last month—a lot of them…”

“That was last month, and they’re dead now. This is this month, and next month will be next month.”

“Don’t you dare get me flowers next month.” “If it means I get to see you smile like this, expect them every month.” He kisses the crown of my head then ret...

Accept the gifts, Josie. They’re going to keep coming whether you want them to or not.” I softly swat his hand away. “Okay.” “Now if you could kindly hurry up because I’m really struggling here.”

“It was hard to pick one. You guys have so many.” “I will get you the rest if you promise to wear them all the time.” I smirk. “You improve in the pool and I will.” “Deal,” he rapidly says, eyes darkening with need. “Now open.”

You’ve let me put my things around and I think it’s time you start doing that too.”

heard. He’s filled every inch of this place with him, and I don’t mean that physically. Him just being here, making this place his home, our home. Don’t cry! “Do you like it?” he asks hesitantly.

how much he cares about me. I look up at him, and my world steadies. “I l…like you. I like you a lot.” He cups my face and brushes his lips over mine. “You don’t have to remain calm. You can let yourself feel whatever you want as long as you let me hold you.”

“I didn’t have time to make one this time. I’m sorry.” He sounds genuinely disappointed in himself. I don’t deserve him. “That’s okay.”

His tongue is thrusted so far down my mouth, I feel the vibrations of his grunts against the side of my throat every time I grind upward against him. I’m moaning with every rock, sucking his tongue, swallowing his saliva, tugging his hair. Dry humping shouldn’t be this hot, but it is. I’m squirming, loving how hard he is, reveling at how the denim of his jeans and the lace of my thong dig into my pussy and rub against me.

I scratch and hold on to his back, bucking my hips into him, holding on as the orgasm ripples throughout my body. “Mmm…” I moan repeatedly, body going limp but quivering as he forces my hips to roll against him. “Daniel, fuck…fuc…” My clit pulses hard with each rub, and because I’m already sensitive, it doesn’t take long before I’m coming again.

“You look so pretty riding me like this,” he says huskily, squeezing my hips punishingly as he peppers kisses down my throat. “I wish you could see yourself from this angle.” His lips brush my collarbone and descend to my cleavage.