Find a Way
The weight of someone’s eyes on her face had Ella’s eyelashes flickering. She knew it was Rome before she even opened her eyes, before she was even fully awake, but she didn’t want to come back to the real world just yet. She knew where she was, and she was glad he was there with her, but facing life in the compound wasn’t nearly as blissful as the dream she’d be leaving where she and Rome were alone on a secluded beach, his arms around her, the sun beating down on them as the cool waves crept up their legs.
Unable to fight it any longer, she moaned and rubbed her fists in her eyes. “What time is it?” she asked, her voice so groggy she hardly recognized it.
“Almost eight,” he said. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
She opened her eyes to see a small amount of light coming in through the cracked door, enough to illuminate his silhouette as he kneeled beside her on the floor.
Ella ran a hand through his hair, her fingers caressing his cheek. “It’s okay. I guess I have to get up and get on with it.” Her bladder was full, but the thought of using the bucket toilet again made her wince.
Rome’s arms around her had her scooting closer to the edge of the bed, closer to him. His lips were on her neck, warm and comforting. She moaned, but this time, it wasn’t because she was struggling to stay asleep. She wanted him to keep touching her, despite their bleak surroundings.
His hands ran across the thin fabric of the T-shirt she was wearing, bringing her body to life. Her eyes were closed, but that didn't hinder her from finding his lips when he bent to kiss her. He tasted like eggs, sausage, and spices, but she didn’t care. He was there with her; they were together. Nothing else mattered.
“Let me bar the door,” he said to her, and Ella let go of him so he could do just that. She suddenly felt cold without his arms around her, but he was back in a moment, and as his kisses intensified, she lost herself in his touch, letting him carry her out of the compound back to the beach, to the edge of ecstasy, and keep her there for what seemed like hours.
When they were finally finished, she lay in his arms, caressing his chest, trailing her fingers down his abdomen, wondering at this marvelous man of hers and how lucky she was that they were together again.
“I love you, Ella,” he whispered. “I’ll do everything I can to make sure you’re safe.”
“I love you, too,” she said, leaning up to kiss him. “I know you will. But… we can’t just be safe. We have to be happy. And if running isn’t what you want to do, then we’ll figure it out.”
“Wherever you are, I’ll be happy, as long as I’m with you,” he assured her.
Ella smiled and kissed him again, knowing what he said was true, but if he wanted his life back, she wouldn’t stand in the way of making that happen. She’d just have to figure out how she could stay dead and be in California with him at the same time. It sounded impossible, but so was nearly everything else they’d been through. So she knew they’d find a way.
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