Placing my hand on her shoulder, I’m about to wake her when she moans my name.

Moans.

There’s a pleading sound in her voice. A desperation I’ve never heard from her before. The sultry sound sends a shot of desire straight to my dick.

I stare in fascination when I realize she’s dreaming about me. Fantasizing. The way I do about her at night.

I’m torn between letting it continue and waking her up.

My tormented side gets the best of me, and I find myself backing out of the parking lot and heading to my apartment. Once I’m there, I carefully and slowly lift Piper into my arms and carry her inside. I’m opening my door when her eyes flutter open.

“Where are we?”

“My place. You fell asleep.”

“Okay,” is all she says, letting her eyes fall closed as she snuggles into my neck.

Brady’s nowhere to be seen when I walk in. It’s the first time in weeks he hasn’t been perched on the couch, waiting for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Making my way down the hall, I nudge my bedroom door open with my foot and blindly walk to the edge of my bed. Laying Piper down, I remove her shoes and tuck her in. The sight of her in my bed is overwhelming. More so than the feel of her in my arms.

Kissing her on the forehead, I force myself to walk away.

Ten minutes and a cold shower later, I’m crawling in next to her. She looks peaceful as she sleeps. She hasn’t said my name again, making me wonder if I misheard her. So I lay facing her, listening and watching her until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.

There’s a smile on my face when I fall asleep.

But an even bigger smile when I wake up. Because Piper’s wrapped in my arms, half on top of me. Her hair is in my face, and her leg is tangled with mine. She’s still sound asleep, but she’s talking again.

And my name rolling off her lips is clear as day.

“Julian, please.”

She’s begging. And from the sound of her voice, I know exactly what she’s begging me for.

“Mmmh. Yes. Please.”

Her body starts to move, rubbing against mine. The apex of her thighs pressed against my hip causes my morning wood to stand at attention.

I lay perfectly still, selfishly not wanting to interrupt her dream. Wanting to hear her moan my name again. To continue begging for what she wants.

Because sleeping Piper is confirming everything. How she feels. What she wants. Most importantly, that it’s me she wants it with.