dont wake

“Ready?” His reflection asks mine.

The surge of pounding heartbeats between us into one, deafening drum obliterates the difference between fear and need.

“Do you ever feel like you’re dreaming?” I hear the words come out before I can help it. “Like you’re awake, but … What if you’re not?”

Grim blinks and I look at him instead of the mirror. The words tattooed across his lids mock me.

dont wake

“Breathe in,” he says instead of answering, his pupils swelling deep enough to drown us both as he presses his palms against my chest, pinning me down again.