“It’s a long story.” She took my hand and pressed it to her chest. In my rush to taste her earlier, I hadn’t even taken off her T-shirt or bra, and I wanted to feel her tits in my hands.

I cupped one, feeling the weight in my hand, massaging her before pinching her diamond-hard nipple. “Come back to bed,” I implored in a low voice, fighting the other emotions warring for my attention, only wanting to concentrate on the here and now with her. “I’ll lick your pussy again until the alarm goes off.”

She jerked back, leaving me empty-handed. “You’re not dreaming.”

I didn’t like her arguing with me and wasting our time together. We had so little as it was. I only wanted to spend it making her feel good and then holding her. “Get back in this bed, Nova. If I have to put you here, I’m going to spank your ass.”

The tip of her tongue peeked out, dampening her bottom lip, but instead of listening, she began backing toward the door. With a frustrated growl, I climbed off the bed and prowled toward her. Her eyes dropped down my naked body, landing on my cock that was begging for her attention. I wanted her soft hands wrapped around me, fisting me as I pumped into her grasp before I came all over her flat stomach. I pictured rubbing it into her skin, marking her as mine with my seed and scent just as the ink on her wrist did.

Nova swallowed roughly and reached behind her, twisting the doorknob. “If you want me, put on some clothes and come downstairs. I’ll prove to you that you aren’t dreaming.”

I made a grab for her as she pulled the door open and made a run for it. “Nova, do not fucking run from me.”

“Clothes, Ryan!” she called when I stepped through the door. She was already at the staircase. “You’re going to embarrass Cali and Maria if you come downstairs naked.”

Muttering a curse, I slammed the door shut and stomped over to my suitcase. Not bothering with boxer briefs, I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a black T-shirt. I was going to turn her ass red for running away from me and wasting our precious time together.

As I turned to run after her again, my phone went off, and I stopped midstep. Frowning, I shifted my head to find my phone sitting on the bedside table. That annoying-as-fuck sound was loud, echoing off the walls of the bedroom. I blinked, realizing that I wasn’t dreaming…

Was I?

Hands shaking, I crossed to the table and picked up my phone. Seeing my mom’s name on the screen, I lifted it. “Mom?” I rasped out, my heart pounding against my ribs, my hands sweating.

“What’s wrong?” she demanded as soon as she heard my voice. Vaguely, I could hear music thumping in the background, telling me she was at Iron Hand.

I swallowed the knot of emotion that was starting to choke me. “Mom… Is this real?”