In the Air (The City Book 1) - By Crystal Serowka Page 0,57

fingers tightly grasping the sheets around her. I moaned and continued pushing into her, feeling the pressure build. Natalia screamed as she climaxed, and my own followed. Her body began shaking, her hands still clutching the sheets. My breathing finally slowed and we stayed silent for a moment. I stayed on top of her, not wanting to move away.

"That was–" Natalia began talking, her heavy breathing masking her words.

"Amazing." I finished her sentence.

"Yeah. Exactly."

I carefully rolled off of her and stood up from my bed. I felt Natalia's arms wrap around my waist, and I turned to look at her. "Hey," I smirked.

"Hey." Her face lit up with a smile, making my heart stir.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom. Do you need anything to drink?"

"I'm fine." The smile remained on her lips as she let go of me. I grabbed my jeans and T-shirt from the floor and threw them on before leaving the room.

When I walked back in, softly shutting the door behind me, Natalia was covered in my sheets. She faced the wall and her eyes we closed as I climbed back into bed.

"Are you alright?" My hand touched her shoulder, willing her to turn and look at me.

"I'm wonderful," she whispered. When she finally faced me, a smile played on her lips. "Can I ask you something?"

I pulled her closer to me and wrapped my arms around her body. "Anything."

"Is there any significance to that song you dance to?" I nodded my response. "Will you tell me about it?"

"It's a song from my mother's favorite film. I choreographed a dance to it and showed it to her on Mother's Day. It's just a tribute to her for being so supportive of me," I explained. The first time I showed it to my mother, she cried and told me my dance was more beautiful than the song itself.

"You're such a wonderful person, Samson." Her hand cradled my cheek, as she pulled me close and kissed me. Her lips tasted sweet, like sweat and cherry lip balm.

"It's you who's wonderful."

I roamed the dimly lit hallways, the smell of disinfectant stinging my sinuses. The lights above me flickered, and anxiety surged through my body. No one was in sight. I was all alone.

"Dad!" I called out, running through the halls. My shoes squeaked along the linoleum flooring, echoing through the air. "Dad!" I called out again. No response. Room 515 came into view, and I pushed the door open, eager to see my father in the familiar hospital bed. The door screeched, opening to a deserted room. There wasn't any furniture in sight. The dingy wallpaper was peeling at the corners, and the smell of rot flooded my senses.

I ran out of the room, tripping over a vacant wheelchair that was pushed against the wall. My kneecap screamed in pain as I stood up and rushed off in the opposite direction. I bounded down the corridors, still shouting for my dad. When I finally reached the end of the hallway, my hands met the wall in front of me. I knew there was nowhere left to run. I knew my dad was gone. Suddenly, my name was being called, the sound coming from behind. When I turned, I saw Samson wearing the familiar smile that had the power to relax me.

"I've been looking everywhere for you."

I jerked awake. I had been having the same nightmare for the last year. This time, Samson was in it, and I wasn't frightened when I woke up. I actually felt comforted.

Samson stirred and turned over, a smile on his lips. "What are you doing awake?" His arms tightened around my body.

"I couldn't sleep. I had a nightmare," I confessed. I was very selective about telling people. The only two who knew were my mother and my therapist.

"A nightmare? Are you alright?" he asked in a soothing tone.

"I've had them almost every night since my dad passed away. It's no big deal."

I could tell Samson didn't believe me when he grabbed my hand. "Hey, I'm here for you, if you want to talk about them."

I took a deep breath, realizing I actually wanted Samson to know. It would be better for him to know, to let my demons out.

"I'm always in the same place, the hospital where my dad spent his last days. It's deserted and I'm the only one there. I run around the building, searching for him, yelling his name at the top of my lungs, but I never find him." I felt