---
I felt her weight on me—warm, soft, familiar.
Her breath ghosted against my collarbone as her fingers tightened over my chest. My arms were wrapped around her waist like they belonged there. It felt too natural… too right.
And then she whispered my name.
At first, I thought it was Mei.
But the voice wasn't hers.
It was softer. More hesitant. More distant.
"Ren..."
I frowned in my half-sleep, reluctant to open my eyes.
"Ren…"
Again. Faint. Foggier. And yet… that voice stirred something inside me.
That wasn't Mei.
My eyes flew open.
I was in my bed. Alone.
Chest rising and falling rapidly.
No one on top of me.
No warm breath, no soft skin.
Just my blanket clutched tightly in my fist—and the taste of a name I didn't want to admit on the tip of my tongue.
Mei.
I sat up too quickly. My vision swam. My heart pounded. My body was reacting like I'd just lived the entire night again—only this time with someone else entirely.
What the hell was wrong with me?
