I looked down at Yuko, still lost in the storm of her own thoughts, her dark eyes wide and conflicted. Before she could protest, I pulled her against me, my arms wrapping around her with a possessiveness that made her gasp. Then, without warning, I lifted her effortlessly, cradling her against my chest like she weighed nothing.
"What—?! Let me go! How can you just—" Her words died in her throat as she realized she wasn't fighting as hard as she should have been. Her hands hovered near my shoulders, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt instead of pushing me away.
I carried her toward the bathroom, my grip unyielding, my voice smooth and amused. "I'm taking my wife to take a shower."
The words sent a jolt through her.
[I am his wife… in this dream.]
Her mind raced, her thoughts tangled between panic and something dangerously close to longing.
[This is just a dream, Yuko. Don't take it seriously. Once you wake up, everything will go back to normal.]
