9. Chapter Nine - Abby
Abby
“T hat was fucking sensational,” I whisper once I finally catch my breath. He’s stretched out beside me, tracing slow, lazy circles on my back with his finger, and it takes everything in me not to melt into a puddle right then and there.
“Round two?” he murmurs, and I can practically hear the smirk in his voice, that teasing eyebrow raise, even without looking.
“Give me some time to recover,” I say with a giggle, turning away from him to get up. “And to shower. Do you want to join me?” I shoot him a wink over my shoulder and walk into the bathroom, grinning when I hear him scramble out of the sheets to follow me.
I turn on the shower and let the warm water pour from the ceiling, steam curling around me as I stand there for a moment, just watching it fall. Then I step under it, a happy sigh falling from my lips as the warm water envelops me.
Reed walks into the bathroom and lets out a low whistle, turning around himself to take it in.
“Damn. I really should have watched my mouth.”
“Is that the only reason you’re here?” I tease him, letting my head fall back to let the hot water run through my hair with my eyes closed. “The suite?”
When I blink my eyes open again, they meet his hungry gaze raking over my body, following water drops as they run down my skin and he licks his lips.
“No, of course not,” he promises distractedly and steps under the shower with me, taking the soap out of my hands to lather me up.
Our shower is full of warm water, wandering hands, a few kisses, and more than a little touching. It’s hard to keep my hands off him and he seems to feel the same. But I meant it when I said I needed a break. Sex with Reed was incredible, but it’s been a while for me, and I can already tell I’ll be sore tomorrow in all the best, and worst, ways.
I slip into one of the complimentary fluffy white robes, a happy sigh falling from my lips—it feels amazing on my skin. Still towel-damp and slightly dazed, I shuffle to the mini fridge in my room and grab a bottle of water. The cold plastic feels good in my hands as I twist it open and take a long sip. Then I sink onto the couch with a satisfied sigh.
Reed joins me a moment later, settling on the armchair across me like he belongs there. He reaches for my feet without a word, pulling them gently into his lap and cradling them with both hands. His thumbs start working slow, delicious circles into my arches and heels, and I let out a groan I’m not even a little embarrassed about.
“Keep doing that and I might marry you,” I mutter, eyes fluttering shut.
“Well, if you keep making sounds like that, I won’t guarantee that I’ll let you recover.” I blink my eyes open again, meeting his hungry gaze. A chuckle escapes me and I quickly cover my mouth with my hand when he digs into a particularly painful spot.
“I think we need to talk about this.” I gesture between the two of us when the pain subsides.
“Do we?” he counters and sets my feet down, getting up to take a seat beside me, my head instinctively dropping against his shoulder and his arm snaking around mine.
“I’ve never had a fling,” I admit, eyes fixed on the far wall as I say it. From the corner of my eye, I catch the way his eyebrows lift, surprise flickering across his face. “Don’t worry,” I add with a small smile, “I wasn’t a virgin or anything. It’s just… I’ve only ever had sex in relationships, or at least with people I thought I was going to end up in one with. And considering we’re both more or less tourists, I don’t think that’s where this is headed.”
“Me neither,” he admits after a beat. “But I like being with you. You’re fun, we’re both having a good time.” He shrugs, the movement easy, casual. “No need to make it more complicated than that.”
“It sounds too easy,” I whisper and hide a yawn behind my hand.
“It can be that easy, though. I like hanging out with you and let’s be honest, we are fucking fire in bed together. Why not make the best of it?”
“That we are,” I mention and think about the implications silently. Just because I’ve never had a fling doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have one, right? There’s a first time for everything and I was just thinking about being horny and how bleak the dating scene is.
Also there’s the small but not less important detail that the hookup already happened and I can’t exactly reverse it. I might as well roll with it and have a good time, I guess?
After all, it’s not every day a very attractive, once-annoying-but-now-surprisingly-charming guy proposes an arrangement like this. It would certainly spice up my time here and surprisingly, I really enjoy spending time with him as well. So who would I be to push a hot guy like Reed out of my bed?
“Okay. Let’s do it. I mean, we are fucking fire in bed and I quite enjoy orgasms and, as it turns out, your company.” I glance up to shoot him a wink and he bursts into laughter. “And now that I have a romantic picture of us in front of the Eiffel tower, we might as well keep that energy going while we’re here."
“Do you have any plans tomorrow?” Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I think for a moment. I’ve seen Notre Dame, the Eiffel tower and Louvre. Was there anything else on my list?
Well, if it’s important I would remember, I guess.
“I don’t think so. Why?” I answer finally and open my eyes again.
“I had fun in the Louvre earlier. Would you like to come to Giverny with me?”
“What does Giverny have to do with the Louvre?” I ask, puzzled, hiding another yawn behind my hand, my head and eyelids growing heavy.
“It’s where Monet’s home was. I’ve been told that the gardens look stunning in spring, so now that I’m here I’d like to check it out. With you, if you want.”
“Because I’m just that lovely and entertaining.” The grin I try to shoot him is interrupted by another yawn. “It sounds fun, let’s do it. Isn’t it kind of far, though?”
“I’ll rent a car,” he promises and I raise my eyebrow, looking at him surprised.
“Seriously? You’re brave, wanting to drive in Paris. I walked past Place de la Concorde yesterday and that thing looked like a thirty-car pile-up waiting to happen.”
“We will be alright,” Reed vows and presses a kiss to the side of my head.
“Okay. I trust you.” I yawn again and rub my eyes. “Damn. You’ve really worn me out.”
“And I’ll gladly do it again.” He grins and stands, stepping right in front of me so there’s no room to escape. I let out a surprised squeal when he suddenly leans down and lifts me into his arms like it’s nothing. With a laugh, he carries me to the bed.
“I can walk by myself, you know?” I pout but secretly enjoy being in his arms again.
“Oh, I know.” He lowers me onto the bed a lot more gently than before and then crawls onto the mattress beside me. I shuffle until he’s big-spooning me and pull his arm over my hip as my head rests just below his, his breath feathering over my hair and his chest rising and falling against my back.
The day catches up to me and it doesn’t take me longer than a few seconds to succumb to sleep.