Chapter 10
Never did I imagine what it would be like, simultaneously feeling the strength and weakness of Achilles. Now I know.
We start with the easy ones on the list. Obviously Sanders’ love of cereal takes precedence.
He tries several different combinations of cereal with chocolate milk, regular milk, and almond milk.
I teach Sanders what a bracket is and we make one to determine the winner of what we are calling the Cereal Wars.
We don’t talk about that last item on our Post-it note list.
However, I think Sanders takes notice of the fact that I didn’t cross it off, and he starts to get a little more comfortable with physical touch again, always asking for permission first.
It starts with holding hands while we watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Sanders is offended by the inaccuracies but can’t stop watching.
He asks me to explain several more times how the people get into the TV.
I’m afraid to show him a cartoon—who knows how he’d take seeing animated objects that can talk.
After holding hands, he eases into good night and good morning hugs. My head fits right under his, and I can tell he enjoys resting his chin on top of my mop of waves. During our twice daily hugs, I teach him a new phrase. His favorite is “piece of cake.” Everything is now a piece of cake.
Can you take out the trash? Piece of cake.
Will you pass me the remote? Piece of cake.
Carrying all of my dress forms back and forth between home and the shop? You guessed it: A piece of cake.
A week after that, we cuddle again.
It happens by accident.
At least, that’s what I tell Sanders. It is, in fact, not an accident that I wait until he is asleep before positioning the pillows that have stood between us into a haphazard “Oh, I must have slept crazy and kicked the pillows” way.
And then, I scoot closer to him and fall asleep.
When we wake up in the morning, we are a tangle of limbs.
I’m not proud of it, but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.
And what I needed to do was be pressed up against Sanders’ perfectly sculpted body.
I can tell the moment he wakes up because his entire body stiffens. “I can move if you want me to,” he sleepily mumbles into my ear.
“I don’t,” I reply, and he immediately relaxes, pulling me closer into him. “I should probably brush my teeth.”
“Stay,” he says. “I do not care about the tooth cleaner.”
Turning to face him, I quirk my eyebrow. “Even if we kiss? You don’t mind my morning breath?”
His dreamy eyes meet mine. “If we kiss?”
“Only if you want to.”
“Penelope,” his deep voice rumbles and it shakes me to my very core. He doesn’t say another word before his lips meet mine.
Bliss.
Golden, unfiltered bliss.
I can’t tell if it’s his or mine—I think it’s both, that thread pulling almost completely taut.
Sanders’ lips are soft, yet commanding. He gives just as much as he takes, hands roaming to pull my thigh over his hip. I grind down on him and let out an embarrassingly loud moan.
One that, thankfully, he matches.
His tongue parts my lips, deepening our kiss, and it’s like a lust demon takes over my body.
I push him to his back, straddling his hips and using his erection to take my own pleasure.
Sanders lasts mere moments like that before easily reversing the position so I’m on my back and he’s—across the room.
“Gods, Penelope,” he breathes, running both hands down his face. His impressive dick is still at attention under those gray sweatpants. “We need to slow down.”
“Do we?” I ask and, damn, where did this sex goddess alter ego come from? He’s a bit blurry so I reach over and grab my glasses off the nightstand. Much better.
He looks pained when he answers. “Yes. For today.”
Okay, that’s not a hard no. I can work with that.
“I need a cold shower.” He laughs.
I allow my tank top to slip off my shoulder, revealing some lovely cleavage if I do say so myself. “I could join you?”
He shoots me a look. “Be a good girl and stay put.”
Fuck, that’s hot. “Fine.” I pout.
With one last glance over his shoulder, he shuts the bathroom door. Seconds later I hear the shower turn on.
I flop back on the bed, a level of sexually frustrated I haven’t achieved in a while. I glance toward the bathroom door and then decide to do something about it myself. Slipping my hand into my pajama pants, I find my clit and start working lazy circles.
At the very first touch, I can tell this won’t take long. I bite my lip and use my free hand to pinch my nipples lightly.
A groan comes from the direction of the bathroom, and I freeze. When I open my eyes and see the bathroom door still firmly shut I realize he’s doing the same damn thing on the other side of the door. Fucker.
That’s all the permission I need to get loud.
I moan, moving my finger faster, faster, faster until I’m right at the edge.
Right. There.
I come with a scream, my head thrown back. I let myself enjoy wave after wave before finally coming back down to earth.
“Naughty, naughty,” Sanders rumbles.
My head snaps up to see him propped against the bathroom doorframe. A towel is slung low across his hips, hair dripping onto his shoulders. I follow the water droplets as they roll down his chest and over his abs.
“If you won’t take care of me, I have to take care of myself.” I shrug.
“You know I could take care of you, Penelope,” he replies, and I don’t think he just means sexually.
“Prove it,” I tease.
He throws his head back in laughter. “You are quite the harlot, my love.”
That sobers me up quickly. “I think it’s my turn for a shower.”
Moving out of my way, he gestures into the bathroom. “Be my guest.”
“Good use of phrases.” I go to pass but his arm comes out to block me. “Yes?”
“I need my morning hug.”
I blink at him. “Like this?”
Sanders takes his bottom lip between his teeth, nodding. I roll my eyes at him but comply. He pulls me in, swaying from side to side as my face is pressed into his naked chest.
“Tease,” I mumble, feeling the roll of laughter echo through his body.
“Enjoy your shower, Penelope,” he says, letting me go.
“Not as much as you enjoyed yours,” I joke, shutting the door behind me.
When I get out of the shower I see another Post-it from Sanders.
On a run.
Right next to it is our original to-do list. He’s modified it again.
Cereal Wars
Learn new phrases (ongoing)
Be on TV
Bake a cake
Learn a new game (NOT monopoly!)
Kiss Penelope Graves
Do more with Penelope ;)
My first thought is, who the hell taught him how to do a winky face?