Chapter 16
Drake
After a couple of hours, I decided to check on Scarlett and see if she was getting any rest. When I tiptoed into the room, I could see that Brody was looking extremely uncomfortable. It was clear he needed to relieve himself so I offered to take over watching over her so he could tend to his needs. His stomach growled in hunger, reminding me that he hadn't eaten yet. I knew Sensei would need to speak with him about some important matters at the gym, but for now, our focus was on keeping watch over her. It had to have been a tough blow for her after everything else to deal with this.
We stood huddled by the door, our voices dropping to a hush as we whispered, careful not to disturb her. “Is she sleeping okay?” I asked.
“It’s been a bit rough,” Brody said, sighing loudly and glancing at her now peaceful figure curled up in the large bed that made her look so small. “I nodded off for a while, but she’s been fretful and cried out a few times in her sleep.” He rolled his head around to work out the kinks.
“I’ll stay. You eat, chat with Sensei and try to get some sleep,” I said, reassuring him I had this covered.
Carefully balancing a book and a steaming mug of tea, I settled into the plush, overstuffed chair beside the bed. With a contented sigh, I prepared to spend the rest of the night here.
My eyes drooped with exhaustion as I reached for the small book light, its gentle glow casting shadows against the walls and ceiling. The comforting scent of chamomile and lavender wafted from my cup, enveloping me in a sense of calm. As I began to lose myself in the pages, I made sure to keep the light dim enough not to disturb her peaceful slumber. The room was quiet except for the occasional rustle of sheets as she shifted in her sleep. At some point I’d slipped into a light sleep, right there in the chair with the book on my chest.
I shot upright when she screamed and hurried to her side.
“It’s okay, Cheri. I’m right here,” I said, trying to soothe her.
She glanced at me, her eyes a pool of confusion for a brief moment. Then, with a shuddering sigh, she collapsed into my embrace, her head finding its resting place on my shoulder. She held me tight around my waist, her fingers digging into the fabric of my shirt as if anchoring herself in the storm of her emotions. We lay in this intimate tableau for what seemed like an eternity, with her intermittently drifting into a restless sleep and jerking back to wakefulness.
My eyes roamed over her exposed skin unabashedly, drinking in the sight of her semi-nude body that was both tantalizing and heartrending. Damn, she was beautiful. The soft curve of her back, barely veiled by the rumpled nighty, begged for my touch and I obliged. My fingers traced a gentle path along her spine, stirring up a storm of goosebumps in their wake.
Her hair, messy strands, splayed haphazardly across her face, had me entranced. With a gentleness that surprised even myself, I brushed away the rebel locks from her face, revealing the peaceful slumber beneath. Inhaling deeply, I took in her scent - a heady mix of sweet vanilla and musky desire that threatened to unhinge my self-control.
The room was thick with a raw sensuality that made my pulse race faster than any damn car on any damn racetrack. All it took was just one look at her lying beside me - all vulnerability wrapped up in earth-shattering beauty - to send my libido spiraling into overdrive. There was no denying it. I wanted her - body, soul and every damn thing in between.
My hand slid up her waist as I pulled her closer and accidentally brushed the underside of her breast. She let out a soft moan and shifted to drape a leg across me. It made my pants a little bit tighter and sent an electric jolt through my body.
Her eyes fluttered open. Wide-eyed, she gazed up at me and as our lips met in a passionate kiss, her hand wandered under my shirt, caressing my chest. Her body writhed against mine and desire flashed in her gaze. My hands slowly slid up her body and she encouraged me with more passionate kisses. Gliding upward under her nighty, my hands caressed her body ever so lightly with my fingertips.
Her hands found their way to my waistband and she tugged at my pants impatiently. With a swift motion, she discarded them on the floor beside us. She wrapped her leg around my waist as she rolled to her back, pulling me to rest on top of her. Her hands went up for me to slip off her nighty, and I slowly raised it over her head, taking in every inch of her with my eyes.
I pressed against her and held my breath a moment before plunging my tongue between her lips to tangle with hers. She pressed back against me; she wanted me as badly as I wanted her.
We locked eyes for a moment as I searched for approval. I felt unsure, but so desperately wanted her. All I wanted was for her to be happy, and we began slowly. I wanted to avoid overwhelming her, but as our pleasure intensified, we began to tangle up in the sheets and laugh at the silliness of it. Our laughter soon turned to gasps for air and then passionate kisses.
Her nails dug into my back as I made love to her. Holding her in my arms as our bodies intertwined as close as we could possibly get to one another. It didn’t take long before the moment of pure ecstasy washed over us. It left us trembling and gasping for air. Her legs remained locked around my waist and our sweaty bodies collapsed into one another, our nakedness entwined in a sweaty embrace. We fell asleep holding one another close.
I woke a few hours later and pulled myself away from her, sliding carefully out of the bed. She moaned and curled up into a small ball in the center of the bed. Fretfully, she whimpered a moment, but her face softened, and she relaxed again. I pulled the blanket up, covering her naked body and kissed her head before quickly dressing and slipping out the door.
It was morning, and warm sunlight lit the kitchen area. No one was awake yet, and I was happy for a moment alone with my thoughts. I started the coffee and took a seat on one of the stools that surrounded the pass through into the dining room.
My mind swam with questions. Should I tell the others? Let her do it? I wasn’t sure if I felt guilt, pleasure, or excitement that she’d given herself to me and leaned my elbows on the counter, holding up my head, lost in my own indecision.
A sharp smack to the back of my head startled me. Sensei grinned a knowing smirk, and my heart sank. I knew they’d heard us, and I instantly worried what Brody was going to think.