Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
STELLA
When we get back to the dorm, Alex walks me to my door and invites me down to his place to watch a movie.
I agree after I change into something more comfortable.
He laughs and tells me he needs to change too.
I may be missing something, but he winks at me as he says it.
I’m relieved to see that my roommate is gone.
I decide to hurry, though, in case she comes back.
It takes some time, but I get out of my dress.
I change out of my panties, since they’re kind of a mess from our tryst in the truck.
I decide to wear some short pajama bottoms—not as short as Lily’s were—a tank top, and another loose sweatshirt.
He’s already seen me braless, so no need to go through the trouble of wearing one of those, right?
I run a brush through my hair and reapply my lip gloss, grab my keys, and take the stairs down to his floor.
I knock, but the door is ajar. When I push it open, I hear music playing.
It’s coming from Alex’s room. I walk to the sound, and what I see takes my breath away.
Alex Emerson. Naked. Granted, it’s from the back, but H-O-L-Y shit, the guy’s ass should be bronzed.
He’s got muscles bulging everywhere––like in his legs and back, my goodness, his back.
Who knew a man’s back could be that sexy?
I could honestly and sincerely look at this man for the rest of my life.
I suspect I could find something new and beautiful each and every time I look.
I stand still with my mouth agape. As I lick my lips, I hear someone clear their throat. Oh shit! Busted!
“Like what you see, Pixie?”
“Hell yeah! Who wouldn’t like it?”
He gives a deep, trembling laugh. “I don’t really care about anyone else, Stella. I just want to know if you like it.”
Nodding like a fool, I speak the truth. “I definitely like it.”
He hasn’t turned around to face me yet. He’s looking over his shoulder. If the back looks this good, I can only imagine the rest of him.
“I need to put some clothes on. To do that, I need to walk toward you to get to my dresser. Do you want to stay there, or would you like to wait in the lounge?”
Huh? What? Oh, he’s asking me if I’m ready to see the rest of him. Am I? “I’m not sure.”
“Well, maybe this will help. If I turn around and move toward you, I can’t promise you I’ll stop at my dresser. I’ll want to come to you. I’ll want everything, Stella.”
“Oh. Okay. Um, I’m not sure I’m ready for that. Yet.”
“No, I don’t think you are. Soon though.” He grins.
With that, I turn toward the lounge and slowly walk away. Did I make the right decision?
“You made the right decision, Pixie,” he says, walking out of his room in his loose athletic shorts and a white tee, “You’re not there yet.”
How did he know that’s what I was thinking?
“I saw the expression on your face. The one that looks like it’s overanalyzing everything. I’ve seen it quite a bit in the last week.”
“It’s possible I tend to overthink things.”
He nods. “Don't get me wrong, I would have been more than happy for you to have chosen to stay put, but I don’t want to do it when you feel pressured. I want it to happen organically.”
I know what he means. It needs to happen naturally––at the right moment.
“Which movie should we watch? We didn’t get a chance to see Saw the other night….”
“Ha-ha, hilarious!” I punch him in his hard-as-a-stone arm. Ouch, I think I hurt my hand.
“What about… Bridesmaids?”
“That’s good,” I agree, but then I ask, “Do you have Pitch Perfect? I love, love, love that movie. They sing and everything.”
“I think we do, but I’ve gotta ask, are you going to sing? Because if you are, I’m going to insist on Bridesmaids.”
I punch him again. “Jerk,” I mutter.
He laughs. I know I can’t sing, but it doesn’t stop me from doing it. I’ll try to refrain though. It may scare him off for good, and I’m having too much fun to let that happen. “Fine, I’ll keep the singing to the confines of my head.”
“Pitch Perfect should be on Netflix. Let’s check it out. We can watch it on my laptop in my room. Let’s go in there and get cozy.”
We cuddle up in his bed with my head on that perfect spot on his shoulder as we watch.
I’m going to have to say that this, right here, is my new favorite place to be in the entire world.
Alex wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer.
I fall asleep not long after the movie starts.
I sleep, dreaming of happy times and Alex Emerson.