Chapter 16
APRIL
Iwant to strangle him as much as I want to kiss him.
It’s unfair because the all-night stamina of an athlete is something that I’m unable to compete with.
He has me on my side, back to him, and my arms stretched out over my head as he pumps into me, and he doesn’t go easy or sweet. Yet, I’m completely relaxed, and I sink into another round of ecstasy because Spencer somehow knows how to take care of my body.
Sounds escape my mouth, creating my own original tune, my body jolts on every deep thrust, and his lips placing a kiss on my shoulder blade is probably the real cause of my undoing that hits me in a wave.
“Good girl,” he grits out as he holds my hip down and continues his quest.
“Spencer,” I purr because I hate that he teases me with that phrase.
He follows me shortly after, and I don’t look over my shoulder when I feel him slide out of the bed. Instead, I lie in his bed, completely spent.
When he emerges from his bathroom, I can’t help but take in the scene of him naked.
A freaking sculpture of perfection, right down to his endowment size.
Such a shame these qualities didn’t spill over into his personality.
I smile to myself because that’s not true either; I’m peeling away his layers.
“What’s on your mind?” he asks as he works his way back into bed.
“Nothing. My brain can’t function because I’ve been fucked all night.” I pull the covers up a little higher, and I’m not sure why.
Spencer yanks the sheet back down slightly before he lies on his side and props his head against an elbow. “It’s going to be a little rough this morning. We barely slept, and Piper will bring Hadley home soon.”
I wince from the thought. Now I can relate to Piper and her lack of sleep and need to still parent.
“Some days are pretty brutal. Kids aren't afraid to speak without a filter and will point out your faults whether you are well-slept or not.”
“At least you only have to deal with it for half of the year.” The moment it slips off my lips, I feel horrible, especially when I see the hurt in his eyes. Instantly I reach out to touch his arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”
“Yeah, you did.” He sounds somber.
“Okay, maybe in the literal sense, but not in the 'you’re a douchebag' sense,” I try to assure him.
He blows out a breath. “It’s fine. Let it go.”
“Is it? I mean, here, I’m giving you a free pass. Take a dig at me.” I pat his arm with the suggestion. “Remind me that I only date boring doctors and lawyers who never make it past the first date.”
Spencer smirks to himself before getting more comfortable in his position. “That’s only a plus for me, April. It means your pussy is molded to my cock.”
I ruefully shake my head, because of course he will take us back to vulgar talk. Flopping back to rest my head on the pillow, I blow out an exhausting breath.
A few beats of silence grace the room, and I take the moment to recall the night. I feel the smile on my lips then pause when the obvious hits me.
“So, this, well…”
Spencer looks at me, patiently waiting for me to finish the sentence, and he seems entertained. “Go on,” he insists.
I swallow. “Piper will be here soon; I should probably go shower and make breakfast.”
“Why would you need a shower?” he says, playing dumb.
I toss a spare pillow at him. “You know why.”
He blocks the pillow and manages to take hold of my arms to bring me into his embrace as he rests against the headboard. “You’re sore?”
“I don’t know. I'm debating if my center of gravity has changed.”
Spencer chuckles and wraps me tighter. “If it hasn’t then let me know and I’ll fuck you in the pantry later for good measure.”
I slap his arm and then decide to test the boundaries by intertwining our fingers. “So last night,” I return to my earlier attempt to bring some clarity to the situation.
“It is what it is,” he comments with no hint of where his mind is at.
“Right.” That's my cue to slip out of bed and find some clothes.
I begin to do just that, and as my ass is about to slide off the bed, I hear him sigh and grab my arm.
My eyes dart to his hand on my elbow, then my sight pivots up to meet his steely gaze.
“I’m not the guy to be more than this,” he says.
“Just a little hate sex, we’ve been here before,” I brush it off.
His cheeks raise and his mouth quirks. “Last night wasn’t hate sex. If it was then I would have pulled your hair a little more and bit you somewhere visible just to annoy you that you wouldn’t be able to forget me until the mark fades.”
That’s actually quite a turn-on. “Rain check then.”
“To my utter dismay, you’re getting under my skin in a way that I’m not used to.”
Fear that he may have regretted last night fades, and my body softens into his words. “Likewise.”
“Something is shifting.”
“I agree.” I can’t blink, and nerves now hit me, the kind you get when someone catches your eye and takes an interest, except this time it’s a heavier feeling, more intense.
“I have nothing else to offer right now except that you’re staying here in this house, Hadley adores you—”
“Don’t sweat that. If I didn’t have Pickles then I would be completely boring to her.” I do my best to downplay the situation.
He smiles gently at my attempt to reassure him. “Can we just leave it as we had a good night together?”
“Sure.” I avoid his gaze.
“And I’ll confess that there may be a tiny little hope that you sneak your cute ass right back in here tonight.” Ah, there is his cocky look.
That grin of his stretches, and I feel my own subtle hint of a smile returning, especially when I look down to see that he hasn’t let my fingers go.
And for now, that’s good enough.
“You know, this screams that you are trying to cover something up.” Spencer grabs a piece of fruit from my bowl.
Scanning all the dishes I just prepared, I guess he has a point. A simple breakfast somehow turned into waffles, fruit salad, eggs, bacon, and I even have donuts in the oven that I’ll roll in cinnamon sugar later.
In truth, I’m a little nervous. Mostly because I know it’s obvious to Piper what must have happened last night, and I don’t want Hadley to think something is different.
“I guess I should have stuck to coffee and your protein shake laced with superpowers, but I got distracted,” I admit.
Spencer runs his hand up my spine, and my body shivers in delight.
I enjoy a few seconds before I shake him off. “Down, boy, I need to recover, and besides, I think daylight may be highlighting my wrong life choices.” I give him a stern eye.
“Your body says something else.” His eyes dip down to my nipples that are peaked under my t-shirt. I’m quick to fold my arms over my chest for cover.
The sound of the door opening catches our attention. A mixture of paws on wood, a baby cooing, and Hadley running in.
“Yoo-hoo, I come bearing gifts,” Piper announces as she walks into the kitchen holding up a box from Jolly Joe’s in one hand, and she’s balancing Gracie on her other hip.
Pickles pads along beside Hadley. Piper’s smile drops to confusion when she sees the buffet laid out on the kitchen island.
“Oh. Clearly someone needed to be occupied this morning.” She flashes me an overdone smile.
Spencer gives me knowing eyes as he walks to his daughter who just hopped up on a stool. “I’m not hungry,” Hadley declares.
“There are donuts in the oven,” Spencer informs her.
“Still not hungry.”
He grabs her a plate and dishes up some fruit anyways. “Well, I’m sure you’ll change your mind.” He turns to Piper. “Thanks for watching her, I owe you one.”
“It’s all good. I let her play dress-up and she helped me with the bambino. You two look absolutely tired,” Piper points out, sneaking in a smirk as she sips from her to-go cup.
“It was a late night. I mean, the charity thing.” My fingers fumble in the air.
Her chortle causes Spencer and me to glance at one another, as Piper is onto us.
Snapping, I bite the bullet. “Piper, a word in the other room, please.” I smile tightly.
She looks giddy. Without even asking, she hands her baby over to Spencer.
He is quick to protest. “I don’t do babies.”
“Sure, you do. You’re a pro. Thanks, you’re a doll.” She ignores him and nearly skips to the end of the hall.
When I arrive at the door near the garage, she has a golden smile, with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Just tell me you didn’t make another video,” she requests.
I shake my head.
“The 'I had a good time last night' look does great things for your complexion,” she comments.
I roll my eyes, and as much as I pretend to be annoyed, I erupt in a joyful sound and grin. “Can we forget this?”
“No, because I want you to wake up and accept that your shitty dating life lately might be solved with a guy who knows how to throw a fastball.”
Quickly I interject, “It’s nothing more than physical.”
“Sure, it is.” She’s certain. “Listen, just don’t get hurt, and also be open.
I honestly don’t know what to make of this situation other than wow, you look like you’re enjoying life for the first time in a long time.
He’s a good distraction.” She affectionately touches my arm.
Quickly, she gives me a hug. “Okay, we're not going to overstay our welcome.”
She begins to walk away, and I call out her name. “Have you not seen the kitchen counter? Please stay.”
Piper waves me off. “Nah, I’m sure Spencer worked up a big enough appetite.” She winks before continuing her path.
She leaves me there in reflection that indeed for the first time in a long time, I’m having fun and smiling, and it isn’t forced.
The rest of the day, Spencer played with Hadley.
He took her to the playground in town, while I stayed at the house because I needed to work on a paper for my nutritional course.
I’m so close to being finished, and then I can start applying for jobs because a successful blog may be wishful thinking, but at the very least, it takes time to grow.
A knock on my door disrupts my focus on the screen. Looking up, I find Spencer casually leaning against the doorframe, t-shirt hugging his muscles, and my eyes enjoy the view.
“Checking to see if I threw out my vibrator?” I wisecrack.
He slowly steps into my room. “I already destroyed that a few days ago since you won't be needing it.”
I tilt my head to the side before I lean on the side table and pull open the drawer. I bite my inner cheek because the devil actually did it, and I didn’t notice because he has been fulfilling my needs in that department, from that night in the pool to last night.
“You owe me a new one when I return to the city.” I set my laptop to the side and scooch forward and off the bed to meet him in the middle of the room.
“About that.” He swipes a hand across his jaw, struggling to bring his thoughts together.
Immediately, my fear surfaces. “Oh God. The video, it’s leaked?
! Shit, I need to text my mother.” I begin to pace the room.
“My uncle may kill you. Let’s say goodbye to my future job prospects too.
Then there is my spiteful ex who will not let me forget this, I’m sure,” I ramble, but a strong arm stops me.
“April.” Spencer’s voice is calm, and he cradles my head between the palms of his hands, the print of his thumb dragging along my bottom lip. “It’s fine. We’re fine. No longer an issue.”
“Oh.”
“Lawyer did wonders, and the file is deleted, all traces gone.”
Well, that’s… great. It should be fantastic. But why do I feel deflated? Oh, right, because that means…
“I guess I’m no longer a prisoner here.” I sound disappointed.
His jaw flexes side to side. “True.”
Neither one of us seem to know what to say. I glance over my shoulder. “I guess I’ll pack up and head back—”
“Stay,” he blurts out.
“Stay?”
Tone down the hope, April. Geez.
Spencer shrugs a shoulder as he runs the back of his knuckles along my cheek. “Yeah, I mean, you need my kitchen, right?”
His kitchen?
“It is a great kitchen.”
The subtle hint of a grin tells me that it’s code language for finding a reason that isn’t obvious he wants me to stay.
Stepping closer to him, I roll my lips in, confident with my theory. “I do have a lot I still need to do, recipes, of course.”
He stands taller and inches closer. “Settled then.”
“Uh-huh.”
Our mouths of their own accord move to trace one another’s lips, but neither one of us dares to commit. A simple brush of our lips is enough for this moment, the hint that something bigger is underlying. Neither one of us could be that blind to ignore it.
“A few extra days wouldn’t hurt. I mean, I’m sure you can tolerate me for that long,” I whisper.
A soft rumble leaves his mouth. “Something like that.” He bops his finger on the tip of my nose before giving me a subtle smirk as he turns to leave.
I watch him go as a swirling feeling of excitement and fear travels through me, because Spencer Crews is turning out to be everything I never imagined him to be.