Chapter 22 Davis #2
With one last glance outside, she deflated into my side once more, until another loud boom sounded above us, followed by a streak of light and the power blinking out. The only light we had was the fire.
“Oh my gosh, the power is out!”
“It’ll pop back on in a bit. This is normal. Us mountain dwellers have to deal with pretty bad storms from time to time. You get used to it.”
“Is your house all locked up though?” she asked nervously.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’m serious! You never know if there’s some crazy person out there, just waiting for the power to go out so they can break in and murder you in your sleep.”
“Well, to answer your question: yes, all the doors are locked. I have a security system in place, with cameras and motion detectors that run off a generator. I also have two dogs who’d lose their fucking minds if anyone so much as fogged up one of my windows.”
She relaxed once more, letting out a long yawn. “Guess you’re right about that. Sorry, New York wasn’t like this. If the power went out, it was a bad night, and I definitely wouldn’t be sleeping, but mostly because of the roaches.”
“What?”
Groaning, she brought her hands up to cover her face. “Please don’t tell my parents.”
“Look, I think you’re tired. Why don’t we go to bed?”
She seemed to perk up at that.
“Are you sure? I mean, I know you wanted me to come so we could have sex like a billion times. I feel like a loser being so tired.”
Standing up, I bent down and scooped her into my arms. “I didn’t ask you here for sex, and I definitely don’t think I have a billion times in me, at least not this weekend.
I asked you here because I wanted you in my bed.
Fully clothed, naked, wrapped in ribbon, I don’t care how… I just want the chance to hold you.”
“Fucking shit, Davis. You can’t just say that stuff to a girl.”
If only she knew that I had never said that to any girl.
I walked upstairs with her, knowing the dogs would likely stay by the fire. The hall was dark as I walked up until suddenly a light popped on, beaming across the stairs.
“Flashlight app, so you don’t drop me.” Her smile made me crack one of my own. I liked how silly she was, how happy and bubbly. She was quickly becoming an addiction I knew I’d never be able to break, which meant I should probably slow the fuck down.
“Okay, here we go. Looks great, right?” I joked, setting her down on the wood floors.
There was an older than shit rug by the dresser, that she’d hopefully miss, and a bed with mismatched sheets, pillowcases and blankets.
Suddenly, I was grateful the lights were out, because I was fairly certain Rae was used to guys having their shit together a bit more than me.
She surveyed the space with her phone light, smirking at me from over her shoulder, “Just have to make sure you don’t have any dead bodies in here. Or dolls.”
“Dolls?”
“You obviously haven’t watched true crime shows or listened to the podcasts. There are some strange fucking people in this world, Davis.”
My chest felt too light to laugh her response off. I wanted to absorb it, take all of her in and just keep her there. I was the weirdo. I was the strange fucking person, but I wasn’t sure how to fix that about myself. I had never felt this way about anyone.
“Okay, looks good. Can I use your bathroom to clean up, and do you have a candle or anything I can use?”
“Yeah.” I sprang into action, remembering I had an emergency kit in the hall closet. “Here you go,” I set the stubby candle in front of her, and then lit the wick.
“Thank you. Now please don’t laugh at me, but I’m completely afraid of the dark so I am going to pee with the door open, and I know that’s a lot for a first date, but just plug your ears. Well, one ear. The other needs to stay available in case someone tries to murder me, and I scream for help.”
I laughed, shaking my head as she walked in and cracked the door.
She turned the faucet on, so all I could hear was running water instead of her relieving herself.
Then a flush, and more water. I chose to use the time to strip out of my clothes, suddenly feeling a little nervous. I hadn’t had anyone sleep with me…ever.
I was so caught up in my head, I didn’t hear the water turn off, or the door open.
“Whoa! You just went straight for it, huh?”
Spinning around, I saw Rae standing in the doorway, holding her candle. Her hair was tied on top of her head, and she had a fresh, clean face. Her eyes were wide as she took me in from head to toe.
“I was not prepared for the sight of you in just a pair of black boxer briefs. Holy shit. You…you have really muscular thighs. And Jesus, Mary and Judas…that V on your lower abdomen.”
My lip lifted on its own as her gaze continued to roam and her mouth seemed to just keep going.
“And did you know that you have really impressive back muscles? I’ve never noticed that about guys—I mean, at least not the ones I’ve been with.
They just had regular spines, and skin…you know, the usual stuff that makes up a back.
But you—you’re all muscles, and fuck, how come no one ever told me there was back porn?
Because I’d pay a subscription fee to just watch your back as you cut wood or lift tree limbs. ”
“Rae.” I was laughing so hard my stomach was starting to hurt. “Come here.”
She stumbled forward, setting the candle on the dresser. I caught her by the hips, staring down at her. She bit her lip, placing her hands on my stomach.
“You need to make things even, so I can gawk at you.”
She gave a little snort. “I’m sorry, did you think I was going to strip down to my bra and panties? No, sir. I have a nightgown, a flannel one. Goes all the way up to the neck, with a nice collar. Besides, you’ve seen me naked. This was the first time I’ve ever seen you like this.”
Pulling her closer to the bed, I clicked my tongue. “Well, then, go find your flannel nightgown and put it on, so we can go to bed.”
She snorted. “I didn’t really bring that. I assumed we’d be having sex at some point this weekend.”
Groaning, I pinned my forehead to hers. “Rae, I’d want to fuck you in a flannel nightgown, in a paper bag, in a suit of fucking armor. Just please, I beg of you, get in bed, so I can touch you.”
Letting out a nervous laugh, she stepped back and slowly pulled her shirt over her head, her skin illuminated by the firelight. She wore a simple cotton bra that had a thick black band at the bottom and two straps that crossed at her back, but each breast was cupped tightly.
Then went her jeans, which she left in a pile on the floor while she stood in front of me in a matching pair of cotton underwear that was just a tiny band at her hips and barely covered her smooth mound.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I let a few curses free as I realized how fucked I was.
With her dark hair splayed against her creamy skin, and those dark lashes fanning her cheeks, she looked like a dream. A long-lost, soaking wet dream I never knew I wanted.
Bending her leg, she pressed her knee into the side of my bed and slowly crawled on.
Leaving her ass on display, she lifted one knee cap and edged along the expanse of my bed.
My cock twitched behind my boxers as I watched her, and it honestly felt like I couldn’t stop.
I couldn’t move. I could barely even breathe.
She was in my bed, waiting for me. How the hell did I get this lucky?
“You going to join me or just stand there?”
Shit.
Jumping into action, I carried the candle to my side table and then pulled the covers back.
Assessing her tiny smile, and feeling my heart hurl itself against my ribs, I pressed my knees to the soft mattress just like she had.
Rae mirrored my movements as I crawled under the blankets and kicked my legs out, tucking them under the top sheet.
Rae’s head landed on her pillow, a relaxed sigh leaving her lungs as her lashes fluttered.
I didn’t wait for her approval. I wrapped my arm around her waist and tugged her to my chest, forcing her nose into my neck.
This felt right, her warm body against mine while rain slammed against the window.
I caressed her back in soothing strokes, feeling her breathing slow, until eventually it evened out and she was asleep.
Smiling into her hair, I let my eyes close and left my heart wide open, willing to accept anything Raelyn Jackson would be willing to give me, secretly hoping it would be everything.