Chapter 25 Ava
AVA
When I woke up in the morning, I heard the soft, even breathing of Desmond next to me. He was lying on his stomach, face inclined toward mine. I leaned over and put my hand on his back, and he muttered something in his sleep. I looked at him and smiled. Waking up next to Desmond was a luxury.
This could’ve been something more, I thought, if only we hadn’t gone down this path once before.
I shifted in place, feeling surprised at the intensity of my longing, and the movement woke Desmond up.
He blinked, and when his eyes rested on me, he smiled. “Well, hello, beautiful,” he said, and my heart leaped.
“Good morning,” I said, leaning over to kiss his temple before grabbing the blanket and wrapping it around me.
“Where are you going?” he asked, hand on my wrist in an instant before my feet could touch the floor.
“For a shower,” I said, looking back at him with what I hoped was a naughty expression. “Want to join me?”
His hungry expression said a lot as he reached for me, but I stepped away from him with a laugh.
“Trickster,” he called out as I jumped out of reach and made for the bathroom.
“It’s a weekday,” I called back, shutting the door and looking around.
The bathroom was expansive and luxurious.
A lavender smell pervaded the large white space, and I saw a huge Jacuzzi at the far end of the room and a spacious shower with glass walls and smooth, pebbled stones at the bottom.
He even had plants in here—three large ferns dotting the length of the wall—and a large counter with two sinks.
The bathroom was almost as big as my apartment. I stepped into the shower and turned it on, standing under the warm cascade of water when I heard the door click. I turned around and saw Desmond walking in.
“What’s your pants size?” he asked, and I froze.
“I don’t want you buying me anything more,” I said.
“Well, I’m still sure you don’t want to go back to work, wearing the same clothes you had on yesterday.”
I closed my eyes for a moment, wondering how I hadn’t thought of that.
“Size four, please,” I whispered. “And my shirt is—”
“Small, I know,” he said with a grin as he typed into his phone. “My shopper will have it brought here in half an hour.”
“Thanks. I’ll be quick,” I said, reaching for the soap and hoping I wasn’t delaying him.
He stood by the door, watching me with a robe on. Taking it off, he stepped up and opened the glass door, wearing nothing. He stepped under the shower next to me, and the look in his eyes was open, honest, as he gazed at me.
“I was hoping I could join you,” he said, melding his body to mine and lowering his head.
We kissed wet kisses, and I let him wash me, laughing as he took extra effort to draw hearts on my body with the bubbles.
“Am I clean enough now?” I asked against his bare chest while his fingers gripped the curve of my waist, his mouth on my neck.
“Just five minutes more,” he murmured and pushed aside the bathrobe I’d been reaching for.
“All right then,” I said, giving in when his lips made their way down my neck. “You win this one, Des.”