Chapter 22
twenty-two
Soph is still asleep when I wake. We’re on our sides, a blissful tangle of bodies.
The front of me pressed to the back of her, a knee tucked between her warm thighs.
My palm, under her palm, pressed to her rib cage.
She’s so peaceful that I don’t want to disturb her, and it takes me five minutes to extricate myself.
As soon as I’m out of bed, I briefly contemplate crawling back in, and the only thing that stops me is the certainty of what’s to come in this bed later.
I dress as quietly as I can, leave a note that I’ll be back soon, and slip out to take care of some business before she wakes up.
I stop at the front desk first and pay for another night for all three rooms. We all need time to rest and decide next steps.
I don’t want anyone to feel rushed. Next stop is the convenience store across the street to buy a bottle of aspirin, a box of bandages, and a box of condoms. And last, a bakery down the street to pick up breakfast sandwiches and coffees.
I drop off food, coffee, and aspirin with Jess and Hannah and tell them they don’t need to be out of their rooms until tomorrow. They both look worse for wear, but thankful for the temporary reprieve. We all agree to meet at six o’clock for dinner.
When I return, I push the door open slowly and tiptoe inside only to find the bedside light on. Soph is sitting on the bed, typing on her phone. She’s wearing the same T-shirt, but her hair is wet like she’s showered.
“Hey, you.” Her gravelly morning voice will never not be a turn-on.
“Hey.” I drop the bag of bandages and condoms on the dresser and walk to her. Bending over, I kiss the top of her head and ask, “How’re you doing?”
“Even better if one of those is for me,” she says, pointing to the coffees in the drink carrier.
Setting the food and drinks in the middle of the king-size bed, I sit next to her and slide the large cup out and hand it to her. “Two sugars, right?”
She wraps both hands around it, takes a sip, and her eyelids flutter closed. “My hero.”
There’s a hint of purple shadowing her jawline that wasn’t there when we fell asleep. I brush my thumb over it lightly. “Does this hurt?” It’s a good thing I don’t know which motel Ben’s at, or I’d get in my van and hunt him down.
She shakes her head. “It looks worse than it is.”
I take the aspirin bottle out of my pocket, open it, and hand her two. “How’s the cut?”
She tips her head back and forth like she’s trying to decide. “Better than last night, but these will definitely help. Thank you. For everything.”
Finally, I reach into the bag and take out the remaining sandwiches. “Sausage or bacon?” I ask.
“I like both, you pick.”
I partially unwrap the sausage and hand it to her and then unwrap mine and take a bite.
“God, this tastes good. Why does it feel like I haven’t eaten in days?” My stomach’s been growling since I woke up.
“Because last night was two weeks long and you made me eat, but you didn’t,” she says out the side of her mouth as she chews.
“That must be it.” My sandwich is gone in three bites, and my small decaf is so cool that I chug it down too. Standing and tossing everything in the trash, I stretch and say, “I’m gonna take a quick shower and brush my teeth.”
She glances at the digital clock on the nightstand, it reads: 10:38. “Checkout is at eleven. No time for orgasms today.”
I toe off my shoes, peel off my socks, and strip out of my T-shirt. “That sounds a lot like a dare.”
She smiles, and it all but brings me to my knees.
“Ever, I want this so bad it’s painful. But I also don’t wanna be rushed like we were last night.
I wanna take our time.” She licks her lips, swallows, and then whispers, “Fuck,” under her breath like she’s second-guessing what she knows she wants and deserves.
I will give this woman whatever she asks for. “Good thing checkout is at eleven tomorrow then. We have all day and all night, no need to rush.”
Unbuttoning and unzipping my shorts, I tuck my thumbs into my boxer-briefs and slide everything down at once. When I stand, my hands are clasped in front of me. I’m already getting hard.
She smirks. “No sneak preview?” Her humor and the way she puts me at ease are a next-level connection that I’ve never felt with any other woman. I’m attracted to her in every way possible.
I turn and walk toward the bathroom. “Just my sweet ass.”
She laughs, and it’s throaty. “Ever, baby, your hands are big and beautiful, but that thing is way more than a handful. You’re not hiding anything.”
Rounding the corner, I stop just inside the bathroom and taunt her one last time, “You say that like there’s an elephant in the room.”
The devilish laugh comes again from the other side of the wall. “A literal elephant. Now hurry up.”
“Don’t start without me,” I call out and then click the door shut before taking the fastest shower on record.