20. Amberlee
Chapter 20
Amberlee
I ’m burning up, and it feels like there’s a weight on top of me, pinning me down. I wiggle, trying to pull away from the restraint. I’ve barely broken free when I’m pulled back against something firm, poking me in the back.
“No, you don’t. You’re not leaving me yet,” a hoarse voice whispers into my ear. Heat dances along my skin as the morning fog clears and I remember where I am.
Jeremiah! I slept with Jeremiah Dawson!
Does he regret what happened? Terrible thoughts run rampant, causing my heart to race and my skin glisten with sweat.
“Stop. I already know what you’re thinking,” he murmurs sleepily.
He rolls me over onto my back and props himself up on his elbow, locking his gaze with mine. The tips of his finger glide along the side of my face, just before he slips strands of my hair behind my ear.
Jeremiah cups my cheek, and I turn my face into his touch, just before he kisses me.
“I love you, Amberlee, nothing has changed. Last night was one of the best nights of my life, and the third best thing to ever happen to me, with Angel’s birth being the first.”
“What is the second best thing?” The question escapes my mouth before I even realize it.
“Waking up with you in my arms. I want to do that every day for the rest of my life.”
I can feel the heat on my face at his confession. It’s the same thing I want, but there’s something still in our way.
My brother.
How is he going to react? Will he hate Jeremiah for what’s happened? I don’t want their friendship to be ruined because of me. I can’t help but worry my lip as I let my thoughts consume me.
“Ryan—”
I don’t even get to finish my thought before Jeremiah’s placing his finger on my lips, gently shushing me.
“It’s going to be fine. I’m going to talk to him and explain everything, just like I told you last night. When we get home, I’ll tell him how I feel about you. Although, telling him I was lusting after his fifteen-year-old sister when I met her might not be the best thing.”
“I was almost sixteen,” I correct with a laugh.
“Somehow I don’t think the technicality of a few months is going to matter to him.”
“What if he hates you, or doesn’t want us to be together?” I close my eyes, fighting back the tears that want to spill. I’ve just gotten the man of my dreams. The one I’ve always loved, and the thought of losing him just as quickly is more than unnerving.
“Positive thoughts, baby. He may be mad at first, but once he thinks about it, he’ll know this is good. Ryan knows the man I am and that I’ll treat you like the queen that you are.” He gives me a smile before rolling onto his back, pulling me with him. My head rests on his chest, and I lift my leg over his waist, grazing his very hard shaft.
His breath hitches in sync with mine as he traces the tips of his fingers along my spine, right down to the crest of my ass. We lie like that, neither of us saying a word, just enjoying the few stolen moments we have left together this morning.
I’ve got to be leaving soon. I just hate that I have to. But Ryan needs to be told about us before we make it public.
“I need to go,” I whisper with a sigh.
“We can forget about what we talked about last night. I can get on the elevator and up to Ryan’s room now, pound on his door, and confess my love for you, then we wouldn’t have to be apart.”
I sit up, pulling the sheet up to cover my naked body, trying to be more modest now that I’m fully sober. “I love that you’d do that for me, but we only have today left, and I don’t want to ruin it or have fighting, especially with the kids here.”
“Fine, I’ll wait. For now. Can you stay a little longer?”
He sits up, angling his body toward mine. My eyes drop to his stomach and the trail of hair that leads to his hard cock. One that he’s not making any move to cover. My tongue slides across my lip at the memory of last night.
“Not this morning, baby. I know you’re still sore. Plus, the next time I make love to you, it’s going to last a while. Nice and slow. I want to enjoy every inch of your body.” He takes hold of the back of my head, his fingers weaving through my hair as he presses his mouth firmly against mine. My lips part, allowing his tongue entrance as he deepens the kiss.
Knowing that I’m going to have to break this moment, dress, and go back to my room has a dull ache forming in my chest. Just a few more days, and Ryan will know, then I can do whatever I want with Jeremiah without fear of being caught.
“I’ve got to go,” I mumble through the kiss.
He pulls away, and my fingers go to my lips, rubbing softly across them, trying to ease the ache of their loss.
“Let me get dressed, and I’ll walk you.” He shifts on the bed, letting his legs fall over the edge of the bed as he bends over to pick up his discarded clothing from last night.
“No, stay in bed. We need to be careful.” I hold up my hand, reminding him.
“Baby, it’s like…” He taps the screen of his phone, laying on the nightstand. “Six-thirty in the morning. Ryan’s not going to be stalking the halls to catch us.” He laughs as he shakes his head.
I feel the heat rise in my cheeks and take a deep breath. Is he making fun of me?
I immediately push the thought away. He's just making note of the time, and he’s right, Ryan’s still in bed with his wife. I’m just being paranoid, but there’s always a first time.
“Let’s not tempt fate, besides I’m just going next door. I’ll be fine, go back to bed.” He stands, walking toward me as I squat down to pick up my clothes. While Jeremiah may be comfortable being naked, I’m still a little shy. Especially now in the light of day when he can see the rolls and cellulite.
“I don’t want to let you go, but I will for now. I love you, Amberlee. I don’t think I can say that enough. It’s going to be torture being around you until we spill the beans.”
I wrap my arms around him, hugging him tightly, memorizing how he feels. “It’s going to be hell for me too,” I mumble into his chest.
We stay like that for a couple of minutes until I finally pull away from him, putting on my clothes from last night. I glance over to the bed, the red stain on the comforter catching my attention, a reminder of what I lost.
We hug one final time before I slip out of the room, taking the couple steps to my room and escaping inside.
I drop my purse on the dresser, then step over to the bed, falling back onto it with a sigh, drifting back off to sleep to dreams of Jeremiah.
It feels like I’ve only been asleep for a second when my cell phone rings. I am far too tired, so I manage to tune it out. But the pounding on the door is another story.
Getting out of bed, I stumble to the door, only to see a frazzled Ryan on the other side.
“I thought you were dead. Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
Is he an idiot?
“You thought I was dead, and your first thought was to knock on my door? Were you expecting my ghost to magically open it?”
I shake my head before turning and heading back to the bed.
“What do you want anyway?” I ask as I climb under the blanket.
Ryan starts laughing, and I glare at him.
“What’s so fucking funny?”
“You’re dressed and look like shit? Did my baby sister get drunk last night? Good thing Jeremiah was with you to take care of you.” My eyes go wide at Ryan’s words. Does he suspect something?
Not wanting him to start asking too many questions about last night, I change the subject.
“What do you want?”
“We’re going for breakfast, so get up and get dressed and meet us in the lobby in thirty minutes.”
“Go without me. I’m going back to bed,” I whine. There’s no way I can sit through breakfast with Jeremiah without anyone suspecting there’s something between us.
“No, get dressed. If you’re not ready, I’ll drag you out of bed looking just like you do now. Chop chop, Amberlee.” He doesn’t say anymore, just claps his hands annoyingly at me before leaving. The clicking of the door lets me know I’m safely locked in my room.
Fucking asshole. He better be glad I love him.
I throw the blanket off of me and begrudgingly trudge to the bathroom, discarding my clothes on the floor, then turn the shower on. While I wait for the water to warm up, I brush my teeth, the alcohol I consumed last night still lingering on my tongue.
The gentle ache between my legs brings a smile to my face. My thoughts drift to my friends from high school and their horror stories of how horrible their first time was. Boy were they wrong, and obviously doing it with the wrong person.
I spit the toothpaste in the sink, cupping my hand under the water to rinse my mouth. Time to shower and get ready to face the music, giving the best performance of my life.
Stepping in the shower, I let the warm water spray down on my back, relaxing my tense muscles, as I put shower gel on my hand and begin to wash my body. Each stroke over my nipple sends a chill rippling through me, a desire for more.
I hold my hands under the water, washing the soap off, using one of them to brace myself on the wall while the other slips between my legs, rubbing tiny little circles on my clit.
I imagine it’s Jeremiah’s hands, teasing me like he did last night. Although sore, my body readily reacts to the sensation, and tiny flutters erupt in my stomach.
My nipples pebble, and my breathing becomes ragged as I apply more pressure, speeding up my movement. I don’t have long before I need to be downstairs, and I can already feel my orgasm building right before stars explode behind my eyes and I come undone, moaning loudly.
I finish washing up before turning off the water and drying off. It doesn’t take long to dress. I choose a sundress. If I can avoid the beach scene today, I will.
Picking up my purse and room key, I head out, barely stepping out of the room before I bump into Jeremiah.
“Fancy seeing you here.” His hand casually touches my back, and I open my mouth to speak, but a voice causes me to stop dead in my tracks.
“Looks like you saved me from knocking on her door again.” Ryan laughs.