Chapter 17
Seventeen
ALEX
I wake to Marissa curled up next to me, her face firmly pressed against my side. I wouldn’t mind waking up like this every day. She looks so peaceful sleeping. We didn’t set an alarm and have just over an hour before our checkout time.
“Marissa, I need you to wake up.” I place a gentle kiss on her forehead, and she begins to stir.
”Do we have to get up now? I was sleeping so well.” She snuggles closer to my side.
“I know, but we’ve already overslept. There’s not much time before we have to check out.” Tenderly, I brush my knuckles against her cheek.
“What did you do to me last night?” she groans. “I am never drinking mead again. My whole body is sore… Well, that isn’t entirely from the alcohol.”
I can’t believe last night actually happened. I want so badly to believe it wasn’t just a drunken mistake on her part, but I fully expected her to pretend like it didn’t happen. Too bad my heart won’t let me do that.
“We only have about an hour, but if we shower together, we can save some time.” Smirking, I wiggle my eyebrows at her. I’m pushing it, but I want more of last night. No, not just the sex— although that was amazing—more adventures, more talking to each other for hours, cuddling, and then falling asleep in each other’s arms.
I want it all with Marissa.
“I’m pretty sure it would take twice as long if we shower together.” She rolls her eyes and gets out of bed. Looking over her shoulder as she walks to the bathroom, she winks. “But if you insist.”
Without giving it a second thought I leap from the bed and follow her to the bathroom. I shut the door and push her against it. She grinds her hips against me, and my dick hardens instantly. Pressing my lips to hers, she lets out a moan as she opens her lips, allowing her tongue to dance with mine. I swear her moans are the most beautiful sound in the world.
“Nope.” She shoves me away and wags her finger at me. “Shower only, mister, we don’t have time for anything else.” Slipping out from beneath my arms, she turns on the water. She checks the temperature to make sure it’s perfect before stepping in.
I step one foot in the shower and immediately jump back out. “Holy crap, woman, how do you not have third-degree burns?”
Quietly giggling, she reaches for the knob. “Fine, I’ll turn it down, you big baby.”
I slip in behind her, pick up the hotel shampoo, and squeeze a dollop into my hand. When I start working it through her hair and massaging it into her scalp, she turns and narrows her eyes at me. “I can wash my own hair, you know.”
“Just let me do this for you, please.” I kiss her forehead, and she pouts a little but does as I ask and lets me rinse the shampoo from her hair before washing my own.
As I am lathering myself with soap, Marissa runs her hand through the bubbles on my chest and trails her hand down my stomach. I inhale sharply as she grips the base of my cock. “Red,” I warn, and she flutters her eyelashes at me. “Don’t start something you don’t have time to finish.”
She strokes me twice from base to tip and then stops. “You’re right. I shouldn’t start…” She pulls away and rubs herself with the vanilla-scented soap.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” I groan as I rinse myself off. Leaving her grinning to herself, I get out of the shower, my cock painfully hard.
Quickly, I dry myself off, put on fresh clothes, and pack what little I had back into my bag. After a few moments, she emerges from the bathroom. She’s wearing the leggings and shirt she was wearing yesterday. I can’t help the smile that spreads across when she catches me staring.
“What are you looking at?” She puts her hands on her hips and pouts at me.
“You’re so damn beautiful, you know that?” I shake my head in disbelief of how far we’ve come in the last few days.
“Oh, umm.” She looks at her feet and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear nervously. A blush begins to creep from her chest to her face. “Thanks. You ready to go?”
I nod, grab my bag, and walk past her to the door. “Come on.”
We don’t speak another word until we are in the car and on our way back to Ewigherz. On the way back, she stares out of the window, and I can practically hear her brain working overtime. “What are you thinking about?” I finally ask. “Tell me what’s on your mind. I promise I can handle whatever it is.”
“I’m just thinking about the Moosleute,” she says with a shrug.
“The moss people?” I can’t help the laughter that escapes me. I’m over here stressing about yesterday, and she’s thinking about legends. “I have so many questions. For starters, Moosleute, seriously of all the German words you could learn, that’s the one you choose?”
“I know three German words, actually,” she scoffs. “Danke and nein are the other two.”
“Thanks, no, and moss people. One of those doesn’t belong here.” I scrub my hand down my face in both frustration and amusement.
“You forget that Jennifer was my best friend. She was obsessed with folklore. Last time I was here, she had me terrified of some forest demon!” She presses her forehead back to the glass and falls silent once again.
Once we are almost back, I feel the need to warn her. “Okay, I promised Freedom, I wouldn’t tell you, but since you and Grace are flying back home tomorrow, she’s decided to put together a little going away party. There will be cake at least.”
“Why am I not surprised?” she laughs. “She probably just wants me to tell her all about last night.”
“Oh no, I am not prepared for her interrogation.” Panic rises in my chest.
“I want to know everything!” Freedom yells as I enter the kitchen before looking disgusted. “No, not everything, just major details.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” I walk past her and grab a beer out of the fridge.
“Oh my God. You totally slept with her, didn’t you?” she gasps.
“I figured you would be happy about it. Have you forgotten what you said the other night?” I open my drink and lean back against the counter before taking a swig.
“I said you should give her another chance, not sleep with her the first chance you get. The last time you two couldn’t keep it in your pants, I lost my best friend.” She smacks me on the arm, giving me a pointed look.
“You did gain a pretty awesome niece though.” I smirk.
“I swear to God, Alex, if you didn’t use protection, I will strangle you both with my bare hands.” She snatches the beer out of my hands and downs it before I can even take another sip.
“I kind of slipped up and told her I loved her.” Deciding against another drink, my rational side tells me I should probably stay sober tonight.
“Did you not mean it?” she questions with a frown.
“I meant it; I just didn’t mean to say it.” I pause. “I’m not sure she believed it.”
“The poor girl probably has whiplash from all the mixed signals you’ve been giving her. Give her time.”
“Grace has had way too much cake. I don’t think she’s going to sleep for a week.” Marissa walks up behind Freedom, making us both jump.
“I guess I’ll go back outside to give my girl some more then! That is after all an Auntie’s job.” Freedom pats Marissa on the shoulder and gives her a warm smile as she walks by her.
“You do, and you’re taking her home with you for the night,” Marissa calls over her shoulder before turning back to me. “I was wondering where you were hiding. Grace was looking for you. You know, because you’re now the favorite parent.” She rolls her eyes but looks amused.
“I need to tell you something.” I reach out and grab her waist and pull her toward me. “I love you. You deserve to hear that from me when I’m completely sober and not coming down from an orgasm.”
“Alex, I—” she stutters.
Putting my finger to her lips silencing her. “You don’t have to say it back.”
“Yesterday was amazing. I got to see the real you, not Adam Shaefer from years ago who didn’t actually exist. I got to know Alex Schwartz. He’s kind of amazing; I’ve completely fallen in love with him.” She buries her head in my chest before continuing, “And I’m absolutely terrified.”
“I’m sure he’s probably feeling the same way.” I let out a sigh. “He’s terrified of getting hurt again, but he’s willing to give this another chance. What about you?”
“I feel like if we don’t at least try, we’re always going to wonder what could have happened. I don’t want to have any regrets when it comes to you.”
“All right. When we don’t have a house full of people, we will talk more about this. Go enjoy your party.” Softly, I kiss her on the lips and then release her.
Once we’re outside she darts across the yard to Jen and Annie. I spot Matt and Freedom sitting at the table and join them. I swear I have never met anyone more oblivious than those two. The way they interact with each other couldn’t be any more obvious how they feel. They practically have hearts bulging out of their eyes.
Marissa starts walking over, shaking her head at the two idiots beside me, no doubt thinking the same thing I am. “Hey, Matt, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure, what’s up?” Matt stands and joins Marissa.
“Walk with me.” She motions over her shoulder for him to follow her..
“You know, you really have no room to talk about me when you refuse to tell your best friend you’re in love with him,” I say, not holding back
“I am not in love with Matt,” she scoffs. “Even if I was, he does not feel that way about me.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, Freedom.”