Chapter Twenty-Two #2
“I will,” Denise said, already turning to walk away. “Happy New Year.”
With an exhausted sigh, I walked up the stairs to the second floor. I found Alex at our reserved table, chatting with Camila and Sam, who had already grabbed their coats.
“Are you guys leaving?” I asked when I arrived at the table.
Sam nodded, but Camila’s face twisted into a grimace. “After traveling all day, and then dancing all night, we’re exhausted.”
“It’s been a long day,” Sam murmured. “A good day but a long one.”
“I can imagine,” I said, glancing at Alex, but he was reaching for his phone.
“Let me call you a ride to take you back to the apartment,” he said, tapping on his phone screen.
“Ay, Alex. You don’t have to do that.” Camila smacked her brother on the arm. “We’re perfectly capable of getting back to your apartment.”
“I know you are…or at least Sam is.” When Camila scoffed, Alex threw an arm around her shoulders. “Ordering a car for you is for my own peace of mind. Let me do this.”
When Camila made to argue, Sam arched a brow and she clamped her mouth closed, rolling her eyes. Instead she asked, “Are you coming with us?”
The smile she flashed, first at her brother and then at me, was pure mischief, and I snorted a laugh.
“You know I’m not.” Alex shot Camila a disgruntled look, color on his cheeks.
“I know, I know.” Camila shuffled out of the booth and grabbed Sam’s hand. “I’ll text you when we get there.” Sliding her gaze to me, her eyebrows rose high. “Take care of my brother.”
Now a flush crept over my face, but before I could respond, Camila gave a little wave and she and Sam disappeared into the crowd. I glanced at Alex…who was grinning at me like an idiot.
“Are you going to take care of me?” he asked, his mouth morphing into a smirk.
“?Cállate!” I shot back with no bite.
His gaze traveled over my face for several moments. “Are you and Denise okay?”
“Yeah.” I looked down at my feet. “Or we’re going to be.”
“Do you want to tell me about it?”
Cono, did I ever. But not now. There would be time for difficult conversations tomorrow.
“Not tonight,” I finally said.
“All right.” Alex reached across the table to link our hands together. “Are you ready to go home?”
Hearing Alex use the word home to describe a place where the two of us could be together made my heart feel too big for my chest. “Yes,” I whispered, tightening my grip on his hand.
Fifteen minutes later, Alex and I sat side by side in the back seat of a car zipping down the freeway toward Tempe.
Neither of us spoke, but I relished Alex’s presence by my side.
When we arrived at my house, Alex followed me up the walk, closing and locking the door behind us.
Once inside, he helped me out of my coat and hung it on the rack by the door, and we walked to the bedroom.
As I kicked off my heels, Alex swept my curls over my shoulder, kissed the back of my neck, and then unzipped my red dress, pulling the straps down my arms. Without a word, he held out an oversized T-shirt, which I slipped over my head.
While I washed my face and brushed my teeth, Alex undressed, and when I returned to the room, I found him in bed, shirtless, scrolling on his phone, his glasses perched adorably on his nose.
He glanced at me over his glasses and immediately set aside his phone, watching as I climbed into the bed.
A long sigh fled my lips at how delicious the cool sheets felt along my tired limbs.
“Is that number one?” Alex slid his arm around my waist and hauled me closer. Kissing along my jaw, he chuckled when I gasped. “Number two.”
Twisting in his arms, I nipped at his jaw. He let out a surprised breath. “And that’s one for you.”
“Oh, it’s on,” he declared, snaring my lips in a deep kiss. With expert finesse, Alex kissed and licked and nibbled until I opened to him, welcoming his tongue as he plundered my mouth.
Soon I found myself beneath him, his hand in my hair as he sucked on my neck, and his hips snapping between my thighs.
My nails bit into his back as I angled my pelvis so Alex could hit the spot that made my eyes roll back in my head.
All too soon, I balanced on a crevice, and I flexed my legs and choked on a breath as I strained for release.
“I got you, Sofia,” Alex rasped, snaking a hand between our bodies to caress my clit. “I always will.”
And I fell, sobbing my pleasure, my hands scrambling along his back, confident he would catch me.
After he found his own release, Alex cleaned up and rejoined me on the bed. His damp chest became a pillow for my head, the thud of his heart my lullaby.
“Happy New Year, SLikeTheSun.” Alex kissed the crown of my head. He was silent for so long, I almost fell asleep. And if I had, I would have missed the words he whispered to the night. “You’ve become my sun, and God, I hope you don’t burn me.”
—
Streaks of weak winter sunlight streamed through the cracks in my shades when I blinked my eyes open.
Based on the shadows on the walls, I guessed it was around nine o’clock, which was late on a normal day but certainly not for the morning after a long night of celebrating.
And for that reason, I couldn’t figure out why I was awake.
A distant knocking interrupted the stillness of the house.
Was someone at my door? I frowned as I slipped from the bed, mindful not to wake Alex, who was still sleeping deeply.
Yanking the bonnet from my head, I grabbed a robe, slipping my arms through the sleeves and knotting it around my waist as I left the bedroom.
Maybe my parents had ordered me a coffee or breakfast delivery.
They’d done so in the past, and a hot coffee and breakfast sandwich sounded perfect.
I threw open the front door, anticipating such a treat, when I pulled up short.
The air burst from my lungs as if I had been punched.
“Surprise! And Happy New Year,” Caitlin cried, throwing her arms wide before enthusiastically embracing me.
Oh, holy shit.