10. Ciara
Iwoke to the weak gray light of morning. A gentle rain pattered against the windowpane. It was the sort of day meant for sleeping in. Or staying in bed for other reasons. The heavy arm draped over my waist definitely had my brain tripping down that path, despite the fact that Alex and I had already turned to each other twice more in the night, wiping out the last of my meager supply of condoms.
No question, it had been the best sex of my life—not that there was a terrible lot to compare it to. But it wasn’t just the physical. No matter how improbable, we’d connected. I liked him.
And he was supposed to leave today. The idea of that broke my heart.
I’d told myself that I’d be fine with just one night. He was the thing I’d been brave about, and it had paid off in multiple orgasms. My body ached in places I hadn’t known it could ache, and I felt deliciously used in the best possible way. His morning wood brushed my backside, and I was already wondering if I could talk him into just one more round before he left. But I knew that just one more wouldn’t be enough. I suspected just one more would never be enough. And anyway, I really needed to answer the call of nature and brush my teeth before anything else.
Holding my breath, I managed to extricate myself from Alex without waking him and crept to the bathroom. After doing my business and sending up a prayer of thanks to the inventor of toothpaste, I stared at myself in the mirror. My hair was an absolute mess. My cheeks were flushed, and there was a sparkle in my eye that definitely hadn’t been there before. And I had beard burn in the most interesting places. No way could I ever forget last night. Nor did I want to. But I didn’t want that to be it. I didn’t want him to walk out of my life for good when he left my flat today.
Back in my bedroom, I automatically picked up the trail of clothes we’d shed. Living in such a small space, I’d become a bit of a neat freak. His wallet lay on the floor, where he’d dropped it. It flipped open as I picked it up, and I couldn’t stop myself from checking his ID. Decent picture. Better than mine, for damned sure. My gaze skimmed his name. Alex Conroy.
“What are you doing?”
I didn’t jolt at the rasp from my bed. I dropped the clothes and wallet onto the chair in the corner. “Well, I was hoping you had a spare stashed in your wallet since we went through the rest of mine last night. But it appears we’re out of luck.”
“More’s the pity.” Alex stretched with a delicious growly morning groan that was sexy as hell. So was the way the sheet pulled low on his belly.
Putting on a flirty smile, I jerked a thumb toward the bathroom. “I was about to grab a shower. The hot water doesn’t hold out particularly well, so if you want one yourself, you’d probably best join me.”
His lips curved, and his eyes sparked as he dragged off the covers and stalked toward me, fully naked, his erection saying he was already completely on board. “Well, now. That just sounds sensible.”
Those hands were on my bare skin again, and my knees went weak, my body already softening for his. “We’ll have to get creative to take care of this.” I wrapped a hand around his length.
Alex backed me into the bathroom, dipping to nibble at my throat. “I feel certain we’ll figure it out.” And we did. At least until the hot water ran out, and he manfully shielded me from the icy spray without even yelping. Well done him.
Afterward, we dressed, and I searched the cupboards to scrounge up some breakfast, or at least the makings for tea or coffee. There was next to nothing. Even the fridge was all but bare. “It’s slim pickings, I’m afraid. I’ve been gone for weeks, and obviously my flatmate hasn’t been to the market. Do you want to go grab something? I know a great little breakfast place not far from here.”
Alex stroked the hair back from my face. “There’s nothing I’d like more. But I have to go. I do still have plans with my mate up in Inverness.”
“Oh, right.” I tried to squash the disappointment. I’d known this was coming, and I’d tried to put it off in hopes he’d change his mind and his plans yet again.
“But I want to see you again. Can I have your number?”
Excitement exploded in my chest. “I thought you’d never ask.”
We swapped contact information, and each sent a test text to make sure we hadn’t entered the numbers wrong. Then Alex pulled me into his arms and laid his lips over mine in a long, lingering kiss that left my head spinning. He tasted of yearning and promises and everything I hadn’t let myself want.
At last, he pulled back. “I’m not going to say goodbye. I’m just going to say, ‘See you later.’ Because I will. As soon as I know what my plans are, you’ll be the first to know.”
I wanted to leap around my flat like the Energizer Bunny on speed. But I held in my excitement. “I like the sound of that. I’ll walk you down.”
“No. I want to remember you right here, like this.” He lifted my hand to his lips. “See you soon, Ciara.”
Then he was gone. The door to the flat closed with a quiet click.
I stayed where I was for a minute, listening to the sound of his footfalls going down the stairs. When I could no longer make them out, I loosed a long, contented sigh and fell back onto the sofa, kicking and flailing my arms with a squee.
Things between us weren’t over. They were only just beginning, and I couldn’t wait.