Chapter 14 Donovan
DONOVAN
Iwoke to a blinding slant of light peeking in through the window. The insistent rays burned my irises, and I brought my hand up to shield my eyes. I blinked away the haze of sleep, squinting one eye open to take in my surroundings. It took several seconds for the view in front of me to make sense.
Emily.
Awareness prickled my skin. The soft warmth at my side and steady rhythm of her breathing brought me back to the present. Then images from last night flooded my memory.
Emily had been exquisite. Her breathy moans and arch of her back, the way her legs trembled just before she came. It was all seared into my memory.
My phone beeped with an incoming text, and I quickly swiped it off the nightstand. Guilt washed over me when I saw the notification.
Vance: You make it home okay?
I rubbed my hand over my face as I tried to formulate a reply. He’d kick my ass if he found out I'd spent the night with Emily.
Wait … if he was texting me, that meant he hadn’t noticed my truck still parked outside the cabin.
There was still time to sneak away without him knowing.
I turned and peered over my shoulder at the beautiful woman sleeping soundly next to me.
She lay on her side, her hands folded together and tucked under her pillow, her bare shoulders peeking out from beneath the quilt.
She was naked under there, but I couldn’t take the time to appreciate that fact.
I needed to go before anyone found out where I was.
I carefully slipped out of bed and quietly crossed the room to grab my duffle.
There was a change of clothes in there: a pair of jeans and a Wraiths hoodie.
My bright red Santa suit taunted me from the floor next to the bed.
I snatched it up and shoved it into my bag before slipping on my boots.
Creeping over to the bed, I leaned down and gently pressed my lips to Emily’s forehead.
I didn’t want to wake her, but I couldn’t leave without one last kiss.
I headed for the door but hesitated with my hand on the knob.
Did I simply leave, walking out like we hadn’t just spent an incredible night wrapped in each other’s arms?
Did I leave her a note? What would it even say?
Thanks for letting me crash—and smash—last night.
I didn’t want her to think last night meant nothing to me, but I also didn’t want to give her false hope either.
It wasn’t like I could pursue a relationship with her when I planned to move back to Boston in the next few months.
I decided it was best not to complicate things, and leaving a note would send mixed signals.
Emily deserved to have someone who was all in, not some dickhead who would jerk her around.
I refused to be that guy. It was bad enough she had to deal with that douchebag, Josh.
I didn’t want to be another man who let her down.
Instead, I would cherish this one night we had together.
Turning the knob, I stepped out into the cold.
It wasn’t as frigid as I’d expected. The air was still, and the morning sun shone brightly.
Snow crunched beneath my boots as I made the trek to my truck.
A flash of movement inside the main cabin caught my eye, and I froze.
Lifting my gaze to the kitchen window, I caught a glimpse of Delilah with a coffee mug halfway to her mouth.
Her eyes were wide with surprise as she clocked me sneaking around the back of the cabin where everyone had parked.
Then, a spark of recognition lit in her eyes as her gaze flicked to the small cabin I’d just departed then settled back on me.
Her mouth curved into a knowing grin, and she lifted her free hand to wiggle her fingers at me in a wave.
Busted.
I gave her a tight smile and an awkward salute.
Her shoulders shook with amusement, and I relaxed.
She lifted her mug and arched a brow questioningly, an invite to join her for coffee.
I shook my head and pressed my forefinger to my lips, mouthing “shhh,” letting my eyes flick up to the second floor where the bedrooms were.
She caught my meaning and mimed zipping her lips shut and throwing away the key.
I just hoped she kept my secret and didn’t tell Vance about my snowy walk of shame.