Twenty-One Evelyn #3
Every so often, she'd glance my way, and each time, warmth bloomed across my cheeks and chest. She'd already seen every inch of me, yet somehow, I still couldn't bear being the center of her attention.
We arrived back at the hotel shortly afterward, and Vanessa led me into her suite, insisting we warm up from the ocean in the hot tub.
The water was the perfect temperature, my muscles relaxing the moment I sank beneath the surface. I let out a content sigh; this was perfect.
“Nice, right?”
She sat perched on the edge of the tub, her legs crossed with only her calves submerged. Without thinking, I scooted over until I was beside her. Resting my head against her legs just felt natural.
Her hand drifted into my hair, gently massaging my scalp. I leaned into her touch, completely at peace. Tilting my head back, I caught sight of Vanessa's face upside down. Apparently, she was beautiful from every angle.
She smiled, amused, before lightly nudging my head back into its rightful place against her legs.
A quiet, contented sound escaped me as her fingers worked their way from my scalp to the back of my neck, easing away muscles I hadn't even realized were tense. What couldn't those hands do?
As my mind wandered, I remembered this was our last night here. We were leaving early the next morning.
Vanessa must've felt me tense because her hands stilled. She leaned down, trying to catch my eye.
"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?"
"Nothing," I lied, not wanting to ruin the moment.
She sighed and slipped into the hot tub beside me so we were at eye level, careful not to touch me.
"Okay, this is important." Her voice was firmer now, though still gentle. "When we do things like this, I need you to communicate openly with me."
"I was just thinking this is our last night here," I admitted. Despite my best effort, the disappointment was obvious in my voice.
"And that's especially upsetting because of what happened between us here, isn't it?"
I nodded before forcing myself to ask. "I was just wondering... is this a 'what happens in Tampa stays in Tampa' situation?"
I took a steadying breath, bracing myself for an answer I wasn't sure I wanted to hear.
She seemed taken aback, almost offended by my even considering she’d do something like that.
"Do I seriously seem like the type to have Vegas flings?" she asked with a laugh.
Closing the distance she'd intentionally kept while we talked, she slipped an arm securely around my waist. I rested my head against her shoulder.
"I don't share moments like this with just anyone, honey. And when I do, they mean something. I don't let people be this vulnerable with me unless I'm willing to accept the responsibility that comes with it."
Relief washed over me. Without thinking, I swung one leg over hers until I was settled comfortably in her lap. Her hands returned to my waist to steady me.
“Good,” I answered simply, reaching out to play with her hair. It was even more alluring while wet.
She brought her hands up to my cheeks, cupping them like precious glass that could shatter if she wasn’t careful.
She kissed me softly, stopping when my hands tangled in her chlorine-sticky hair.
I giggled as she patiently worked my hand free before quickly braiding her hair to keep me from doing it again.
She leaned in for another kiss, graciously giving me a second chance I probably didn't deserve.
Naturally, I reached for the braid she'd finished only seconds earlier.
This time, she caught on immediately.
She smacked my hand away.
My breath hitched, and my expression shifted before I could stop it.
The moment she noticed, she frowned.
"That was not my intention, sweetheart," she groaned, gently but decisively lifting me off her lap.
I instinctively grabbed for her shoulders, but when my nails dug into her shoulder blades, she batted that hand away too. I splashed backward into the unnecessarily deep hot tub, giggling.
“Honey, let’s get out now; we have to get ready for dinner soon.”
"What dinner?" I blinked. "Since when? I thought our work obligations were over. I thought we'd still have tonight to ourselves."
"We do, darling." She smiled. "I'm taking you somewhere nice. Just the two of us."
That night, after an incredible sushi omakase and an ice cream sundae we'd shared, I lay curled against her chest, enveloped by the warmth of her arms and the sweetness of her familiar scent. I felt so safe, especially knowing I was allowed to be touching her.
I chuckled quietly at the memory. Oh, how quickly things changed.
"What?" she asked, feeling my body shake against hers.
“Last time I was here, I may have not stayed on my side.”
She let out a velvety laugh at my sheepish confession.
“Honey, I know. I woke up when you climbed on top of me.”
I buried my face in her neck, mortified.
"I thought you were going to be so angry with me. That's why, when I woke up, I panicked."
"And fell off the bed," she finished with a grin.
"Oh, God." I groaned. "In my defense, I was completely convinced you'd be furious."
"You were asleep," she said simply. "You weren't conscious of what you were doing. I wasn't going to hold something you couldn’t control against you."
I hummed in agreement, shifting impossibly closer until I was practically melted into her. Wrapped in her arms, sleep suddenly felt effortless.
"Goodnight, sweetheart," she whispered.
A sudden thought jolted me awake.
"Wait!"
I sat upright so quickly that guilt immediately settled in. I hoped I hadn't nearly startled her to death.
"Yes?" she asked, sounding prepared for some life-changing revelation.
"I didn't lie about my insomnia just so you'd let me sleep here," I blurted. "I swear."
She looked at me with gentle confusion.
"Why would you think I'd assume that?"
"Because..." I hesitated. "I've fallen asleep around you so easily."
With a quiet sigh, she pulled me back against her chest.
"That tells me you trust me enough to relax around me,” she murmured. “Nothing more."
The knot in my chest dissolved.
I wrapped my arms around her waist and settled back into her embrace.
"That's because I do," I whispered. "You make me feel safe."