Chapter 4
MARISSA
Iwoke before the sun rose, tangled in heat and muscle. For a few seconds, I didn’t move, holding my breath as I just lay there with my cheek pressed to Raiden’s chest and his arm draped around my waist. It felt like he’d caged me there even in sleep, and I liked the idea of that. Probably too much.
My body ached in places I hadn’t even known were possible, but not in a bad way.
The twinges I felt were reminders of last night that I’d carry with me. Of how hungry Raiden had been for me. The way I’d made him lose control. Even though I was inexperienced.
I should have been embarrassed that he’d realized I was a virgin before I told him.
But I wasn’t. Not when he’d looked at me with so much passion in his dark eyes.
Or with how he’d kissed me like he was starving and I was the only thing that could satisfy him.
The feminine thrill I’d felt was too strong to allow room for being self-conscious.
Almost as though he felt me thinking about him, Raiden’s hand tightened on my hip in his sleep. The small, instinctive gesture melted my heart in ways that it shouldn’t after only spending one night together.
I slowly lifted my head an inch, and my lips curved at how much softer his masculine features were.
The edge he’d had during the press conference was completely wiped away.
His lashes were long enough to be unfair, and a lock of dark hair had flopped onto his forehead.
He would’ve looked almost boyish except for his thick beard.
My gaze drifted down to his broad shoulders, and I noticed a scar that made me wonder if there was a story behind it.
As I continued down his muscular chest, heat rushed to my cheeks as I took in how low the sheet was riding on his hips.
It just barely covered the hard length that had been deep inside me last night.
I forced myself to glance at the nightstand where my phone sat upside down.
Picking it up, I saw the time, and panic shot through me so fast I nearly jolted upright.
I had a flight in just four hours that I couldn’t miss, and I still hadn’t finished packing.
I had planned to do that yesterday…before Raiden tempted me into going out with him instead.
Although I’d need to scramble today, last night was totally worth it.
But since I was traveling for work for an entire month, I couldn’t just throw a few things into a bag on my way to the airport. And that meant I needed to get moving.
My stomach twisted. Leaving the country after what happened last night was the last thing I wanted to do.
But I’d been lucky to land my job at Empire Sports Network so soon after graduating, and missing my flight would make me late for an interview with the figure skater everyone thought was going to win the Four Continents Championships next week.
My knowledge of the sport and my access to the skating community were significant factors in my boss hiring me, so I couldn’t afford to mess up at the start of my first big work trip.
I thought about waking Raiden before I got up to say goodbye instead of disappearing like a coward. But then my brain conjured an image of him blinking at me in confusion and offering a polite smile before brushing our time together off as a one-night stand.
After the way I’d given myself over to him so completely, I couldn’t stomach the risk of seeing that look.
So I carefully eased myself out from under his arm one inch at a time.
His hand dragged across my hip as I slipped free, and the cold rush of air that hit my skin as I stood was a harsh contrast to the warmth I’d felt while wrapped in his arms.
I gathered my bra and panties as quietly as possible, even though Raiden didn’t move except to pull the pillow I’d been sleeping on into his chest and bury his face in it. Then I grabbed the rest of my clothes from the living room.
My cheeks burned remembering how my outfit had ended up scattered across his floor—his doing, not mine.
He’d been single-minded in a way that still made my knees wobble if I thought about it too hard.
Which was a problem, because my legs were already unsteady as I made my way to the en suite bathroom.
I stared at my reflection while washing my hands, taking in the beard burn on my face, neck, chest, and everywhere else he’d kissed me.
I pressed my fingers over a spot on my collarbone, heat blooming beneath my skin.
I’d never been kissed like that before. Hadn’t even known I could want someone that much or that fast. If only the timing hadn’t been so awful.
Heading back into the bedroom, I felt the lingering ache between my thighs every time I bent to grab another piece of clothing. I was even more aware of it when I slipped into my jeans and padded barefoot to where my top had landed near the foot of the bed.
Raiden shifted slightly, the sheet sliding a fraction lower on his hips, and my breath caught. I shouldn’t stare—but I did, committing the sight to memory.
When I reached for my top, my hand brushed against one of his instead. The T-shirt that’d been under his sweater, soft and worn from years of use. It smelled like him, and I wanted to take it with me. But I forced myself to set it back down.
Then I moved to the nightstand, searching for paper. When I found a pad and pen, my hand trembled slightly as I wrote him a short note.
Had to run to the airport for an assignment.
Thanks for a great night
– Marissa
With no idea what the morning-after etiquette was, I kept it short and simple.
I set it exactly where Raiden would see it when he opened his eyes.
Turning to leave, I froze in the doorway to take one last look over my shoulder.
He looked peaceful. Strong. And sexier than any man had the right to be.
We’d only met yesterday. I shouldn’t feel anything deep for him already. But my heart squeezed hard enough to make me press a hand against my rib cage.
“Bye,” I whispered, too quiet for him to hear.
I stepped into the hall, but before I closed the door behind me, I sprinted back in and grabbed his T-shirt off the floor. Stuffing it into my purse, I convinced myself that I could pretend it was accidental if he ever asked me.
Or deny having his shirt. That seemed easier.
I quietly shut the door and forced myself to leave. By the time I slid into the back seat of a cab, my voice shook when I gave the driver my address.
The morning sky was still dark, and the city lights blurred past the window as I pressed my forehead to the cool glass. The ache in my chest only grew, which didn’t make sense.
It was one night.
Raiden was a famous football player who had women throwing themselves at him all the time. He would probably forget all about me before lunch.
But walking away felt a lot like losing something that wasn’t mine to keep.
Luckily, I was busy enough packing that I didn’t have time to obsess over him the way my brain clearly wanted to.
It took me an hour to get ready to head to the airport.
By the time my ride pulled up to the curb at JFK, I’d finally managed to steer my mind away from Raiden and on to the long flight ahead.
But I had a hard time keeping it there when every step through the airport reminded me exactly what we’d done.
After checking my bag, I moved through the terminal on autopilot, weaving through crowds with my carry-on rolling beside me. I was halfway through security when my phone buzzed.
I fumbled, nearly dropping my tote bag, and swiped open the notification.
Raiden
Next time, you wake me up.
I almost tripped over my feet when the person behind me urged me to move forward. I had to grip the handle of my carry-on to stay steady.
Next time.
Those two little words made hope spread through my chest.
I stared at the screen, my pulse thudding so loudly it drowned out the noise surrounding me. I read the message again. Then a third time.
But before I could give in to the temptation to fire off a reply asking if there really would be a next time when I got back, I was called forward.
I shoved my phone into my pocket and focused on getting through security and to my gate. It wasn’t until I was in my seat on the plane that I scrolled through sports coverage on my phone.
Nobody was talking about my banter with Raiden at the press conference. Most commentators assumed his answer was just him playing off Saxon’s reply to the question before mine. Fans in the comments seemed more amused than anything.
From a professional standpoint, I was relieved.
But under that was a twist of disappointment I had no business feeling.