My head was buzzing as I slowly opened my eyes. Julie was still asleep next to me, curled on her side and still naked from the night before. I groaned and rolled away from the window to block out the sunlight streaming through the curtains. My head was already starting to pound with the beginnings of a hangover. After everything I drank the night before, I wasn’t surprised that my body was protesting this morning.
With another groan, I squeezed my eyes closed and rubbed my temples. I hadn’t felt this hungover since college.
“You’re awake,” Julie said softly. I rolled back over to face her. She was smiling at me, but her eyes were barely open.
“Good morning.” I smiled back and moved closer to her. “How’d you sleep?”
“I have no idea,” Julie said with a soft laugh. “I feel like ass.”
“Me too.” I laughed, but immediately regretted it. The motion jostled my head and made my stomach lurch with nausea. “Oh god.”
“We should eat something,” Julie said and pushed herself up. Her hand flew immediately to her head as she slowly adjusted to the new position.
“I’ll order room service,” I said weakly.
“You don’t have to do that,” Julie said. “We can go get something.”
“No.” I shook my head firmly. “I’m not ready to leave this room. Maybe never again.”
Julie chuckled and nodded. She sank back down into bed and closed her eyes again. I rolled over and grabbed the phone off the bedside table. As I dialed for room service, I could hear Julie’s soft moans of pain. We were both miserable, but there was a note of happiness buried beneath the misery.
After I ordered the food, I lowered myself back down beneath the covers. Julie rolled toward me and buried her face in my chest, her eyes still squeezed tightly closed.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“About what?” Julie asked.
“Your hangover,” I said.
Julie just laughed and nestled closer to me. She smelled like alcohol and perfume, the perfect scent for the morning after an amazing night.
“Last night was perfect,” Julie said. “The hangover is just a reminder of that.”
“Perfect?” I teased.
“Don’t you think so?” she asked.
She sat up just enough to look into my eyes. I grinned and pulled her in for a kiss, melting into her soft lips. Even with our heads pounding and our stomachs aching, I still felt that familiar surge of need when her lips danced against mine.
“It was more than perfect,” I said softly. Julie grinned and laid her head down on my chest.
I wrapped my arms around her and closed my eyes, letting her presence relax my aching body. The food would arrive soon, but I didn’t care. All I wanted to do was hold Julie and let the rest of the world disappear.
It had been years since I felt so deeply for a woman. After what happened with my ex, I put relationships on the back burner and focused almost entirely on work. I never saw the point of committing to someone again. Then I met Julie, and everything changed.
“I really didn’t expect to have fun last night,” Julie admitted with a laugh.
“What? Why not?”
Julie shrugged. “It was a company party. Business. I just assumed it would be boring.”
“Oh, ye of little faith,” I teased.
“Seriously,” Julie said. “It was amazing. You threw a great party. Everyone had such a great time.”
“Especially me.” I kissed her forehead. “My clients loved you.”
“I don’t know about that,” Julie said.