Zane
I prize my eyes open as my alarm alerts me that it’s morning. I’m groggier than usual, but there’s also a real lightness to my chest as well. It takes me a couple of moments to realize that’s because I have a beautiful woman curled up by my side. A woman so lovely that all I want to do is hold her, which is exactly what I did for most of the night. I did offer her a bed of her own to sleep in but thank goodness she didn’t want to be alone.
I slam the alarm off, not wanting it to wake up Nova. I’m pretty sure she needs this deep sleep.
Although, much as I want to lie here and watch her breathing deeply with that angelic look on her face, I can’t. For one, I do have to get to work, I have a lot on today, and for two, her mind might have second thoughts this morning. I know last night she was definitely in the mood, very much up for it. The haze of lust will be gone today and she might realize her mistake. After all, this is definitely wrong. She is still legally married right now, and I’m supposed to be her lawyer. Really, I should be freaking out much more than I am, but I think she will be worth it. I have a funny gut feeling that just allowing this to happen is the best thing that I did.
But, I don’t know if Nova will be on the same page quite yet, so I slide out from the sheets quietly so as not to disturb her and head out for a shower. I don’t want to wash off the smell of her that’s still sticking to my skin, but I won’t be able to concentrate if I can still inhale her all day long.
As the hot jets of water stream over me, I find myself humming, then singing. I’m not a shower singer normally, this is usually the time where I plan out my day, but today I want the day to just happen as it will. It doesn’t matter how much time I take to sort out every detail in my mind, there’s no guarantee it will happen as I want it anyway. Just look at yesterday, I certainly didn’t expect it to go as it did. I never thought that I would make a daring rescue for the beautiful damsel in distress, or that we’d end up in bed together. Of course, my mother’s warning still rings loud in my ear, but my instincts don’t feel like I have anything to worry. It’s going to be okay.
That confidence continues to flood me even as I step out of the shower and wrap a small towel around myself. My suit is hanging up in my bedroom, I always prepare it the night before. But today I will just have to put it on carefully so as not to wake her. I’d quite like Nova to stay asleep there all day long.
“Oh, sorry.” She turns from the corner out of my bedroom and bangs right into me. “I didn’t realize…”
Her eyes run up and down me, at first, she greedily drinks me in, but then her cheeks flame red. She’s embarrassed to be staring at me like I’m something that she wants to eat… even though I like it.
“Don’t worry, it’s my fault, I should have told you that I was coming…”
“It’s your house. You do whatever you need to do. I should be a bit more respectful.”
I grip onto her shoulders and fix her in place, staring right at her. I need her to hear what I have to say.
“Listen, you are welcome to stay here for as long as you want. I have plenty of room as you can see.”
“I don’t want to be a burden on you. I will try and sort something today. I’m sure I can find something…”
Her words tug at my heartstrings. I can’t bear the idea of her leaving, even to go to the charity.
“No, you’re right. You need to keep safe and I can keep you safe, I promise you. Jeremy will never think to look here, there isn’t anything to connect me to you. Plus, I have a kick-ass security here.”
“It’s probably for the best,” she chuckles. “Since I still don’t have any shoes.”
“I will get you some shoes.” I nod decisively. “What size are you? I can pick some up after work for you.”
“No, I don’t want to owe you anything, and I don’t have any money to pay for anything.”
“Nova, I don’t want you to feel trapped here, and shoes are kind of important if you want to leave. What size are you? And what clothes size as well? You can pay me back when you’re on your feet.”
She nods, understanding that this is the only choice she has. “Both, size six. Thank you.”
“Great, well I hope I get you stuff you like, I don’t know how good I am with shopping…”
“Anything casual, that’s what I like. Thank you, Zane. To say thanks, I’ll make some coffee.”
“Causal, great, I can do that… I think. And black, one with sugar for me please.”
“Ooh, that’s just how I have it, so I won’t forget.”
We share a look and I feel something flowing between us. Feelings, lust, something more…
“Right, well you get dressed. I don’t want to make you late for work. Coffee will be done in a moment.”
She pushes past me and heads to the kitchen, leaving me with a giant grin on my face. I’m so glad that I can help Nova, really help her, she’s one person who truly needs some support. I know we are potentially headed into a dangerous area with what happened last night, but right now it’s a little secret just between us.
“I’m a fool,” I chuckle to myself. “A fool who’s about to really head into the fire.”
But I don’t mind, not at all. My gut is still telling me that this woman is worth it.