Rock Bottom (Dawson Family 6)

From the moment I met her—even when I thought she was Blaire—I knew there was something about her.

Something different.

Something I couldn’t get out of my head.

I don’t want to lose her. It wasn’t a lie: I do like what we have. Rory is smart. Funny. Sassy and sarcastic at times, but ultimately sweet and caring. She’s not afraid to be herself and we just get each other. Being around her feels natural. I spent the last year trying to fill a void that’s been there all along, before the divorce, before my marriage started to crumble at my feet.

The moment my eyes met Rory’s the wind didn’t echo painfully through the hole in my chest. It’s not the first time I’ve felt like this, but with Rory, it’s different somehow.

And it scares the shit out of me. I haven’t known Rory for that long. I can’t be falling in love with her already.

But, fuck, I know I am.

I should have told her the truth. I have feelings for her and it’s scaring the fuck out of me.

I sink down on the pullout bed and bring my head to my hand, rubbing my forehead as I look at the closed doors of the bedroom. It’s late, and Rory went right to bed since she has to be up early in the morning to catch her flight.

It’s not too late to tell her how I feel. To put it all out there on the line. She’ll either take me or leave me, but I’ll know one way or another. Yet…fuck. I let out a heavy sigh and get up, stripping down to my boxers. I brush my teeth and gather up some of my stuff and shove it in my suitcase.

I pace over to the closed bedroom doors and pause outside, listening. Everything is quiet, but that doesn’t mean she’s asleep.

“Rory,” I call quietly, hoping to hear her stir and get out of bed. “Rory,” I try again. I wait a beat and put my hand on the doorknob, slowly twisting it. If she is sleeping, I don’t want to wake her up. I inch the door open and peer inside the room. She left the bathroom light on, with the door cracked to let in a little light. The balcony doors are open as well, and the crashing of the waves echoes through the room.

She’s snuggled up in bed, with a pink unicorn sleep mask on her face.

“Rory?” I whisper. “You awake?” She’s laying on her back, with one arm up on the pillow above her head, and doesn’t move. “Night, Rory.” I step back, silently closing the door, and go into the living room. I get into bed, throwing my head back into the pillows.

It’ll be a fucking miracle if I can fall asleep tonight.“Shit!”

My eyes flutter open at the sound of something clanging to the floor. Rory is rushing around the room, and in her haste, knocked a metal vase over.

“You okay?” I ask, sitting up. I didn’t fall asleep until the sun was creeping up on the horizon.

“No,” she says, sounding panicked. “My alarm didn’t go off and I need to be at the airport like now.”

“Oh, fuck.” I spring out of bed, and Rory pauses, flicking her eyes up and down my body. Then she shakes her head. “I’m so flustered and can’t find my wallet.”

“You put it on the counter,” I remind her, pointing to the kitchen area. “So you wouldn’t forget it.”

“Thank you.” She grabs it and spins around. “I feel like I forgot something.”

“If you did, I’ll find it. It’s not like I’ll never see you again.” I take a few steps toward her. “In fact…”

“Fuck. My Uber is here already.”

“Go. I’ll check the room and make sure you got everything,” I assure her.

“Okay, thank you.” She shoves her wallet into her carryon bag and hikes it over her shoulder. Time is of the essence here, and I can’t blurt out everything I was thinking last night.

But I can’t let her leave like this.

“Rory,” I say, hurrying over. She stops at the door and whirls around. She’s stressed about missing her flight, and I don’t want to add to it. So instead of wasting time with words, I cup her face in both my hands and kiss her. She lets her bag fall to the floor. I push her up against the wall, and deepen the kiss, pushing my tongue into her mouth. She hooks her arms around my neck, and my cock jumps when she presses her hips into mine.

“You…don’t want to…miss your…flight,” I say between kisses. Holding Rory in my arms like this is the best fucking feeling in the world.

“Right,” she pants and rakes her nails down my back. “I…should…go.”

I put my mouth to her neck and bring one hand up, balling up the hem of her dress. Her phone vibrates, and she groans, pulling away only to give back in. We kiss again and I muster every ounce of control I have to stop kissing her. I rest my forehead against hers.