“I’m very comfortable.” She presses her hands against my chest and pushes up. Her smile is lazy and sexy and hot. “And I may consider moving. KT told me about multiple orgasms for guys. Is that a thing?”
“I have no idea.” I’ve never stayed long enough to find out if it was possible.
“Really?” she says. “There’s something you haven’t done?”
“I guess so.”
“Then, yeah, if you’re game, I’m going to need to move.”
I reach up and cup her cheek. “I’m definitely game.”
11
Chloe
I rush to close up the room I’m using for yoga and meditation and follow the other women toward the marina. I left Xavier sleeping and can’t wait to slide into bed beside him and wake him in a way he won’t ever forget.
I’d never admit this to another soul, but knowing that olive-skinned, muscle-bound, sexy man is tangled in my white sheets makes me giddy.
God, what a night. The most amazing night of sex in my entire life. He most definitely swept me away. Xavier isn’t just good in bed, he’s sheet-fisting, toe-curling, back-arching, sweat-inducing phenomenal. He’s also surprisingly deep and sweet and open, not to mention playful and funny. I spent the night either moaning or laughing. I’d be lying if I said nothing more than sex happened between us over the last eight hours. I felt the shift in my soul. I saw the same transformation in his eyes.
I turn onto my dock feeling young and loose and inspired and hopeful and giddy. I make my way to the bedroom, alre
ady anticipating the feel of his strong warm body against mine. I turn into the bedroom and—stop short.
He’s gone.
I stare at the empty, unmade bed, completely confused. Look at the back deck and find his clothes gone. A knife turns in my gut. But I hold out hope and turn back to the living room to scour the futon, only to find his uniform shirt and equipment also gone.
Pain seeps through my misguided glee. A sudden rush of disappointment, disillusionment, dejection. Tears prick my eyes. My breathing hitches.
He told me he wasn’t working today. Said he was taking Piper to the gun range later, then working for a few hours on the little fixer-upper he’s flipping in town.
I scan my mind for a legitimate reason for him to be gone so early, to have him leave while I was gone. But I can’t think of one—last night was still just sex for him, even after swearing it was so much more. And I can’t really be mad, because I was the one who set up the just-sex rule.
I’m helpless against the flood of self-recrimination that comes. I sink to the edge of my mattress. “Fuck,” I whisper, pressing my palms to my eyes. “I’m so stupid.”
Why did I ever think his more-than-friends feelings for me were real? How could I have trusted all the sweet things he said to me in the dark? He’s a fucking player. Of all people, I know better.
The tap of the screen door touches my ear, then movement. I look up and find Xavier in the doorway, a brown bag in one hand, a large cup of to-go coffee in the other. He’s still wearing his uniform pants and white tee from last night.
“Damn. I was trying to get back here before you finished—” He cocks his head. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I lie, forcing a smile. Fuck me to hell and back, he didn’t bail, and here I was thinking the worst. “I’m good. Where did you go?”
“Sweet Tarts.” He’s grinning, happy and proud as he sits beside me. “And I had to stop by the house because I’ve got an electrician coming today.”
He puts the bag and coffee at his feet, then pulls something from his pocket and a donut from the bag. He sticks a single candle in the donut, fishes something else from his pocket, and flicks a lighter, lighting the candle, then he offers it to me with a heart-melting smile. “Happy birthday, beautiful.”
My jaw unhinges. A vise tightens around my chest. Tears burn my eyes. “Oh my God. I forgot.”
“You forgot your own birthday?”
“I did.” It’s Laiyla’s birthday and KT’s birthday too. I already have gifts for them, I just didn’t remember today was that day. I was way too preoccupied with Xavier.
“It’s your favorite—jelly filled,” he says, inching the donut closer. “Barbara was there, and I told her it was your birthday, so she filled one special for you—half raspberry, half lemon.”
My favorites.