“Let them hear.”
He slams into me deeper still, and the friction at the base applies pressure on my clit, sending an electrifying jolt through me.
“So close,” I murmur, digging my nails deeper in his skin. When I feel him widening inside me, I know I’ll tumble over the edge in seconds. “I’m gonna—oh!”
Blinking my eyes open, I want to focus on his beautiful face. I want to see what he looks like when he’s on the cusp of pleasure, but his edges blur, the room behind him a mass of indistinguishable colors. As pleasure ripples across my skin, he covers my mouth, claiming my cry of pleasure while giving me his.
We stay entwined for what feels like hours, regaining our breath and our composure.
Chapter Fifteen
Alice
The next morning I wake up with a jolt and instinctively cross an arm over my face. Drawing in a deep breath, I can’t detect one single whiff of lavender in the air. Seconds later, I remember I’m not in my bedroom. I’m in a hotel with Nate. With my eyes still closed, I pat the bed beside me. It’s empty and cold. Maybe Nate’s sleeping at the edge of the bed. I blink, peering to my right. Nope, he’s not here. My heart rate picks up as I push myself into a sitting position, glancing around the room. There’s no sign of him. My clothes are in a messy pile by the couch, but his are nowhere to be seen. Still, I’m persistent.
“Nate?” I call loudly, then add in a smaller voice that sounds like a whimper, “Are you in the bathroom?”
I receive no answer, and there is no sound of water running from the bathroom. My throat closes up and I bite into my bottom lip. Then I shake my head, pushing a hand through my hair. I’m being very unreasonable. Maybe he had to meet with his team again and he left early. I don’t remember him saying anything yesterday, but that’s not saying much since I was out of sorts over Daniel. It’s possible I just tuned out that particular bit of information.
Pushing myself out of the bed, I head to my bag, which is next to the couch. My phone is in it, and I need to check the time. It must be before eight thirty, because I set the alarm for then. Daniel will arrive at nine.
It’s eight fifteen. I play with my phone for a few seconds, looking over the message icon, which isn’t showing any new messages. Then I shove it back in the bag and walk straight into the shower, leaping under the warm spray and spreading soap on my body with vigorous moves.
Even as I try to keep calm and reasonable, a small voice at the back of my mind teases me. Stupid, stupid Alice. Why do you keep hoping?
Well, if he thinks he can hurt me and get away with it, he has another think coming. I’ll hide my heartbreak under vengeful tactics.
By the time I turn off the water and step outside the shower, I’ve brainstormed about ten different ways to get back at him. That’s when I hear someone singing in the other room, then abruptly stopping.
“If you don’t hurry, your coffee will be cold,” Nate calls.
My heart soars and I slap my forehead. Oh my God. I have to dial down the crazy a notch… or a thousand.
Wrapping the towel around me, I tiptoe back into the room, hoping he can’t guess all my previous thoughts of revenge and whatnot. I shouldn’t have worried because my relief that he didn’t take off manifests in a grin so out of control, I suspect he might think I’m nuts. Which, in all honesty, I am.
“I bought turkey sandwiches, hummus and falafel wraps, a salmon wrap, and a salad. Didn’t know what you like in the morning.” He points to a plastic bag on the table full of sandwiches. Sitting on the couch, he takes a hearty bite from his wrap.
“What’s in yours?” I ask.
“Beef.”
“Then that’s what I want.”
He sets his jaw, shaking his head and muttering “Women.” With one regretful look at his wrap, he stretches his hand out. “Take it before I change my mind.”
Aaaand butterflies explode in my stomach, making my heart soar even more. “You don’t like to share food. You’ve never liked it.”
“I’ll have to learn if I want to coexist with you. I forgot your favorite pastime is stealing people’s food.”
“Not anyone’s food. I just steal food from people I like.”
“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
I nod with conviction, then let him off the hook.
“Keep it. Next time buy me whatever you’re having. I’ll eat the turkey sandwich.”
Filled with too much energy to sit down, I double-check if my towel is safely fastened over my boobs, then grab the wrap with one hand, the coffee cup with the other. I realize I’m drinking from a plastic take-out cup. And the sandwiches were in a plastic bag. I’m really slow this morning.