Abel (5th Street 4)

He waited to see if she’d protest in any way about his presumptuous admission. “You sure no one will catch wind of it?” she asked, staring at his lips.

Abel couldn’t help smiling. “I honestly don’t give a shit for my sake. I just want to avoid your life being turned into a circus.” Feeling his smile wane a bit, he added, “For as long as I can anyway.”

Lifting her gaze from his lips to his eyes, she stared at him momentarily without saying a word. He wanted her to get that this thing they had wasn’t going away anytime soon. And while he kept reminding himself that he’d already tasted firsthand his reaction to knowing she might still be living it up with other guys, getting her to change her mind about that eventually might be easier than pulling back now. Because with every moment he spent with her now, the likelihood of that happening was beginning to feel impossible.

The anxiety mounted as he waited for a response to his last comment. Would she remind him again of the unspoken rules? Point out that he was starting to sound as if he might be breaking them? Already he’d asked her about her ex more than once. He’d even taken it a step further by asking if she was seriously thinking of never remarrying. She, of course, reaffirmed her desire to make up for what she’d missed out on when she’d been tied down to one guy the first time. What had been the most galling was that serious relationships were not on her to-do list.

“Don’t worry about me.” She smiled, easing his anxiety a bit. “I’ve had my share of the press, and I think I can handle them.” The elevator came to a stop, and she began pulling away from his embrace. “But I know how private you are and how much you’d prefer to stay out of the headlines, so I think it’s best if we’re careful.”

She started out the elevator doors as soon as they opened, leaving him wondering one thing. “But you’re still staying in my room, right?”

Glancing back at him as she pulled her luggage along behind her, she winked. “Try and keep me out.”

The huge and very relieved smile was instantly plastered on Abel’s face. Then it hit him. “You had your share of the press?” He asked as he took her in from behind. He’d told her to dress comfortably since it was a redeye, and she hadn’t disappointed, wearing a very short pair of denim shorts. He somehow got the feeling she hadn’t worn them when she was married to her idiot ex-husband.

She turned to him just as they got to the door of one of their rooms. “It’s more about my ex, and I’m done talking about him for today. Maybe another time I’ll tell you about it.”

“Good enough,” Abel said, slipping his key in the door.

He was done talking about her ex too. There were obviously not so much as kindling embers left on that torch. The moron had snuffed that out for good. That’s all that mattered to Abel anyway. He had better things he wanted to do with his tongue now than stand there and talk about that ass**le. He opened the door and held it open for her, already excited about the night ahead of him.

***

It was nice to sleep in for once. Abel thought about the last time he had with a smile. He’d woken up next to Nellie then too. He could certainly get used to long exhausting nights. He could also get used to waking up next to Nellie. At least he had the next two mornings to do just that. The memory of Nellie jumping out of bed to answer Logan’s call the last time he woke next to her killed his smile.

They had a free day today since his run wasn’t until tomorrow, and he was determined to show her a good time. He’d tell her so as soon as she was back from the bathroom. If she was so hell bent on making up for lost time, maybe he could help her do just that. She wanted to experience all kinds of exciting things? No reason why he couldn’t give her a hand there, starting today. Maybe that would be enough for her. I have no one to answer to now, and I’m taking full advantage. He didn’t even realize he’d been gnashing his teeth until he heard the shower turn on.

Jumping out of bed, he thought about her comment last night. He’d make an extra effort to not make her feel tied down. Even though his suggesting that she stay in his room wasn’t exactly freeing, she’d accepted happily. She could’ve told him she’d prefer her own room, but she agreed to spend the night in his. And yet here she was already starting up the shower in his room when she could’ve easily said she’d go back to hers for that.

He felt even better about it when he saw she’d left the bathroom door half open. If that wasn’t an invitation, he didn’t know what was. He wasn’t even in the door yet, and he was already at full attention.

“Want some company in there?” He paraded his naked ass shamelessly in the already fogging bathroom.

“Absolutely,” she murmured with what he’d normally refer to as a sexy smile, but on Nellie it was beautiful. “This shower was made for two.” She motioned to the second shower head.

Abel glanced at it, but his eyes went immediately back to her. The more he was around her, the more he thought she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever laid eyes on. Even with her hair soaking wet and not an ounce of makeup on, she was absolutely beautiful. It still staggered him that it’d taken him this long to notice.

As soon as he was in the shower with her, his hands were all over her wet body, and he kissed her softly. “You,” he said, kissing her bottom lip softly. “Are so,” he brought his hands up to her face, cradling it as he kissed her again, “fucking beautiful.”