Page 9 of Trusting the Fall
It’s almost like he was playing more on an intellectual level that matches me rather than being driven by his carnal need to come in a hot and willing body. I don’t need guys thinking they’re getting anything more than that kind of connection, though.
As the product of an affair, I never held much weight to relationships or the sincerity of a man’s words. But this guy, something about the way he’s hard and soft, gives me a sense of comfort I’m not prepared for.
“I hope I see you there again,” he says, confident and daring almost.
I have so much going on over the next few weeks with my salon, I don’t know if I want to work in a benefits situation, especially when I get the vibe from this guy that he doesn’t stay casual for long. But I can’t deny I wouldn’t mind another round with him.
I nod anyway, standing up on my tiptoes, pulling his lips down to mine and sealing our unspoken promise with a kiss.
The way his arms band around me tighter makes me whimper, but the sounds of Lex banging and clanging away in the kitchen pull me out of the spell.
I step back and turn the doorknob behind him, ushering him out with a smile.
He winks as he walks backward down the pebbled drive of our little beach cottage. The salty air coursing over from the ocean behind our house makes his blond hair ruffle. I already made a mess of it from running my fingers through it all night, and the wind dances within that fun like a gentle reminder.
I don’t think I’ve been with a blond guy before. Give me tall, dark and rugged any day. But this lover boy, with his blond hair, blue eyes and quiet sexual power, he’s onto something. Maybe I need to look for more blonds.
I feel a mental slap across the back of my head.Don’t be stupid, Claire.Last night was all because of that guy. There was something abouthim.
I shake my head, laughing to myself as I close the front door and join Lex in the kitchen.
“Good night?” she asks as I prop myself up on one of the kitchen stools.
“It certainly was.” I grin. “But that’s not unusual for me. Let’s talk about your night.” I can see the sparkle leave her eyes at my question.
“He didn’t stay.”
My eyes widen at the confession. “You didn’t sleep together?”
“No, we did,” she says with a sigh.
She grabs a glass tumbler from the overhead cupboards and fills it with ice and oat milk.
The coffee machine shrieks and sputters. Lex takes one finished mug and pours it into her iced concoction, then centres my mug back under the filter for a second shot.
“He came back. We did things, but he must have left when I was sleeping.”
She pops a metal straw into her cup and gives it a stir before reaching back for my finished brew. Double shot espresso, come to mama.
“Honey, that’s okay. Just because you sleep together doesn’t mean he’s sleeping over. Most guys will hightail it before they’ve even finished buttoning back up.” I try to reassure her.
“And when they’re like your gentleman caller?” she probes, arching an eyebrow. “In dire need of reinforcements to extract himself from your neck long enough he can actually get a foot out the door?”
Her words are light, curious, but I can sense a touch of envy.
My cheeks fill with warmth at the reminder of what my night entailed, and I hum in response.
“He was a rare exception.” I take a sip of my coffee, desperately needing the injection of life, and hiss when it scalds my tongue. “That Viking beast was made of all my dreams. I had to take full advantage of the goods while they were on offer.” I shimmy my shoulders and give myself a mental high five.
It really wasn’t that hard to convince him to stick around for more. He could barely keep his hands off me, let alone his lips, tongue, and teeth.
“Will you see him again?”
“I said I might see him around at The Wayside.” I shrug. “That way he knows where to find me if he wants another round, but I haven’t outright committed to anything more than another good roll in the sheets.” The way we left things, though, felt entirely different. “You could always see your beau again if you came back with me,” I say, trying to perk her up.
“What do you mean?”
“His brother’s the owner.”
