Page 37 of His to Love
After arriving at the hotel, I gave my thanks to Johan and the valet before heading straight to my room and stripping off my fancy dress and heels. I threw on a tank top, washed my face, and brushed my teeth while my lethargy increased with every moment. By the time I finally collapsed into my bed, intent on falling asleep immediately, I was barely conscious when my phone on the nightstand began vibrating.
“Hello?” I asked, my voice already sounding tired.
“Did I wake you?”
My lips stretched wide as I recognized Tyson’s voice. “No,” I said, quickly sitting up in bed and adjusting the pillows behind my back. “I’m awake, just tired. How was your night?”
A deep sigh echoed through the phone, hitting my ears, and then doing funny things to my lower belly as it vibrated through me.
“Long,” he finally said and cleared his throat. “I’d give anything to be in that room with you right now, though. Are you in bed?”
“I am.” My tank top suddenly felt too hot for my skin. I imagined Tyson picturing me in the bed where he woke up that morning. The thought to invite him over flickered through my mind, but I pushed it away. It was too late. “What are you doing?”
He huffed. “Packing, actually. Which is a bunch of bullshit.”
“For what?”
“Business trip,” he said in a harsh tone, his frustration loud and clear.
“Want to tell me about it?” I asked. The heavy silence made me hesitate. “Or not,” I quickly said, and ran my hand through my hair.
“Wish I could,” he murmured, “but my cases are generally confidential. Do you know what I wish for more, though?”
“What?”
“That I was next to you, tasting you, and inside you. I haven’t thought of anything else since I left your room this morning.”
A delicious shiver rolled down my spine at his words…along with the mere thought of him doing what he suggested.
My thighs pressed together and I shifted in the bed.
“Wow,” I said, breathing out the word.
His chuckle vibrated through the line. “Sounds like you want that.”
I did. So much. I hummed my agreement—he’d left me speechless with just a thought. What would happen when he made good on that promise?
“How about I call you when I get back into town?”
“Sounds good,” I murmured, still thinking of how good it felt the other night when we were together in a way that was delicious…just not enough.
“Sleep well, Blue,” he whispered.
“Night, Tyson.”
I hung up the phone and slid under the covers. Then I fell asleep with a dreamy smile on my face and the memories of a boy who I used to love, and the man he’d become.
Chapter 9
The week slowly trudged by and I found myself falling into a mundane rhythm of waking up, getting dressed, heading to my parents’ house where I spent the day in the kitchen with Clarissa, and distractedly searching for jobs but barely finding anything I could apply for.
Throughout, I knew I was distracting myself from sending texts to Tyson or reaching out to call him. I didn’t. He had made it clear he was going out of town for work.
But unfortunately, I continued to be contacted by a man I was having a hard time ignoring. Flowers arrived at my hotel on Tuesday, courtesy of Malik. On Wednesday, he called to see if I would be his date to some sort of political fundraiser he was attending a week from Saturday.
Seeing as how my father had already told me about it and my presence was expected, I simply told Malik that I planned to attend but would be accompanying my father since my mother was unable to this year. Malik either didn’t catch on to my complete lack of interest in him, or he simply didn’t care. Perhaps he figured my opinions didn’t matter that much, and upon further reflection, that didn’t bother me at all.
Every interaction with Malik made me want to tell him, my father, and my mother to shove their matchmaking down their throats. Instead, I chose to wait until I could see Malik in person. He deserved that respect, even though none was being given to me.
