“No,” I said, looking up at him and smiling.
Gerald turned on the T.V. and flipped it until he found a movie that we both said we hadn’t seen yet. Then he placed the red throw over our bodies. He played with my hair and rubbed my back while we watched the movie.
How could I feel so much contentment and warmth from a stranger? Gerald had just come into my life and I already felt like we had known each other for quite some time. I had never experienced anything like it. And, it wasn’t just a sexual comfort. It was more than that. I just hoped I’d be able to keep myself together when it all ended at the end of the day.
CHAPTER NINE
“Kaylee,” Gerald whispered. “Kaylee.”
“Hmm?” I asked sleepily, snuggling closer to him.
“You fell asleep,” he chuckled softly.
His words had me shooting up into a sitting position. I looked around the room. Even through the blinds, I could tell it was dark outside.
I turned to Gerald, and gave him an apologetic smile.
“I am sooo sorry, Gerald,” I sighed. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep. Let me gather my stuff and I’ll head out.”
“Head out?” he frowned.
“Isn’t that why… Isn’t that why you woke me up?” I whispered. He shook his head.
“No,” he shook his head again. “Your phone keeps going off and I didn’t want you to miss an important message.”
“Oh.” I looked in the direction of where my purse was in the kitchen. “It’s probably one of the girls.”
When I had left this morning, they knew I was headed to the surrogacy agency. I told them I’d be back right after that. And here I was, hours later, at Gerald’s house. If I didn’t get in touch with them, they’d probably have a search team out looking for me.
“Guess I better see what’s going on?” I sighed, and folded the throw.
“You don’t have to do that.” Gerald tried taking the throw from me. I held it out of his reach and grinned.
“Naughty, girl,” Gerald laughed. “Go check your phone and then come back to me.” He kissed my bare shoulder, sending a shiver up my spine.
Even without his kiss, his words made me melt. I knew they weren’t meant romantically, but I couldn’t help but take them that way.
“Be right back,” I smiled and then stood up.
Smack!
I let out a yelp when he spanked me. I turned and looked down at him. He grinned.
“That’s for being naughty and doing what I told you not to,” he said, pointing at the throw. I bit my bottom lip and then scurried off to the kitchen. Behind me, I could hear Gerald laughing.
I dug my phone out of my purse. As expected, it was the girls.
“Everything okay?” Gerald called out from the living room.
“Yes!” I called out over my shoulder and then looked back at my phone. I sighed heavily before selecting the group chat and sending out a group text:
Sorry to make you all worry. I’m alive. I’m okay. I’ll message you when I’m on my way home. Don’t send out the search party! (smiley face)
After hitting send, I stared at the screen. It would be a matter of seconds before one of them would reply. As soon as I received a text, I put my phone back into my purse and walked back into the living room.
Gerald was sitting on the edge of the couch. He turned his head and looked at me as I walked over to the couch.
“Beautiful,” he smiled.
