Page 47

I am officially ruined.

My body is wrung out with pleasure and exhaustion. Julien’s head nestles into me, and we breathe heavily as we come down from our orgasms. Four. He got four orgasms out of me. Though he’s still holding himself up, he presses some of his body weight into me.

Holy shit.

I didn’t realize sex could be this explosive, and I will no longer make fun of or roll my eyes at Adam and Paige.

All thoughts of my sister vanish because at this moment, it’s just me and Julien.

“I don’t want to leave.” His muffled voice caresses my neck, tickling me. He plants soft kisses where my neck meets my shoulders. I feel a small spark of desire but my body is so exhausted it dies quickly, my eyelids drooping closed.

“I don’t want you to either, but I also don’t want to fall asleep underneath you.”

He moves immediately, scanning my sleepy face. There’s worry and satisfaction there .

“Did I sex you into a coma?” he asks, teasing, nipping at my swollen lips.

“Sure, if that helps you sleep,” I tease back.

Easing out of me with a forlorn look, he shoots me a promising smile.

I watch his length, still semi-hard as he leaves me. He wasn’t kidding. When I first saw him, I had serious concerns he wouldn’t fit, and I’m probably going to be sore tomorrow. One hundred percent worth it.

“Stay here,” he says, kissing my forehead. I reach down to cup my opening, not wanting to make a mess on the bed.

“I have to—”

“Just stay here.” And then he’s gone, turning to head into the bathroom, giving me a perfect view of his ass. I was right, it’s deliciously biteable.

He’s back a moment later with a washcloth. It’s warm as he swats my hand away. I watch his face as he concentrates on what he’s doing, wiping and soothing me. He cleans me up before placing a few kisses at my opening, soft and reverent.

There’s no other way to put it. I feel downright worshipped. The way he treated my body? Who knew I’d ever be glad to have this many scars. All my self-consciousness evaporated as he took his time, learning each and every one.

Who is this man?

He finishes and heads back to the bathroom. When I get up to follow him, he turns and frowns at me .

I roll my eyes. “That was seriously sweet,” I say, reaching up to kiss his cheek, “but I still have to pee.”

He smiles and relaxes, giving me some privacy. My head and heart are spiralling, still exhausted from the race and the pleasure my body went through. I clean myself up but I can’t move, slumping over to rest my elbows on my knees as if I’m boneless. I honestly don’t know how long I sit like that. I guess a half marathon and four orgasms will do that. Plus, since Julien left me, there are definitely no more bones in my body.

I chuckle to myself at my own joke as I feel the heaviness of the day seize my body.

A soft knock on the door.

Julien’s voice.

Warm arms wrapping around me.

A comfy bed that smells of home.

“Stay,” I whisper.

A kiss on my head.

Sleep.

The sun shines through a gap in the curtains as my alarm blasts through my phone. Groaning, I turn over to shut the annoying thing off, momentarily disoriented. Why is my body so heavy? Why am I so sore?

Yesterday comes rushing back. The race. The sex.

Julien.

My hand flies out, reaching for him, only to find cold sheets.

I flop back into the bed as a wave of emotion rolls through me, tears pricking my eyes. He didn’t stay. I guess that’s fair. I didn’t stay when he asked.

I swallow the lump in my throat and reach over to grab my phone. There’s a reminder that my flight leaves today, two missed calls and two texts from Paige, a text from Maggie, and a text from Julien.

Paige

you alive over there?

never mind, I came to your door and didn’t want to interrupt *winking*

Maggie

I’m so proud of you!

we’re all good here! Your little man is excited to see you but he’s been great all weekend!

Julien

I wanted you to get rest and if I stayed, I would’ ve kept you up all night

The disappointment lingers but his text makes me smile. Leave it to Julien to piss me off and then be sweet as pie about it. And I hate that he was kind of right. I needed rest and would’ve happily stayed up all night being ravished.

As it is, my body feels tight and sore. I move languidly out of bed, searching for my clothes when a loud knock reverberates through my head. Apparently I have a headache as well.

My heart rate picks up, anticipation bubbling to the surface as I wrap myself in a white sheet from the bed and make my way to the door. I’m stiff too.

I’m kind of hoping it’s Paige so she can give me another massage. I can think of someone else’s hands I’d rather have all over me though.

Not bothering to check what I look like in the mirror or glance through the peephole, I wrench the door open.

My heart sinks.

“Good morning, ma’am,” an exuberant hotel staff member says in greeting. She has a tray of food balanced in her hands. The smell of bacon and something sweet wafts towards me followed by the smell of coffee. Oh, that smells good.

“I didn’t order anything.” My stomach berates me for not accepting the food. But someone else is going to be missing their breakfast.

The woman leans back to check the door.

“This is room 456—waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns. Large French vanilla coffee.” She prattles off the order like it’s a grocery list .

I open the door and let her in, watching with confusion as she sets it out on the small table in the corner. She gives me a big smile and then she’s on her way, shutting the door behind her with a click.

It’s too loud in the room and I’m overwhelmed with hunger and loneliness. Only one of those problems can be solved right now, so I sit down and enjoy the hot meal, letting it settle in my stomach. The coffee is rich and creamy, bringing life to my mind and body.

Paige

thanks for sending breakfast

what?

didn’t you send me breakfast?

nope, we’re heading down to the buffet now

enjoy!

maybe your man friend ordered it for you guys while you were sleeping

he didn’t stay

um, excuse me?

it’s fine, he wanted me to get sleep

bullshit, not fine!

no really, it’s okay

if you say so…

I finish wolfing down my food and then begin to pack. I would’ve done it last night, but I was a little preoccupied. There’s another knock on my door and I laugh to myself. Leave it to Paige to come storming to my room to talk about this in person.

“I told you it’s—” The last word dies on my tongue.

Julien stands there looking like he just walked out of a magazine for the lounge edition of Big & Tall. Grey sweatpants hang low on his hips and a crisp white shirt—one I would definitely spill something on if I was wearing it—hugs his muscles.

It’s then I realize it’s the first time I’ve seen him in a T-shirt. The tattoos on his arm are stark against the white fabric. I’m mesmerized by them. I didn’t have time last night to explore them the way I wanted to.

“Hi,” he says, his voice hoarse.

“Hi.”

His eyes rake over my body, still naked and wrapped in the sheet. I’d been way too hungry to get dressed first, and now I’m regretting it. I feel unbalanced standing here dishevelled while he looks like ... all that.

“Can I come in?” he asks .

Is it just me, or is he hesitating? His face gives nothing away, but I step aside and let him into the room.

“Give me a second,” I say and dash to the bathroom before he can stop me. I throw on a pair of loose, wide-legged pants and a matching pink cropped tank top. I brush my teeth so vigorously I’m surprised my gums don’t bleed. Within two minutes, I’m back out in the room and am rewarded with Julien’s hungry gaze.

I forgot to put on a bra. Or underwear.

“You didn’t have to get dressed on my account,” he jokes. Jokes.

I cannot wrap my head around this man quite as well as I can wrap my body around him. And even that was a feat.

“You left,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm.

His face falls a little. “Didn’t you get my text?”

“I did.”

“I wanted to stay.”

“You should have.” The hurt of waking up alone hits me again.

He takes a step towards me, his hand twitching at his side like he wants to reach for me but doesn’t.

“I couldn’t.” His voice is low and gruff, pleading, heat building between us.

“You’re telling me that you, a grown-ass man, wouldn’t have been able to control yourself?” I let the accusation fly. I’m surprised when it doesn’t have the intended effect.

He smiles a devastating smile. “Yes.”

The mood shifts and I feel it in the air. The heat builds between us and now that I’m satiated with food, I’m a different kind of hungry. My sore body comes to life, desperate for him to touch me. I close the distance between us, resting my hands against his chest.

“I wouldn’t have complained,” I whisper.

His eyes darken, his rough hands bracing on my upper arms.

“You needed sleep more than you needed—”

“Your cock?” I finish for him.

He narrows his eyes. “Evil woman.”

“Jackass.”

Our lips are a breath apart, anticipation curling my bare toes.

A loud knock interrupts the moment. I startle, but Julien’s strong hands keep me close. He rests his forehead against mine, breathes me in for a minute, and then goes to open my door.

I stand there, breathless, my bones jelly.

“Oh, hey, Jules, I didn’t realize you’d be here.” It’s Paige. Of course it’s Paige.

“Good morning,” he says but doesn’t move out of her way.

“Uh, is Leah in there? I’m surprised you’re still standing.”

His shoulders tense, the muscles in his back rippling under his tight shirt. Yum.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I thought she would’ve taken your balls for ditching her last night.”

Damn, she doesn’t pull any punches. I roll my eyes, walking over to save Julien from my sister. There’s sadness in his eyes.

“I didn’t—”

“I know.”

Paige’s head bounces between us. “Okay, I love how cute the two of you are, even though I’m wondering if chugging bleach will help erase the sound of my sister screaming.”

“Did you come here for something specific?” I ask her, rolling my eyes. She looks at me like I’ve grown a second head.

“The cars are here to take us to the airport.”

“Already?” The morning whizzed by. I feel so disoriented.

“Did your multiple orgasms knock something loose in your brain? Where’s my Type A, everything-planned-to-the-second sister?” She laughs and turns to Julien, whose neck and face have flushed.

He’s blushing. My heart is a pile of goo in my chest. I’m so done for.

“Alright, we’ll be right down.”

Paige pins me with a look and I have to roll my eyes. What a role reversal— her lecturing me . Then she’s off and it’s just the two of us.

“I better go get my bag.” He sounds different. I wish he would talk to me about whatever he’s feeling. Although, it’s not like I’ve been forthcoming with mine. He didn’t stay last night, which reminds me he could leave. For real. Forever.

He’s almost to the door, but my heart can’t take it.

“Julien, wait.”

He turns and catches me when I launch myself at him, my hands twisting in his hair as I kiss him with as much passion as I can in the few seconds we have.

When we break apart, we’re both breathing heavily. “Thank you for breakfast,” I whisper, stepping out of his hold. He’s as torn as I am. I feel it all over.

This man has torn me up inside.

But he’s being responsible, so he steps away and leaves. I don’t even think I would’ve minded missing my flight.