Page 44 of Moonlighter

My thoughts exactly. If I had thoughts.

We’re still tangled up together, her knees clenched around my sides. Those high heels are gone, though, flung off at some point during the frenzy.

“You okay?” I pant, knowing that I should roll over. But I’m too spent to move yet. I feel a little stunned.

She takes a deep breath and lets it out. “I’m…wow.”

I guess that’s not a complaint. With a final groan, I roll off of her and then collapse onto the bed beside her. But it feels wrong to be separated from her just yet, so I gather her into my arms. Her face rests against my shoulder, and I can feel the wild rhythm of her heartbeat against mine as I close my eyes.

“Obviously, I’ve been spending time with the wrong men,” she babbles. “That was educational.”

“Educational,” I murmur. I guess it was. Although my brain has melted, and I’m not tracking the conversation very well. I honestly never expected this to happen. I didn’t even want to come to Hawaii.

But it’s been a long time since I’ve felt such a powerful attraction to anyone. I am shook.

“Now the awkwardness sets in,” Alex murmurs. “Right?”

I run a hand down the smooth skin of her rib cage. “I think it can wait until at least tomorrow.” Sex never makes me feel awkward. Life is too short, and I’m too full of dopamine or whatever natural drug it is that makes me feel like I’ve won the national championship of sex. There isn’t even a condom to throw away. I’m living my best life right now.

We lie together for a long time, and it’s nice. My occasional hookups are never this cozy. Alex is stroking the arch of my foot with her own foot. My nose is buried in her hair.

It’s…sweet. Or something. And I don’t have to wonder how soon I can leave. I only have to wonder how soon we can do it again.

Because we are definitely doing that again.

Eventually she stirs and rolls over, and I sit up reluctantly. “Do you want anything from the fridge?”

She smiles at me. “A sip of your beer. I stocked it for you.”

“That was nice.” I can’t resist running a hand through her hair.

“Someone should be able to drink beer. And I can have a sip.”

“Just a sip? Want me to pour you a little bit?”

She shakes her head. “I’m willing to make all kinds of bad decisions for me. But none for the baby. I’ll take a can of seltzer water.”

“Sure thing.” I swing my legs off the side of the bed, then walk naked toward the bedroom door.

“Eric!” Alex’s voice is full of alarm.

“Yes?” I pause at the doorway.

She tugs the sheet up to cover her boobs. “Put on some shorts.”

“Why?” I look down. My body rocks. It’s just the truth. “Why would I cover up all this awesomeness?”

She looks pained. “Because of the pillow cam.”

“Oh, fuck.”

“Right. We already did. And when you carried me through the living room while I mauled you, that was the fairly obvious outcome.”

“Huh.” I pause in the doorway. “Maybe I shouldn’t appear on camera for another half an hour, just to impress the security team with my stamina.”

“Eric!” Alex grabs one of the bed pillows and hurls it at me.

I catch it, laughing. “Relax, okay? Nobody noticed. There’s just some agent in a room full of monitors somewhere. They probably only check the video if there’s an issue.”