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My alarm goes off bright and early at five in the morning, and Travis doesn’t even budge.

You know what I really didn’t think through?

The fact that I agreed to live with this guy I’m seeing, my boyfriend , but I won’t get to wake up in his arms every morning—because this is pretty damn near perfection this morning. Instead, I’ll be across the house in some suite that’s all mine, which is lovely…but it’s not this . And we’ll be hiding our real feelings from the very smart, very observant little girl who will also be living with us.

Except Thursdays—if that’s still the plan to have her sleep over at Bella’s house when I’m living here too. If it is, I expect a whole lot of nudity on Thursdays once I’m home from work.

I force myself out of his arms and pad over to his bathroom. He left a towel out for me, and I get into the glass-encased shower. I’m rinsing shampoo out of my hair when I feel a rush of cold air, and then I’m no longer alone.

“What time do you need to leave to get to school?” he asks. He pulls me into his arms and presses a soft kiss to my forehead.

“Seven,” I say, a throb pulsing down low at the thought of another orgasm provided by Mr. Woods. “Ish.”

He chuckles, and then he reaches down and rubs slow circles over my clit.

“Wash yourself,” he says, his voice low and gravelly. “Don’t let me interrupt your routine. I just needed to touch this cunt one more time before you leave.”

“Oh God,” I moan as he pushes a finger inside me, and I lean back against the shower wall. It’s cold, but my body is so warm from what he’s doing that I don’t even care. He leans forward and sucks my nipple into his mouth, and the hot water beats down on us as he wrangles another orgasm straight out of my body.

I’m riding his hand, riding the wave, as my legs clamp together over his fingers. He keeps moving them anyway, and eventually the pleasure starts to wane. He pulls his fingers out and presses a soft kiss to my lips, and then I sink down to my knees and fist his cock. I run my hand up and down his shaft as we switch roles—he’s the one leaning against the wall with pleasure pulsing through him now, and I take his length all the way to the back of my throat.

He hisses out a groan at the feel, and I lick up and down his shaft before taking the head of his dick into my mouth and sucking on it. I twirl my tongue around the tip then lick up and down his shaft again before taking him all the way back to my throat again, and then I give more attention to the head as he moans his encouragement.

He grabs my head and shoves his dick all the way back again, and I let him use my mouth however he wants to. He starts to thrust into my mouth, and then he moves a little faster before he pumps twice and starts to come. I take it all into my mouth and swallow before I lick him clean, and then he helps me to a stand. He pulls me into his arms, and we just stand in the shower and stare at each other for a few hot, intimate beats.

We went from me kneeling on the ground swallowing his come to him holding me in his arms, and something hits me in that moment.

I’ve never swallowed come before. I’ve always found it sort of…gross, and the act of swallowing it always seemed sort of…dirty.

But I wanted it with Travis. I wanted every last drop. I wanted more than he gave me.

I want it in my mouth. I want it marking my body. I want it inside me.

I’m shocked as the thought makes its way through my brain. It’s so out of character for me, but maybe that’s what finding someone like Travis is doing to me. It’s helping me discover parts of myself I’ve never known before. And maybe that’s what happens when you find someone who has real potential for a future.

Maybe even the sort of future I’ve always dreamed of.

Maybe it’s not as far off as I thought it was.

Or maybe I’m in a climax-induced haze. That’s probably more likely.

I finish my shower and get out so I’m not late for work, and Travis finishes his shower, too. We eat a quick breakfast together, and he gives me the kind of kiss I’ll think about for the rest of the day before he drops me back at Mandy’s apartment so I can drive myself to work.

She’s already gone when I get home, and I hope it’s because she decided to take the day off and fly to Denver.

But I can’t dwell on that right now. I realize I need to get a move on it or I’ll be late. I rush in two minutes later than usual, and wouldn’t you know it?

Someone is standing outside my office door waiting for me, and I recognize her from the district office.

Shit.

“Good morning!” I say brightly. “Can I help you?”

“Are you Ms. Hartley?”

I smile and nod as I pretend like I didn’t just walk in late. I’m not that late. It’s not like the bell rang yet.

Just as I have the thought, the first bell rings.

Well that’s not a good look.

I unlock the door and open it, and then I turn the light on and set my bag down. “Come on in.”

“I’m Dawn Patterson, the executive director of elementary schools, and I saw your application for the district reading specialist. I’m here to do an informal drop-in observation to get a feel for what you do before we offer you an interview.”

Well I’m sure coming in late on a Friday morning looking freshly fucked is making an exceptional impression.

I didn’t even get a chance to grab my coffee yet.

This is going to be the longest Friday in the history of Fridays.