Julie
My eyes are tired and groggy when I open them. The sun is shining, up in the sky, and I realize that I made the mistake of passing out. Fuck. Quickly, my eyes dart to where I tied up Nicole, but she’s still there, lying on her side, somehow managing to snore through her gag.
I kind of hate her a little bit.
Okay, I hate her a lot.
I feel something warm pressed against my back, and I roll away before turning to see what it is.
Who it is.
“Hey,” he murmurs, reaching for me. “Come back.”
I swallow hard.
Lawrence.
I fell asleep next to him and somehow, we ended up spooning all night.
And he’s still definitely, totally, super naked.
And if his morning manhood is anything to judge him by, Lawrence and I would get along very well if the situation were slightly different.
Meaning if we were on a date.
Which we aren’t.
Because this is crazy.
“How are you feeling?” I ask. I try to shove down all of the emotions I’m feeling. I can’t tell whether I’m attracted to him because he’s kind or if it’s because he’s so fucking attractive I can taste it. I can’t tell what I’m supposed to be doing in this situation and that kind of just kills me.
Until this point, my life has been really, really simple.
It’s been easy.
Well, relatively easy. I’ve had my battles, just as everyone has, but I’ve always known what I wanted to do with my life. Teaching has come naturally to me. It’s like breathing. I can’t explain how I do it: I just do. Working with students has provided me with a certain level of freedom of expression. I get to read the books I love and then share them with my students. I can pass on that love of reading and learning every single day.
It’s perfect.
Outside of work, I don’t have many hobbies. I suppose I didn’t really need them until now. When I was dating Andrew, just being with him was enough. We were talking about getting a house together, so I took on extra hours. Subbing and tutoring seemed like a fantastic way to kill time after work.
I didn’t count on my roommate keeping my boyfriend entertained while I was working my ass off to save up for a down payment.
Still, the experience hasn’t soured me toward teaching or working hard.
It’s just made me examine what’s really important in life and it’s made me question whether I’m the best judge of character. Somehow, talking with this dragon guy has been more relaxing, more simple, and more normal than my relationship with Andrew ever was. Is this what we were missing? The ability to just sit and talk to each other?
With Andrew, it was all about him.
He wanted something, so we did it.
Lawrence actually seems interested in me as a person.
“A little stiff,” he whispers. “Maybe a kiss will help.”
“Is that what you want?” I raise my eyebrows and lick my lips. Yeah, that kiss last night was fucking incredible. It was so out of character for me, but somehow, it felt right. The best part was that nothing else happened after. There was no awkwardness. There was no discomfort. We kissed, and then we just talked and talked and talked.
I didn’t mean to fall asleep and I don’t think he did, either, but if a kiss is what the dragon wants, then a kiss is what he’ll get.
I scoot closer.
“Don’t be shy,” he murmurs.
I move a little bit closer. I’m still totally dressed, but I can feel his hardness pressing against my belly. A shiver shoots through me. Desire. Aching. Wanting. I’m feeling so many things that I might go crazy, but I focus on one thing.
Kissing.
Lawrence tastes like perfection, and kissing him feels like heaven. I reach for his hair and run my hands through it while his tongue explores my mouth. It’s soft and gentle: a sweet kiss, but I pull away before it gets too deep. I pull away before I start to want more than I can give this man.
“How are you feeling?” He whispers.
“I…”
“Julie?”
“Lawrence.”
“It’s okay.”
“What is?”
“Nothing has to happen,” he reaches for my shoulder and touches it gently. “I’m not asking you for anything, okay?”
I told him about Andrew last night and he listened. He didn’t judge me for dating an asshole for so long. In fact, he has his own ex-wife. Erin. They got married after college and were only together a year before they realized it wasn’t going to work. She doesn’t seem crazy, and Lawrence doesn’t seem to have any pent-up anger toward her.
Still, I know the separation hurt.
I can see it in his eyes.
“I know,” I whisper. “I haven’t been with anyone since the break-up.”
“Me neither,” he admits.
“For real?” I raise an eyebrow before looking pointedly at his dick. “No offense, dragon, but how is that possible?”
He chuckles and pulls me close. Now he’s the one stroking my hair, touching my shoulders, running his hands up and down my back. I sink into his touch. His scent wraps around me like a blanket, and I feel calm.
Relaxed.
Safe.
Protected.
“I suppose I haven’t found the right person,” he says. Then, after a pause, he whispers so quietly I almost can’t hear him add, “Until now.”