Waking up next to Ezra was… Well, it was everything.
His warm body was draped over me like a weighted blanket. Warm. Comforting. Better than I imagined.
There was something so intimate about starting your day with someone.
In the light of day, sensuality was replaced with familiarity. Heart-racing excitement became soul-quenching trust.
Sometime during the night, I’d rolled over to face him. His left leg hung over my hips, effectively keeping me as close as possible and anchoring me to the bed. He hadn’t been kidding about using me as a body pillow, and I didn’t mind one bit.
I’d spent nights at Gavin’s before. There were times when we’d fallen asleep on his sectional couch, but I always woke up stiff from being in an uncomfortable position all night and with one of Gavin’s giant feet in my face.
I gave Ezra’s neck a sniff, since my face was conveniently tucked under his chin. Definitely didn’t smell like a stinky foot.
My eyes bounced up to his beautiful face. Even after everything we did last night, this was the most vulnerable I’d ever seen him. His cheek was squished up from the pillow, his hair was messy, and his lips were slightly parted.
He looked so much like the boy I’d fallen in love with years ago.
Tightening my hold on him, I pressed my ear to his chest and listened to his strong heartbeat.
The soothing sound was interrupted by a much less pleasant noise.
My alarm clock on my phone went off a second time, and I could hear the insistent ringing coming from somewhere in the living room. Reluctantly, I untangled myself from Ezra, trying my best not to wake him.
Before I could slide out from under his leg, I grabbed the pillow from the floor and slyly replaced the vacant space. Satisfied with the way it was tucked against Ezra’s body, I turned away.
A warm hand caught my wrist. “Where are you going?”
I sat on the edge of the bed. “I have to get to work.”
“So early,” he grumped, rubbing his eyes. “It’s still dark out.”
I grinned at this side of him. He definitely wasn’t a morning person.
“The sun is coming up.” I motioned toward the pink glow coming through his curtains. “And I need to get back to the dorms to take a shower.”
“Take one here.”
“Really?”
“If you don’t mind smelling like my soap, yeah.” He grinned, the grumpiness melting away. That idea certainly had its merits. I wanted to spend the day smelling him on me. Ezra leaned up on an elbow. “I’ll even join you.”
Sold. I was bobbing my head so enthusiastically that it made Ezra chuckle.
He swung his legs over the side of the mattress and rubbed at his left thigh. I remembered what he’d said before the summer about how he had muscle stiffness in the morning, so I waited for him to assess the situation.
After extending his leg out a couple times, he gave me a nod.
As we shuffled to the bathroom, shyness came over me. Showering with a guy was another brand-new first. Last night it had been darker in the room, so being completely naked with each other seemed less intimidating.
Ezra flipped on the lights. There were two—one above the large mirror over the sink and the other on the ceiling.
I squinted. Yeah, it was really bright in here.
When he pulled back the gray shower curtain, I looked down at the small chair in the tub.
“What’s that for?” I tilted my head as I studied the white plastic seat and metal legs.
Blushing, Ezra groaned as he sleepily scratched at the back of his head.
“A shower seat. I used to have one at home, and my parents insisted on getting it for me. You know, just in case…” he trailed off, gesturing at his leg. “But it’s a waste of space. I swear they treat me like a baby sometimes.”
My eyes darted back to the seat, dirty images popping into my mind. Images of me straddling his lap, steam filling the air as I rode him.
Rubbing my thighs together, I tested the soreness between my legs. There was a slight twinge of pain in my center, but the sensation only enhanced my building desire. It was as if I could still feel his cock inside me.
“So you sit on it?” I bit my lip as heat flooded my body.
“I haven’t yet. Haven’t needed to.”
“Would you like to now?” I asked slowly, giving him a naughty grin.
Realization dawned on his face.
I’d never seen someone get undressed so fast.
When I saw Shauna sitting in her regular booth, I hurried to finish up some of my tasks so I could get a few free minutes. Instead of standing to take her order, I sat across from her.
“I want to talk to you about what you did yesterday,” I blurted out. I realized I was lacking tact and manners, but I didn’t have a lot of time to chat.
She smiled. “I told you not to worry about the tip. It’s yours.”
I shook my head. “I’m not talking about that. The man on the street…”
“Paul?” She chuckled. “He’s a sweetheart.”
“Yes, Paul. I met him after you left. I…” My voice died away because I was ashamed of what I was going to say next.
Shauna gave me a patient look, waiting for me to continue.
“I probably wouldn’t have noticed him if it wasn’t for you,” I confessed. “I don’t know what that says about me. My family always taught me selflessness and kindness, and maybe it didn’t stick. Maybe I’m too self-absorbed.”
Shauna reached across the table to pat one of my hands. “You’re young, honey.” Leaning back, she clucked her tongue. “You don’t even want to know what I was like at your age. A real hell raiser. The important thing is that your eyes are open now.”
“Do you ever…” The words got stuck in my throat again.
“Go on and say it. I’m not going to judge.”
“Do you ever wonder what a homeless person does with your money?” I whispered, hushed. “Like, what if they’re not even homeless? What if it’s a scam? What if they buy drugs or alcohol?”
She nodded through my spiel, like this was all old news. She’d heard these things before.
“The second that money leaves my hand, it’s none of my business. I’ve done my part. What they decide to do with it is up to them,” she said, taking a sip of her tea. “But you’d be surprised how many of them are just in a bad place, or in unfortunate circumstances, or had unspeakable things happen to them. Now, I’m not saying to approach strangers in a dark alley. Desperate people can be dangerous. Be smart about it.”
“Okay,” I responded, slightly aware that table four was in need of a coffee refill.
“And sure, there are dishonest people out there everywhere,” she went on. “But I just want to do what I can.”
“So do I.”
She grinned. “Well, then. You’re not as self-absorbed as you thought.”
I spent the rest of my day on cloud nine. I floated through my classes on a high from the night before, then rushed to Ezra’s apartment as soon as I got done. I didn’t bother showering at my dorm. How could I possibly go back to the public shower stalls after this morning?
As soon as Ezra opened the door, I grabbed his hand and dragged him to the bathroom for round two.
After that, we spent the rest of the evening tangled up together on the couch, talking and watching TV.
And when I dozed off to the sound of his steady heartbeat, I felt him scoot out from under me before strong arms hooked around my body and carried me down the hall.