Present Day
The writing didn’t cure me, but it did help. It calmed me enough to work on my hour-long session, which I finished up about ten minutes ago. I’ve cleaned the tools and the booth. I walk around and double-check that everything is shut down. I flip the lights and pull the keys from my pocket to unlock my apartment door. I hear a light tapping behind me. I turn around and see Kerry standing on the sidewalk outside the parlor.
She’ll come to you.
She cups her hands around her face in an attempt to look through the glass. She’s making no indication that she sees me. The space is dark, and I imagine it’s hard to see me standing in the shadow of the hallway.
I walk over to the door, watching her the entire time. As I get closer, she sees me. One of her hands curls halfway into a wave.
I unlock the front door. She enters.
“Hi,” I say.
Her lips hit mine instantly. I grab her by the hips and kiss her back. She leans into me so much that I have to take a few steps back so I don’t fall over completely. I wrap my arms around her and pull her with me. She breaks our connection, grabs my hand, and pulls me toward my apartment door. I pause and hold my finger up, indicating I need a second. I turn, still holding her hand, and lock the front door. I turn back, nod, and allow her to lead me to the apartment door. After I unlock it, we enter the stairway, and I pause again long enough to lock up. Still clasping my hand, she races up the stairs.
Kerry turns to me and kisses me like she did downstairs. I lift her, and she wraps her legs around me. I walk us to the bed and lay her down. I hover over her and kiss her neck while my hand snakes up her shirt.
“Luca,” she whispers. Her hands run through my hair, down my back, and around toward my belt. She fumbles with it for a moment, then whips it out of the belt loops of my jeans.
Holy fuck, that was hot.
She pushes up my shirt, and I lift up, grab it from behind, and snatch it off. She looks at my torso while she rakes her nails gently from my chest to my pants, which she proceeds to undo. I take her hand and pull her up, kiss her, and then remove her shirt. I focus my attention on her breasts.
Kerry whispers my name again.
I cannot get our clothes off fast enough.
I grab a condom from the drawer. She takes it from my hand, rips the foil with her teeth, nudges me onto my back, and rolls it on—all in one swift movement.
She’s like a gunslinger.
She straddles my body and lowers herself onto me. As she rides me, my hands roam her body until her moans begin to build. I grab her ass with both hands, squeeze her cheeks, and move my hips in sync with hers until she’s yelling my name into the vast space of my studio apartment.
I flip her with a swift move so she’s on her back. My tongue teases her nipples and blazes a trail up her chest and neck. She pants and writhes beneath me. I devour her mouth. She laces her fingers into my hair and responds with the same intensity.
I enter her, wrap my arm around her lower back, and lift her hips. I thrust into her as deep as I can. She moans. My movements are quick bursts. She grabs my ass, digging her nails in, begging for more. I quicken my pace, and when I think I can’t hold out any longer, she yells my name again. As soon as she relaxes onto the bed, I let go.
I move over and fall onto my back. I’m panting. She’s panting. I look over at her, her breasts heaving, her eyes closed, lips slightly parted. She looks completely sated. And fucking gorgeous.
I lean over and kiss her. “I’ll be right back,” I say. She nods, her breathing still elevated.
Other than her whispering my name, she never said a word to me.
I have no idea what that was about. Right now, I don’t care.
I slide back into bed and lean over to her. She’s lying there still, just as she was before, but sound asleep. I cover her with the comforter. I settle myself next to her and watch her sleep until I doze off myself.
I wake. It’s still dark out. I look over to see her still lying next to me. I shift myself onto my side and look at her silhouette. She’s so peaceful beside me. I reach out and gently touch her hair. She stirs.
“Hey,” she says softly.
“Hey,” I answer. “I’m sorry if I woke you up.”
“It’s okay. I’m sorry I zonked out on you like that.”
“Not a problem.” I smile and run my hand over her cheek. She moves her face into my touch, then snakes her arm over my side and pulls herself into me.
“I’m sorry,” she says.
I stroke her hair again. “You already said that. It’s fine, really.”
“No. Not for falling asleep. I’m sorry I just burst in here like that and started kissing you. I needed you. Yet I said nothing to you. I just—”
I pull her into me more. “It’s fine. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
We lie there in silence. I run my fingers through her hair and down her back. Her breathing becomes slow and even. I eventually drift back to sleep.
I wake to her rustling again. I open my eyes to see her getting dressed.
“Where are you off to?” I ask.
“Work,” she answers. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to run away. I promise. I have to go.”
I throw on my boxers and a shirt. I walk over to her standing at the edge of my stairs.
“Can I have your number?” I ask. “I’ve been wanting to call you, or text you, but I don’t have your number.”
Fuck, how desperate did that sound?
“Oh my God, yes! I didn’t even think about us not having each other’s numbers.” She hands me her phone. “Here, text yourself.”
I do and hand her back her phone. “Good. Can I text you later on to see how you’re doing?”
“Please do. Your texts will be a welcome distraction.”
She reaches up and kisses me. I kiss her back. I pull her into me, and I never want to let her go.
“Thank you for last night,” she says. “It was amazing again. More than amazing. I really want to stay, but I have to go. I’m sorry. I’ll be looking forward to your text. And hopefully, maybe I can see you tonight? If things don’t get too crazy at work?”
“I’ll be sure to text. Anything I can do to help. I hope I get to see you tonight, too.”
She kisses me one more time before she leaves. I watch her walk out.
My phone chimes and I take a look. It’s the text I just sent myself from her phone. I save her number into my phone. I plan to make good use of it from now on.