CHAPTER 20

Stefan woke up feeling the small body warm against his and a smooth leg lying over his abdomen. Waiting for the haze of sleep to clear he stroked the smooth skin of Sasha’s lower leg struggling to believe he was in her bed on a Thursday morning. Realizing it was Thursday he softly pressed a kiss against her temple and whispered, “Sasha you’ve got to get up baby, you’ve got classes.”

She snuggled closer to him. “I haven’t got classes today, I’m all yours.”

Stefan laughed and pressed a kiss against her fragrant silky hair. “I’d like nothing more than to make you mine right now, but I’m ravenous.”

Sleepily Sasha opened her eyes and looked at him. “We missed dinner.”

“How about I go see if I can make us something.”

“You do that.” Sasha said before turning around, slumbering.

Stefan got up and pulled on his jeans and headed for the kitchen. He searched for a coffee machine but only saw the kettle on the stove. He picked it up and accidentally slammed the cup off the counter.

He cursed and hastily picked up the pieces of the broken cup.

“Well now, here I was thinking we were being burgled.”

Stefan snapped up straight at the husky voice and found Kris leaning against the counter.

“Hey Kris. You got coffee?”

Kris laughed. “Pretty boy we drink tea, different varieties, but only tea.”

Stefan nodded and filled the kettle before putting it back on the stove and turning on the burner.

“I take it you spent the night with Sasha?” Kris asked biting into an apple.

Stefan nodded confirming the obvious.

“Well I’m not going to play Senator Morris and burn you with twenty questions, but I do have one.”

Stefan met her gaze and nodded for her to ask her question.

“Do you care for her?” Kris asked seriously.

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here.” Stefan answered soberly.

“Good.” Kris smiled. “Because if you didn’t I’d have to kick your butt. And I could since I’ve got quite a few martial arts belts but I’m not really in the mood this morning.”

Stefan smiled. “Good, cause I’m not in the mood either.”

Happy with his answer Kris grabbed a bottle of water and headed back to her room.

Stefan, alone with his thoughts, realized he had spoken the truth. He had never felt this way about any girl.

His phone buzzed on the counter we he had placed it the night before; he saw Cole’s caller identity and answered the phone heading outside.

“Cole, what’s up?” He said as he closed the apartment door behind him.

“Not much, haven’t heard from you in a while so I thought I’d make sure you’re still amongst the living.”

“Alive and well thank you.” Stefan grinned as he strolled up and down the hallway.

“Great, after your stunt with the senator’s daughter I was wondering if you were taken out.”

Stefan laughed. “Nope, I didn’t take any hits.”

“Good. I take it you’ve moved on then?”

“No, don’t think I’ll be moving on for a while.” Stefan said glancing at Sasha’s apartment door fondly.

“What? You’re still seeing her?” Cole asked surprised.

“Let’s just say it’s been complicated but as of last night we’re going to face the complications together.”

“Stefan, you’re playing with fire.” Cole warned.

“I know, but I like her heat Cole. I don’t know how to explain it, but I really like her.”

“Shit Stefan, if this blows up she’s going to hate you and her father’s going to make your life a living hell.”

Stefan smiled. “Like I said, I like the heat.”

“Shit! You’re falling for her? Stefan, this is a really bad idea.”

“Cole, actually this is the first good idea I’ve had in a long while. Leaving the magazine was another. I know this won’t make sense to you, but she makes me make sense of my life. I’ve decided to go into photography and start making my own way.”

“What? You left the magazine? Stefan what did your father say?”

“He’s supportive of me following my own dream.”

“You really have to get out here man; we really need a proper catch up.”

“I know and when I do I’m bringing Sasha with. I think you’d like her.”

“No, you won’t. I don’t want her father blaming me.”

“Cole stop being such a wuss and go kiss your girl, because I’m going to do just that myself.”

Stefan ended the call and stepped back into the apartment where Sasha was sitting at the kitchen island with her head in her hands. She looked up as he closed the door.

“I thought you’d left?” She asked surprised as he walked towards her. She was wearing his shirt, her beautiful legs bare and her long hair caressing the collar. How he wanted to be that shirt right now.

“Leave? I told you, I’m not leaving again. I just had a call and didn’t want to wake you.”

“Oh.”

Stefan moved towards her and planted a firm kiss against the ‘o’ her lips had formed. “How about we go out for breakfast instead?”

Sasha giggled. “Are you asking me to breakfast, Stefan Kelson?”

“I am, Sasha Morris, so what’s it going to be?”

Sasha’s eyes traveled over him and met his gaze again. “When a man still hot from my bed asks me to breakfast wearing only his jeans, half buttoned at that, it’s a touch choice between breakfast and dragging him back to bed.”

Stefan loved it when she playful and witty, so he scooped her up and carried her to bedroom. “How about we do both, first bed then breakfast.”

“I always thought that phrase meant more than sleeping.” Sasha giggled as she started undoing the buttons on his jean.

After bed and a long shower Stefan felt thoroughly loved. He had never had a steady girlfriend, but there was something about learning more about one person. Knowing what shampoo their hair smelled of, knowing their morning routine and knowing when their eyes asked to be loved and when their touch was playful.

As he and Sasha walked through the streets of Manhattan hand in hand, Stefan squeezed her hand knowing he had spoken the truth last night. He wasn’t going anywhere.