Chapter Nineteen
The following morning, I stretched as I woke. Muscles ached in places that hadn't for a long time, and I smiled as memories of the previous night played through my head. The smile disappeared as my hand slid across the empty cold sheets next to me. Glanced around the bedroom to find it empty, door closed.
Lifting myself up onto my elbow, I checked the bedside table. Empty. No note that time. Nothing. Had he left without a word? Again?
Disappointment flooded me as I flopped back against the pillows. The night before…I'd thought it had been different. That maybe it was the start of something between us. Something more. The sting of tears had me closing my eyes. But they flew open again at the sound of the bedroom door opening.
And there he was. My mouth watered at the sight. Bare chest. Black boxers stretched tight across his hips and doing a poor job of hiding what was beneath them. Long powerful legs striding towards me.
“Morning.” Bending over, he placed a cup on the table beside me before he leaned over to kiss me. Then he made his way around the bed to climb back under the covers. Reaching for the cup to hide my smile, I took a sip of the coffee. Then his arms were around me and coffee was the last thing on my mind as I put the cup down. The subtle scent of ginger combined with what I recognised as pure Beck replaced the aroma of coffee.
I turned in his arms, relaxing back against his chest. Could easily get used to waking up like that every morning, I thought as a soft sigh escaped me.
We lay in a contented silence, wrapped up in each other. Until Beck shifted and eased me over onto my back. Rolled until he was on top of me, covering me with his whole body. Elbows by my shoulders, his hands cradled my head as he gazed down at me. Lowered his head until our lips met.
There was no rush to his movements. A lazy kiss that was no less intense for the slow pace. Dragging his lips from mine, he kissed his way down my neck and across to my collarbone. Sucked lightly on the skin before burying his head between my breasts. Licked a path between them then sucked one nipple between his lips before kissing his way across to the other.
I pushed my head back into the pillow at the torturously slow pace he set. Slipped my arms beneath his to run my hands down the length of his back. But then he moved. Slid his way down the bed, leaving kisses along my skin as he journeyed south. Scraped his teeth along my hip bone until his breath fanned across my clit.
Then he looked up at me. We shared a smile, which seemed to be the permission he was seeking as he lowered his head. My hips thrust upwards when his tongue touched my clit. He swirled his tongue around me before sucking on the sensitive flesh, making my hips buck again.
The tip of his finger circled my entrance before slipping inside me. Oh yeah, could definitely get used to waking up this way.
I was so close already and I twisted my fingers into his hair. Tugged gently to get him to stop.
He crawled back up my body, and I reached over to the bedside drawer to grab a condom. Once he was suited up, he covered me with his body again. With a lazy thrust of his hips, he filled me with his hard length.
“Oh, God. Faster.”
Beck laughed at my frustration but didn't speed up his thrusts. And I was fine with that, really. I didn't know if it was because it was early morning or not but this felt like more than the previous night. More like making love. No hurry to reach the end—just enjoying being wrapped up in each other.
Lifting my legs so I could wind them around Beck's thighs to bring us even closer together—it was like our own personal bubble. Just the two of us where no one and nothing else mattered.
His hips met mine with an increased speed until his movements became erratic.
“I'm so close, baby. Come with me.”
His lips caressed my ear as he whispered the words and sent a shiver through me. Head thrown back, neck muscles flexing, I got lost in the beautiful sight that was Beck as his orgasm rolled through him. The sight sent me over the edge, knowing that I could bring that look of pure pleasure to his face.
Fingertips digging into his back, I came around him as he gentled his thrusts before collapsing on top of me. He made to move but I pulled him closer. Wanting to stay connected for a moment longer. I brushed the short strands of damp hair back from his forehead then pulled his head down. As he rested his head on my shoulder, I wanted the moment to last forever. Beck's weight anchoring me to the bed. The sated, bone-melting bliss left me with no desire to move.
Of course, it had to as Beck headed for the bathroom to clean up. But then he climbed under the covers again and pulled me close. Dropped a kiss on the top of my head. We lay in a contented silence as I almost drifted off to sleep again. Beck's fingers toyed with a strand of my hair and he shifted beneath me restlessly.
“So…your contract's almost up, isn't it?”
Seriously, he wanted to talk about work? I nodded, my cheek brushing against the soft hairs on his chest. He let out a sigh that sounded full of…regret?
“I've made a mess of everything. It shouldn't have happened. Not like this.”
He regretted our night together? Our morning together? I tried to pull away from him to look into his eyes, but he tightened his hold on me. I was pretty sure I was already halfway in love with him, and he thought us sleeping together was a mistake? “We shouldn't have slept together? Is that what you're saying?”
“No. Yes. Fuck.”
His fingers threaded through my hair holding my head against his chest.
“I'm your…boss. I should have waited, is what I'm trying to say. Badly, so it would seem.”
I propped myself up on my elbow so I could see his face. He looked so serious that he made me worried.
“My job…” His eyes shifted towards the ceiling as he blew out a breath. “There's a lot of travel involved. Time I have to spend away from home.”
Those words made my brow furrow because I'd seen him at the office most days in my short time there. Our gazes met and he must have seen my confusion.
“I mean there will be soon. And that's just another reason why I should have waited. If anything happens…”
I didn't understand why that was a reason to wait. Seemed like all the more reason not to wait. But there'd been a point when I'd thought I'd never see him again. I had him back in my life, and if he wanted to wait then I could do that. “I don't understand, but I'll wait as long as you want. For as long as you need.” His fingers trailed up and down my back.
“I wish I could explain better. It's not that I want to wait, I just think it will be better for us, for you. Once you're not at the office it will be easier. And I only need a little time to…sort some things out. I know our situation is complicated, but I'm trying to make it simple. I just need a little time.”
My hand stilled over his chest where I'd been tracing lazy patterns through his hair. Eased myself up so I could see his face and the serious look was still in place. Eyes drawn tight. Was he worried I wouldn't wait for him? I didn't think our situation was that complicated. Yes, he would be my boss for a little while longer, but then it wouldn't be an issue.
Sliding my hand up his neck, a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. I wrapped my fingers around his stubbled jaw and brushed my lips across his. Then sealed them over his again before he could utter another word.