Chapter 7
By late Saturday night, Gray knew he hadn’t had his fill of being with her. But since he was exhausted, he gave in and held out his hand to seal the deal.
Alyssa looked at it and kissed his palm, sending a jolt from her lips to his groin. Damn, how did she do that?
“How about we shake in the morning. I want to sleep here, if that’s okay,” she said settling in.
“It’s very okay.” He pulled her close, putting his face in her hair so he could smell her as he drifted off. He didn’t care if they ever shook on it.
It seemed like a silly agreement. Why would either of them want to give this up? They were so damn good at it. No doubt she was worried he might get emotionally attached if they continued to have sex. He’d have to convince her he was up for this challenge. He could enjoy her company without taking it to the next level. Just because he never had a long-term, casual relationship with a woman didn’t mean he couldn’t handle it.
Sunday morning he woke up alone, but heard the shower running. A smile took over his face as he slid out from under the sheet to go join her.
The door was hanging open, an invitation that he jumped on. Her body was perfection in the misty shower with suds sliding over her curves down to her perfect toes. He nuzzled up behind her, noticing how hot her skin felt against his.
“Are you sure we need to keep the rule about not having sex?” he asked.
“If for no other reason than we need to leave the apartment at some point.”
“I guess.” He fake pouted. “But not until you move in.”
“I was going to do that today. After we shook on our agreement.”
“Today?”
“Yeah. I figure I can make it in three trips. The biggest thing I have to carry is an ottoman. The rest is just clothes and a few crates of hair products,” she teased.
“I know a guy who has an SUV. I’ll borrow it and we can move everything at once.”
“That would be great. Thank-you. I really appreciate you letting me move in here. Really.”
“Letting you move in here after we have sex in the shower, you mean?”
“Right. After sex in the shower.”
Since she was already clean, she lathered him up, paying special attention to his favorite parts. She washed his hair. Never in a million years would he have expected shampooing to be so erotic.
Maybe it had something to do with her breasts in his face.
When all the soap was rinsed away, he dried his hands on the towel enough to wrestle the condom wrapper open. They should make special grips on them for water activities. Once properly covered, he pressed her back against the shower wall, hitching one of her knees up by his hip so he had access.
She moaned his name when he slid inside, and he wondered again how he was going to give this up. Surely they could come up with some way to make it work so they could have this too. He took contracts very seriously, even if they were only binding by a handshake.
After their shower escapades, they dressed and went out for breakfast. He tried once again to sway her on the sex thing, but she wouldn’t budge. He had no choice but to agree to her terms and hope for the best. Once he paid the tab, he held his hand out.
“Roommates?” he said.
“Roommates from here out.”
“Good. Now let’s go move all your crap.” He’d already contacted Trent to borrow his car.
When Alyssa let them in her old apartment, her roommate was still in her pajamas and looked like hell.
“Shh,” she said with a glare, though they hadn’t spoken.
“I’m here to get my stuff. I’m moving out today.”
“You’re moving in with him?”
“Yep.”
“Did you tell him how he’s going to have to deal with your screaming all night?”
“I don’t scream all night.”
“How would you know? You’re sleeping.”
“At least I’m not screaming out someone’s name while I’m having sex in the same room as you. Who does that?”
“We didn’t have anywhere else to go and I thought you were asleep!” Sasha defended.
“I’m going to wait downstairs. Let me know when you’re…” Grayson motioned to the room and backed out of the awkward conversation.
As he went downstairs to avoid the drama, he found himself wondering if Alyssa did scream in her sleep and why. He also wondered what would happen when she was screaming someone else’s name while having sex in the room across the hall from him. How would he feel about that?
He wanted to be an adult and say he would be fine, but part of him knew he wasn’t that much of an adult. He pulled the Iron Man Pez dispenser from his pocket and took a hit.
It was too late now. They’d already shaken hands and she was moving out. He was committed to this relationship. Though he knew better than to use that word in front of his new roommate.
* * * *
“Are you kidding me?” Gray said as Alyssa carried down a bag of stuff. Since she hadn’t had time to get boxes, she’d just tossed everything into garbage bags. It looked like they were moving body parts instead of her possessions.
“This can’t be everything,” Gray said doubtfully.
“This is it, I swear.”
“You’re perfect,” he repeated his earlier sentiment with a wink. That wink made her stomach flutter, but she looked away.
They had a much better chance of making this work if they were just friends. Kenley was right, sex complicated things. Not that it had complicated anything between Gray and her yet, but sooner or later he might decide he wanted something more. Something she couldn’t give.
After they moved her things into her new room, she went to the grocery store and stocked up on food since Grayson offered to take the first turn to cook.
“I’m impressed,” she said as they ate dinner on the sofa.
“Really? It’s a salad and chicken. Who can mess that up?”
“You’d be surprised,” she said. “Sasha messed up EasyMac.”
“You’re living the good life now, princess.” He winked at her and visions of him on top of her flashed before her eyes. Calm down, she told herself. She hadn’t even made it one day and already she was lusting over him.
“Don’t I know it,” she allowed.
They did the dishes together and she couldn’t help but smile at how nice it felt to have a companion. He stacked the clean dishes neatly in the appropriate cabinet and she nodded her approval.
“Are you a neat freak too?” she asked.
“A little. Except for clothes.” He paused for a moment. There was something that he wasn’t saying.
“What?” she pressed.
He shrugged before he continued.
“I hate that I have to dress up for work, so usually when I get home, I take my clothes off the second I walk in the door.” He laughed and shook his head. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to get to my room.”
“I don’t want you to have to change the way you live just because I’m here.”
“This is your home now too,” he said considerately. She pouted at the idea of missing a naked Grayson when he got home from work.
Whose great plan was this?