Chapter 34
Reese
It’s 3:22 in the morning when I drag myself into Leo’s shower.
Every muscle in my body hurts and I can’t remember the last time I got a full night’s sleep but I am absolutely blissful. The feel of Leo’s hands and lips still lingers on my skin. The sensation is imprinted in my cellular memory. If I had my way, I’d spend the next week or so barricaded in his bedroom with him, talking and laughing and exploring his body. But I have a pesky little thing called responsibilities and so does he. So, we just have to settle for our secret late-night rendez-vous.
It’s starting to feel like that’s not enough. Which is crazy because we couldn’t actually have more. He’s not ready for a commitment. Besides, Charlie would kill both of us.
Get a grip, Reese. Let go of that silly fantasy. It’s not gonna happen. If I don’t get my daydreaming under control, I’m gonna screw up the good thing that Leo and I have going. There’s no reason we couldn’t keep having sex without needing some type of declaration or commitment. This is the 21st century, for crying out loud.
I can do this. I can do this without falling apart.
Wrapped in Leo’s bath towel, I splash some cold water on my face and run my fingers through my hair. I straighten my spine and march confidently in the direction of the bedroom with the gait of an indomitable woman. A woman who can successfully compartmentalize her body’s sexual cravings from her emotional vulnerabilities.
Yes, I, Theresa Hartley, am such a woman! I am the master of my heart and my libido! A woman of the 21st century!
But when I step back into the room, I jolt. Leo has flicked on the bedside lamp. He’s sitting on his bed with my lacy black panties pulled over his face.
“Much better visibility with these,” he tells me, nodding his head approvingly. “I mean—compared to the red hot air balloons you used to wear.”
I slap both hands over my mouth to contain my hysterical laughter. My eyes water and legs won’t even hold me up, I’m laughing so hard.
He speaks in an earnest tone. “Can I be your superhero, baby?” He stretches an arm out to me.
I put my hand in his and he pulls me onto the bed. I collapse on top of him and he grins. “What do you call yourself?” I ask him.
“Orgasm Man, maybe.”
“Oh really?”
His lips graze my ear lobe as he whispers. “Come here, let me demonstrate my super powers.”
My eyes dart over to the clock on his dresser. “Oh my god, you have no idea how much I’d love that but I really have to go. I’m sorry.” Vivian’s been acting like she really might pull the plug on our partnership and I can’t make the situation worse by showing up late for work today.
He slumps back against the pillows and watches me with disappointed eyes. “That’s okay,” he says finally. “But I have an idea about how you can make it up to me.”
“How?”
“Let me watch you get dressed,” he says with a wicked smile.
I furrow my brows. “Huh?”
“You always grab your clothes and sneak off into the bathroom, like you’re self-conscious or something. But I want to watch you put your clothes on. You’re so sexy. I want to watch you.”
I roll my eyes, pretending to be annoyed. But really, I’m thrilled. He makes me feel desirable, irresistible. It’s exhilarating, knowing the effect that I have on him. As flawed and quirky and strange as I am, this gorgeous man wants me.
My heart pounds as I put on a show for him, slowly dropping the towel to the floor and sliding the straps of my bra up my arms. Then, pulling on my short, little dress. I watch the lust on his face as he follows my every movement.
When I strut over to him to snatch my thong off of his head, he ducks out of my reach. His fingers lock around my wrist and he gently tugs me forward. He whispers against my earlobe. “These panties are mine, Cupcake Girl.” He balls up my underwear in his hand. “This lacy, little thing stays with me.” He tilts his face and his lips capture mine in a stirring kiss.
“Panty sniffing fetish?” I ask cheekily as I pull away from him.
“Yes, unfortunately. It’s a habit I can’t kick.” He grins as he slides out of bed. “I need to sniff them in between bites of my bologna sandwich at lunch time, y’know? Really awakens the palate.”
He's so ridiculous. I stifle on laughter. "I'll let you keep them for the day but you're gonna need to return them this evening. I've been selling them to this online panty-sniffing community based out of Bulgaria—the International Panty-Sniffers Association.”
He lifts a brow. “E-commerce, huh?”
“It's a solid business model,” I tell him with a nod.
"Oh really?"
"Yes, amazing return on investment. Everybody thinks that Bitcoin is the future. But it's really much simpler than that. The used panty trade is a highly underserved industry."
He pulls a pillow over his face and roars with laughter. My heart tightens seeing him this way. He's come so far from the sulky, silent guy he was when he turned up in Copper Heights. I like thinking that being around me has had something to do with the change.
When Leo’s laughter fades away and he yanks the pillow from his face, he smiles at me. That one simple act still has the effect of weakening my knees. He sits up with his feet touching the floor and his hands gripping the edge of the mattress on either side of him. "You're something special, Reese. I can't imagine what life would have been like if I hadn't met you.” His voice is soft and full of affection. “I'm falling in..."
My heart kick-kicks against my ribs as his words fade away. All he does is smile tenderly.
He reaches for his T-shirt hanging on the wooden bed head. "Let me walk you out."
I shoo him away with my hand as I move to the door. “Stay in bed. Sleep. You don’t need to walk me to my house tonight.”
He grunts. “The hell I don’t.” A smirk rides his lips. “You aren’t even wearing panties.”
I laugh. “Really, you don’t.”
Stubborn as ever, he pulls on some sweats. “Okay, I don’t have to. I choose to.”
My heart soars like a dolphin jumping out of water. I try to play it cool. “Fine. I’m not gonna argue with you.”
I pull open the bedroom door, tiptoeing toward the stairs and Leo is right behind me. Just like every night. Except that tonight, Brenton’s door swings open right at that moment.
Oh no!
The little boy blinks and rubs sleep from his eyes. I freeze and so does Leo. Brent watches me suspiciously. "Reese?”
“Hey, Brent,” I squeak out.
His eyes move to his father and then back to me. “Did you sleep in my daddy's bedroom last night?"
"I...uh, I." I glance at Leo for help.
"Daddy, why did Reese sleep in your bedroom?" The tone of betrayal in his voice is jarring. He looks like he's on the verge of tears.
Guilt crawls all the way up from my toes. This isn’t good.
Leo steps out from behind me and kneels in front of a confused Brent. The father puts his hands on the little boy’s shoulders and takes a deep breath. "Remember that night when you were really sad and scared and you wanted me to stay in your room and give you cuddles?” Leo’s voice is steady but patient and kind.
Brenton nods despite the apprehension on his face.
Leo goes on. “Well, daddy is really sad some nights. He needs cuddles, too."
The boy’s bottom lip quivers when he asks, “My mommy isn’t coming back, is she?”
Leo’s head falls to his chest for a long moment, then he looks at his son and answers honestly. “No, she isn’t, buddy. I’m sorry but I’m all you’ve got.” He pulls Brent in for a hug that nearly swallows the little boy whole. Brent squeezes with all his might.
My heart breaks as I watch them. I’ve never met this Mara-woman, but I hate her with every fiber of my being. How could a person be so selfish? I wrap my arms around myself, to hold my shit together and keep from crying.
Brenton looks up at me with wet eyes. He releases his father and walks over to me. He wraps his arms around my legs and his body shakes as he sobs. Leo and I share a look in the shadowy hallway.
Then, I stoop to the floor and wrap myself around him. A moment later, Leo’s arms encapsulate Brent and me, and the three of us collapse into a long, tight embrace.