Page 73 of Make My Heart Malt

After two hours of sitting in traffic and getting through security at the airport, I’m finally sitting on the plane. Dessa called me after she got checked in and to her room. At least I know she’s safe. My leg bounces wanting to get to her. I can’t believe Tony did this. He’s an even bigger piece of shit than I thought. I’m fighting the urge to track him down in Chicago, rip out his jugular, and tell him what kind of asshole he really is. But he’s not worth it. Dessa needs me more, and I won’t disappoint her.

The plane finally lands in Chicago at four in the morning—Chicago time. My eyes are bloodshot from no sleep, not for the lack of trying, but every time I closed my eyes, I saw Tony and thought of how much I wanted togive him another black eye. Once the plane's stopped at the gate, I request an Uber, so there will be one waiting as soon as I’m outside the airport. Luckily, it’s early in the morning and traffic isn’t horrible, but it’s still not ideal when I need to get to Dessa. When I arrive at the hotel, I’m out of the car before it comes to a complete stop. I’ll be sure to leave the driver a generous tip.

At the front desk, I strum my fingers on the counter, willing the receptionist to work a little faster on getting me a key card. After what feels like hours but is only minutes, she slides the card to me. I race across the lobby to the elevators, and once inside, I jamb my thumb against the button for the fifteenth floor. My foot taps against the elevator floor as I watch the number rise. I pray no one else needs an elevator. I’ve been waiting long enough to get to Dessa, and I don’t want to wait a second longer. Before the elevator doors fully open, I jog out and down the corridor. Once I reach the door, I pull out the key card and pause. Maybe I shouldn’t just barge into the room since she has no idea I'm here. The last thing I want to do is terrify her. I tuck the card into my back pocket and knock instead. It’s silent as I wait. After several seconds pass, I knock again. I hear the deadbolt click and the door opens a crack.

“Garrett? What are you do?—”

Her hair is in a disheveled ponytail. Her eyes are still hooded from sleep, and she’s never looked more beautiful. I push through the door, clasp her cheeks in my hands, and press my lips to hers. She gasps in surprise, then her hands wrap around my waist, holding me close to her. I break away and rest my forehead against hers.

“I didn’t want you to be alone.”

“You flew all the way from Seattle to come here? Did you get any sleep?”

I brush my thumb over her cheek. “I needed to know you were safe.”

“You could have called me.”

“I needed to see you.”

“I needed to see you too.” She lifts her chin and kisses me. It’s soft and sweet, but also filled with promise and maybe hope.

She pulls away and wraps her fingers around mine, leading me through the living room and into the bedroom. I shrug off my backpack and toss it in the corner. Spinning around, her fingers grip the hem of my shirt, tugging it up over my chest. I help her remove it and toss it near my backpack. Her fingers push at the button of my jeans until it unfastens. She hooks her thumbs under the waistband and pulls them down past my thighs.

“Dessa. What are you doing?” My voice is strained. She’s been through a lot in the last twelve hours, and I doubt sex is the answer right now, but if that’s what she wants, I’ll give it to her. I’ll give her anything.

She peers up at me, and her lips curve in the corners. “I’m getting you ready for bed. You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

I’m going on twenty-four hours, but I had too much adrenaline coursing through my veins to sleep. But now that I’m here and Dessa’s safe, I could crash for about a week.

“And you’re coming to bed with me?”

“Duh. It’s five in the morning.”

I step out of my jeans and hook my thumbs under my boxer briefs, tugging them down until they hit the floor. Dessa’s gaze drops as the elastic slides over my semi-hard dick.

“Not now. First sleep,” she murmurs.

I don’t know if that was for me or more for herself. Butwith her staring at my dick longingly, I could pass on the sleep for at least twenty minutes. She climbs into the bed and folds the blanket over, inviting me in. So, I follow her. I would follow her anywhere. She snuggles into my chest, and I wrap my arm around her. Her sweet vanilla honey shampoo invades my senses, and I drift off to a peaceful sleep.

“It’s 10 a.m. Check out is in an hour. We should get going,” she mumbles against my chest. Her voice is warm and soft. Everything that is comforting in the world.

I wrap my arms around her waist, snuggling deeper against her. “That sounds like a terrible idea.”

She giggles. “Just because you’re a hotshot baseball player doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want.”

“Hmm. I’m comfortable, just like this.”

“But we need to check out. And I need to figure out a flight home.”

I lift the hem of her shirt and place a kiss right above her belly button. “When I came in this morning, I booked another night. How about we worry about the flight later?” My hand skates over her skin under the fabric of her shirt. My thumb brushes along the underside of her breast. “Plus, I’d rather concern myself with something else right now.”

She nibbles on her bottom lip. “And what’s that?”

“You.”

She runs her fingers through my hair. “I can tell you’re pretty comfortable. Your cock is poking my thigh.” She giggles.

“What can I say? He knows what he wants.”

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