Page 32 of Mister Rival

My heart beats so fast against his chest, I’m sure he can feel it.

I can’t be sure, but I think I hear him whisper, “You’re a woman to love, Alison.”

Just as my eyes close and I can’t hold my head up anymore. I fall asleep. Just like that. With Tristan still inside me, my libido back on track, and my heart racing like never before, because he’s given me the best night of my life.

I’ll never forget it, and I’ll never be sorry I came to this stupid, damn reunion.

Chapter Fifteen

TRISTAN

I wake up with a start. For a second, I can’t remember where I am.

Then it all comes flooding back.

Tequila shots.

A rose gold dress.

All night sex.

Ali Archer.

I smile, reaching my arm out, but when I feel the cold sheet under my palm, I crack one eye open and lift my head. Her side of the bed is empty. I sit up with a jolt, my heart rate accelerating, running a hand through my thoroughly fucked up hair from our all night antics. Did she run out on me? Or sneak back to her room before I woke up?

The thought doesn’t sit well as I adjust to the morning light peeking through a crack in the heavy-set curtains. I throw the duvet back and scoot my ass forward. My head is only slightly humming from a mild hangover, and I’m relieved it’s a darned sight clearer than I thought it would be.

Hoisting myself out of bed as I find my feet, images come thick and fast. All starting with seeing Ali across the room in that gorgeous dress with the sexy V at the front. The way shethrew her arms around me in front of her ex-husband, and kissed me like it was her dying wish… Their faces when they saw us together was priceless. And how could I forget the sip, lick, suck of our shots at the bar and shoving my lime in her mouth? Then, our hot and heavy kisses in the elevator, our hands everywhere, her body wrapped around mine… tasting her wet heat with my head between her thighs, plucking those ripe nipples, plundering her sexy pussy…

My body reacts like it always does to her as I quickly pull my boxers on and move across the floor, padding toward the bathroom. I hear the faint trickle of water from the shower and I sigh an unexpected sense of relief. She’s here. She’s in the goddamn shower.

I’m surprised at my reaction to the thought of her being gone. I know she enjoyed every inch of me last night and what we did, as I did her, but as the night faded into morning and she sobered up, maybe she had other thoughts?

I guess there’s only one way to find out. And the fact she’s still here, taking a shower, and hasn’t run away, is a good sign. I think.

The door is slightly ajar, so I nudge it open with my foot and let the swirling steam wash over me as I stare straight ahead at her naked body through the glass.

Is that a tune she’s quietly humming? The edge of my mouth pulls up into a smile hearing her sweet little melody while she’s washing herself. I can see her silhouette through the glass, my cock already full mast, straining against the material of my boxers.

“Hey, beautiful,” I murmur, not to alarm her but wanting her to know I’m there. I push off the doorframe and walk toward the shower.

The humming suddenly stops and I see her reach for the shower screen to slide the glass back. She peeks around after amoment. “Hey,” she says, almost a little… shyly? Beads of water trickle down her face as the steam rises around her like she’s some kind of apparition. And after last night, I know she’s so much more.

“I thought you ran out on me.” I fold my arms across my chest and lean on the wall opposite her.

“No, I, um… I thought I better wash myself before I head on out.”

“Mind if I join you?”

Her eyes meet mine. She blinks a couple of times in rapid succession, her eyes flick down to my morning wood — which is an obvious bulge in my boxers… Is she… embarrassed? “Um… I… umm?—”

I cock my head, watching her, taking in her very essence. Her confidence from last night seems to have wavered in the light of day. “Are you okay?”

“I just… things look different during the daylight,” she sighs, still hiding behind the screen door.

My forehead scrunches. “What things?”

“I have flaws, Tristan. You may have not seen them last night in the dark, things look different laying down and in silhouette.”

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