Page 54 of Paging Dr. Breakup
They tumbled back into pleasure together for a second time.
*
The early lightgave the room a bluish glow. No sound came from outside of Deirdre’s house. Cal smiled as he glanced around the bedroom, then stopped when he spied the dresser.
On it sat a picture of Elijah and Deirdre, smiling and faces together. Healthy and happy. Youthful. From a time before Elijah had become sick.
Taking a solid breath required more effort than Cal was capable of.
So did analyzing the layers of feelings the past twelve hours had churned up. He’d rather focus on the here and now.
At some point in the night, Deirdre had turned to face him. Those kiss-swollen lips, now relaxed and calm in sleep, had been open in pleasure last night. Several times. What he’d give to see that expression again and again. What he’d give never to leave the crystalline perfection of this exact moment. Right here.
“Morning.” Deirdre stretched in his arms, catlike, purring when their chests rubbed together.
That simple and sexy movement triggered his penis from relaxed to ready in a split second.Down, buddy.
He held onto control as he dropped a kiss onto her forehead. “Good morning.”
She gave him shy half-smile. “I suppose our pretend relationship isn’t so fake anymore.”
“Um, yeah.”
Trailing her fingers over his pectorals, she said in a soft, sleep-roughened voice that triggered a hungry response deep inside of him, “I loved everything about last night.”
He brushed a thumb over her soft cheek. There was a pause, then he said, “I did, too.”
She pulled back, her hair tangling between her head and the pillow. “But?”
God, she was way too observant. “We may have painted ourselves into a bit of an emotional corner.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Go on.”
“Look, what we had, here, last night. There aren’t words strong enough. Wonderful. Sexy. Addicting.” The words spilled out. “But you deserve more than I have to give, Deirdre. You deserve a solid future. We took our pretend relationship and ran with it. Literally.” He stroked her shoulder. “We changed our rules.”
Lines formed between her brows. “No one needs to know that things changed.”
“My car was parked on the street all night. It’s a small town. Cat’s out of the proverbial bag.” He swallowed. “Besides, you’re the kind of person who deserves a long-term, real relationship.”
“You think you know what kind of person I am in this respect?” Her eyes narrowed. Her chin lifted.
Loaded question. “You’re a quality person who should have someone solid to stick around. Not a one-night stand.”
“First of all, I can have a one-night stand if I want one.”
“You’re right.”
“Also, no one’s asking for anything long-term.”
“Aren’t you? Deep down.” Cal’s world back in Seattle didn’t include Deirdre, but on the other hand he couldn’t visualize a world without Deirdre in it.
“Don’t presume to know my thoughts. What I want.” Her weary sigh sent his stomach into a spiral. “My dreams.”
Oh crap. “That’s not—”
“Look, Calvin, if you’re having regrets, that’s fine. But you need to own your reaction.”
“I own it, but not—”
