Page 45 of Love.V2
After forty-five minutes of traffic, I still wasn’t very calm. I was angry at my dad, and myself, guilty for even thinking he might be right about what he’d said. The thought of going back to my hotel room alone had made me stir crazy.
“He was…Dad. I know I just saw you last night, but I wanted to see you again. If that’s okay. I don’t want to interrupt…whatever is going on here.” Miraculously, when I waved a hand at her face, I cracked a smile. This was already better.
She swatted me away. “I’m checking the ‘do something for yourself’ item off our list tonight. Self-care and all that. Meery wanted to go out, but I needed to do laundry. Do you…want to come in?”
She cracked her door open the tiniest bit, but that was all I needed. The TV was paused, and a bowl of popcorn sat on her coffee table. Little nail polish bottles lined up like soldiers.
“Am I going to interrupt spa night or something?”
“Not at all. Though Iwillmake you come with me to the creepy basement when I have to move my laundry along.” She stepped aside to let me in and, I admit it, I snuck a glance down her shirt. I missed her tits so bad.
“These not up to snuff?” I tapped the stacked washer and dryer unit wedged into the area that seemed to serve as pantry, hall closet, and laundry room.
“They haven’t worked since I moved in. The washing machine sprays water everywhere. I emailed my super, but it’s not a priority, I guess. Oh!” Tess startled when a knock sounded on her door. Everything under the tank top jiggled delightfully. I lunged to intercept her, opening the door and blocking the view inside with my body.
“Thanks, man.” I smiled at the guy standing in the hall. “Appreciate it.”
I lifted the bag out of his hands, aromas of egg rolls and lo mein wafting out of it. I didn’t regret leaving my dad back at that bar, but damn, I wish I’d eaten something before coming over here.
“The face mask isn’tthatbad,” Tess griped, swiping the bag from me. Did she realize when she did things like grumble at me when she was so cordial and composed with everyone else, it made me want to melt at her feet? It reminded me I was one of the few people who got to see the real Tess. Not just the one she wanted people to see.
That beautiful girl, who’s quiet and thoughtful, with paint under her fingernails? She has road rage like you wouldn’t believe, and once she’s got two glasses of wine under her belt, curses like a sailor.
Thatwas my Tess. It was a privilege to see it.
“It’s not the mask, trust me.” My eyes traveled down her face, then down, down, across her throat, and down some more. It took her a second.
“Oh!” She jumped. I got another glimpse of a jiggle before her arms wrapped around her chest. “I forgot I wasn’t wearing a bra. Oh, shit.”
“Please.” I laughed, watching her pivot on her heel to her bedroom, then turn back to the laundry hamper by the door, her cognitive dysfunction firing hard as she tried to find the closest acceptable underwear. “Please,please, don’t cover up on my account.”
She flicked a sports bra at me. I snatched it out of the air, still laughing.
“It’s not funny! This shirt is practically see-through. What if I’d answered the door like this?” she demanded. Little cracks were forming in the clay on her face, which only made me laugh harder. She crossed her arms, hiding again. “I’m serious. I almost just flashed that guy.”
“Good thing I’m here to save the day, then.” I chuckled, coming down from my laughing fit.
“I guess,” she mumbled, still glaring.
“Admit it.” When I pulled her arms away from her body, they came easily, wrapping around my waist when I scooped her up. “I’m a hero. Surely that’s worth at least one egg roll?”
“Oooh,” she hummed. “You don’t care about my boobs at all. You just want to pilfer my delivery order.”
“Whoa, whoa, let’s not be hasty.” I gave her my most charming smile. “It can be both.”
After finishing the egg rolls and settling in with oldFriendsepisodes, we spontaneously added a new entry on our list. I proudly checked “do something you’ve never done before” off while Tess gave me a pedicure.
Getting my toes painted with bright red lacquer and daisies shouldn’t have been erotic, but with Tess leaning over me in a see-through crop top, anything could be hot.
I helped fold her laundry, grinning when she strictly forbade me from touching her underwear.
I snagged a pair anyway, and the ensuing chase ended with Tess in my lap, groaning as she rocked her hips while I licked into her mouth. We took our time, nowhere to be but right here. Our agreement to wait to have sex slowed everything down—no pressure, just appreciation.
All her little sounds and movements. The sigh that flowed out of her throat as she tipped her head back. Her skin under my palms when I swept them under that almost-sheer top. Time took on a slow, languid stretch, and I didn’t know how long we sat there, grinding together like teenagers.
“I don’t want to go.” The Netflix had gone dark some time ago, the polish was dried. Her laundry was neatly tucked into her dresser, and I’d run out of excuses to stay. The thought of leaving physically hurt.
She paused just long enough for me to realize how that might have sounded, especially since she was splayed out on my lap, lips puffy and chest red from where I’d tried to devour her. “I didn’t mean it like—“
