Page 8 of Pining for Porter
So fucking adorable.
I lift the covers, sliding in beside her and pull her in tight. She sighs deeply.
We lie together until our breathing evens out. Right before I drift off to sleep, I mumble against her forehead. "I know I'm moving fast, Stella, but I don't want to waste another second." I kiss her temple, sleepy and exhausted. "I love you, cupcake."
I don't know if Stella responds, because I drift off into the deepest sleep of my life.
The next thing I know, I wake up and it's after 4am. The bed is empty. I sit up and look around. On the pillow, where the love of my life should be sleeping, is a note:
I'm at Mitzie's. Help yourself to coffee and text me when you're up. xo, Stella
In my sleep-deprived, animalistic state, only one crazy thought pops into my head, and I come unhinged with the possibility: She's with Gregor.
And he's a dead man.
Chapter 6
Stella
I whirl around, dancing to Chumbawumba's classic, "Tubthumping," because 90s music is my jam when I'm baking, and scream when I see Porter standing in the doorway at the back of the kitchen.
"Where is he?" Porter grits out, looking around wildly.
"Holy shit!" I yell, clutching my heart to keep it from leaping directly out of my body.
Porter storms through the kitchen, poking around corners and shelves like he's looking for something. When he doesn't find it, he turns around with a look of pure confusion on his face that must mirror my own. "What are you doing here, cupcake?"
"Didn't you get my note?" I ask, completely bewildered by the entire situation. I glance anxiously at the clock and am grateful to still be making good time.
Porter nods, looking around at the pies cooling on tall racks, and the pastry supplies spread out on the table before me. "I…I thought you were here with the cook from the diner," he admits.
"Gregor?" I ask. "Why would I be here with Gregor?" Porter has the decency to look embarrassed, and I suddenly realize what he's getting at. "Oh my god! You thought I wassleepingwith Gregor? Ewww!"
"Well, I don't know," he splutters.
"Excuse me? You don't know? I just gave my virginity to you. And, what? You think that means I'm now open for business?" My hands fly to my hips as I glare at him. It doesn't help that I'm still experiencing a deliciously dull ache from our earlier activities. My skin heats more from those memories than the justified anger I'm feeling right now.
Porter's cheeks redden visibly, and he shakes his head, coming down quickly from whatever psychotic delusion he let run rampant in that handsome fucking head of his.
I roll my eyes, turning back to my work station as I try to figure out where I was in my process.
"Wait…" I whirl back around with a sudden thought. "So, not only do you think I'm sneaking around with my co-worker, but you also decide that the only place we could possibly find to hook up is at the same diner we both work at, owned by hismother?"
He stares at me for what feels like an eternity before responding. "I was clearly wrong."
"Yes, you were," I huff.
"I'm sorry," Porter says, coming closer and leveling me with that intense gaze that had me handing over my V-card on our first date. "The truth is, the thought of you with anyone else makes me lose my mind."
"Clearly," I snap at him, looking around at the mess on the floor caused when he stormed into the place.
"I've lived alone for a long time, Stella, and it's by my own design. I don't easily trust people. But I promise…" He puts his fingers under my chin and turns my head to look at him. "I promise I will never ever doubt you again. Please forgive me."He bends down, planting his mouth to mine in a searing kiss that almost makes me forget everything.
Almost.
"Oh no you don't." I shove him away. "I have fifteen apple pies still left to get done tonight, and thanks to you, barely enough time to do it. You keep your hands off of me until later, Mister." I wag my finger at him, and the grin that breaks out across his face is bright enough to thaw my angry heart. Slightly.
"Later?" he asks, his voice full of hopeful lust.
