Page 37 of Where the Dark Knelt
In my mind, I was wondering if something had happened to him, for him to be soadamant about not getting into a relationship. He may just be detached and disassociated from his feelings. I nestled down in the bed, pulling the comforter up under my chin.
Obviously, I knew before we started this, that it wouldn’tlast, but I’d been foolish to think I could handle it, that I wouldn’t want more.
I turned to facehim lying on the side I usually fell asleep on. When I did this I could feel his body heat radiate toward me. The smell of his fresh bodywash on his just showered body drew me to him, and it took everything I had not to slip my arms around him and nuzzle close.
A tear rolled down my face as I thought about the fact that we could enjoy each other’s bodies in the ways that we did, but a caress without sex was unacceptable as it intimated affection.
“You’ve ruined me.” The words of a barely there whisper from a dream I didn’t recall having woke me up. I had a headache. My throat and mouth felt dry from the champagne.
I remembered where I was,and it was so hot. Alfie’s legs and arms were tangled around me. He was cuddling me, his arms wrapped firmly around my waist, one hand softly caressing my ass cheek.
My facewas buried in his chest, my arm draped over his hip. I swallowed hard and lay there for a few minutes, listening to his steady heartbeat and smelling his scent.
Enjoying the feel of his soft skin, the comfort of his embrace, and his deep breaths wafting over my forehead, as he slept, I peered up trying not to disturb him. Alfie’s stunningly beautiful features were relaxed, and he looked so peaceful.
Perfect lips looking so succulent that I wanted to press mine against them. When I tried to free myself, his eyes fluttered, and he tightened his grip on me, readjusting himself, to get me closer. Firmly, his hand slid up to cover my lower back, keeping me in place.
Opening his eyes slowly, Alfie confused me because he madeno attempt to free me. “Hey,” he said, smilingslowly as he looked down at me. Pulling me closer into him, his erection stirred on my belly.
It was too comfortable lying beside him though. It felt so right and wrong at the same time. I was in danger of tearing up so I pushed free of him. “I need to use the bathroom.” I rolled over and pushed myself off of the mattress.
Sitting on the toilet with my head in my hands, I wishedI hadn’t stayed over. I was facing an awkward morning-after thing, and my clothes were still on his bedroom floor.
I considered asking him to pass them to me, but I knew that would just make a bigger deal of things. So I cracked the bathroom door open and stepped back into his room. I picked up my clothes and began to dress. “Hey… what’s the hurry, babe?”
“I want to get home, Alfie. I have stuff to do today.” He looked disappointed but didn’t try to dissuade me from leaving. “Can you call me a cab?” I tried to make my mood sound light when I asked this.
“Okay, you’re a cab… is this a new fetish?” he smirked.
When he saw that I wasn’t laughing, he sighed. “I’ll take you home, Lily.”
I shook my head. “I’d rather go by cab.”
Without responding again, he threw back the sheets, got off the bed, and began walking around naked, his morning wood standing proud. When he found his tablet, he looked up, found a number, then called it on his cell.
Taking some jeans out of the closet, he pulled them on, and disappeared downstairs, leaving me to finish putting my outfit on.When I went down, he was in the kitchen, the radio playing, and he was busy singing along and making himself an omelet.
He twisted his body around to see me,switched the stove off, and leaned against the counter. Following me, his eyesnever left me as I came downstairs. “Thank you for last night. I had a great time with you.” He folded his arms over his chest, rubbing his left pectoral muscle, and he smiled at me.
I don’t know why, but I sounded cold. “No, problem, I had a good time too.”His smile slipped for a moment, but it soon returned as he moved toward me and put his arms around my waist.
“Why don’t you spend the day here?”I felt it was a strange offer, especially with the no-strings aspect of us. I would have stayed in a heartbeat if I thought that he felt anything toward me. But he didn’t.“Well, maybe you have time to have sex all day, but I have other stuff that needs my attention,” I teased, trying to sound light-hearted. “Besides, I’m meeting Will later. We have stuff to discuss.”
As I was saying this,the cab he’d called for me pulled up. Before he could come over in my direction again, I was out the door and seated in the cab.
He stood holding his front door. His head turned and followed the cab until I lost sight of him. I sat back in the seat and let out a huge sigh, closing my eyes. This didn’t feel as uncomplicated as I had expected it to. I made a note not to stay over again.
Arriving back at the apartment shortly before Holly, I was on the couch when she opened the front door. She was sneaking in with her shoes under her arms and froze when she saw me.
I burst out laughing. “Why are you sneaking in? Where have you been?” I asked, still giggling. Holly rolled her eyes.
“Oh, honey, I’ve been in heaven.” Then she laughed so loudly, I had to shush her so we wouldn’t get any complaints from the neighbors.
“Okay, come on, dish the dirt,” I prompted.
“Well, honey, I’m not sure I want to share withy’allyet,” she teased. I scowled and crossed my arms.
“Holly, you have been complaining like a drain that we’ve all been having orgasms and you were Arizona, or somewhere, remember?”
