Page 27 of Where the Dark Knelt
Alfie sighed. “It was business, and she paid for dinner.” I glanced at his body language.
“Huh… so she paid, and you never got laid.” I giggled. “You don’t have the right idea about being a playboy, do you?”
Stretchingout the tension in his neck, he moved his head from one side to the other. I could see he was struggling with what to say. His hand began rubbing one side of it to get the kinks out of his muscles. “Can we just drop this, please?” He looked a little tired, and his eyes were pleading with me. I sensed that I wasn’t going to get any answers tonight.
“Fine, it’slate, I need my bed. You can stay, but I want you gone first thing.” He smiled and nodded. “Oh, and you’re definitely not having sex with me, do you understand?” Thesmile died on his lips for the second time. “You try it and I never come near you again.”
“Can I lie beside you? I haven’t slept with a woman in a long time.” I think back to his comment about him doubting that we’d sleep together and smiled.
“Yeah, sure, it’ll be a novel experience for you, I’m sure.”
I brushed my teeth and changed from my shorts to some short PJs, then climbed onto the bed. It was too hot for sheets or the comforter, so I curled up with my back to the bathroom door, where he was getting ready for bed. He seemed to be in there for a long time, and my eyes began to droop.
Bright light streaked acrossthe room as the bathroom door opened, then Alfie’s silhouette briefly moved across the drapes. Turning to look, he walked toward me wearing a towel low on his waist before the timer light behind him went off.
Rolling my head back in the direction I was facing as the sight and scent of him was too alluring, I felt a deep dip in the mattress near me as he crawled into bed.
Alfie smelled incredible, and the cold, satiny skin on the back of his upper arm brushed mine as he settled himself down beside me. “Are you awake?”
His voice softly echoed out in the darkness. I didn’t answer and tried to keep my breathing slow and steady so that he’d think I was asleep.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Lily, I truly am. I don’t ever want to hurt you,” he whispered softly. I lay pretending to be asleep until I heard his breathing becoming deep and even. Then, my own exhaustion overtook me and sleep washed over me.
I could hear music when I woke up. The room had a small hint of daylight as the heavy blackout drapes kept most of the light out. Alfie’s arm was tight around my waist. He was spooning with me, and his erection was digging into my back.
At first I just lay there, feeling his warmth around me, butI soon realized our thighs were actually stuck together with sweat.
Trying to move felt like I was ripping a band aid off, slowly.Alfie shifted and moved his arm, and I quickly rolled away from him. Softly bouncing off the bed, I stood and scooted into the bathroom, locking the door.
The force of the water in the shower struck my hand as I turned on the faucet. I stuck my hand in to test the temperature and stepped in. Alfie was tempting, lying in my bed, but I was determined to fight my feelings on this.
Alfie’s looks, charm, and magnetism werea lethal combination with my inexperience. I had no defenses against him. Alfie could make me do stuff I would have disowned friends for doing.
I could’ve reasoned with myself why a guy like him wasn’t taken. Alfie isn’t boyfriend material. He did warn me that he didn’t do emotional relationships, and from what I saw last night, he was definitely a player.
It’s a pity because the guy was a sexy, gorgeous mess for all his fucked-up-ness. But I was afraid he was getting under my skin. I opened the bathroom door and could hear the music again coming from the sitting room. Someone was home. I groaned inwardly as I watched Alfie lying on my bed, still sleeping.
Sneaking out of the bedroom, I went to find Holly, who was sitting on the couch looking washed-out after her night shift, crunching on some toast. It smelled heavenly. “Sorry, Lily, I didn’t think anyone was home.Saffyisn’t here, and I figured you had both gone somewhere last night after the gig.”
Quickly glancing at the bedroom door, I spoke softly, hoping I didn’t wake Alfie. I didn’t want Holly to know he was there. “I know she hooked up with one of the new people I met at college yesterday.”
“Yeah?Tell me more, I’m missing out on all this sex, working night shifts.” She smiled tiredly.
“Well, really, it’sSaffy’sstory to tell, but she’s with a guy called Will.” I told her about meeting Mandy, Neil, and Will yesterday and Mandy’s invite to the bar.
“And?”
I laughed softly. “Saffywas horny!” Holly didn’t need to be told anything else.
Hollygot up from the table and walked away muttering, “All these orgasms.” She put on her thickest Texas accent and drawled, “I’m like Arizona here, hot and dry.” I couldn’t help giggling at her. “I’m off to bed. Maybe I’ll get lucky in my dreams.”
Disappearing through herbedroom door, I saw her kick it closed with her heel. It made a loud bang, and my eyes darted back to my bedroom door again. A sudden need to get Alfie out before she woke and beforeSaffycame home hit me.
After making some coffee I went to wake him, but he was already in the shower. “Alfie, we need to move, I have to be on campus in less than an hour.” I pulled on a green skater dress over some functional underwear and slid on matching pumps. I was ready to leave when he came back into the room.
“You look beautiful. Can I see you later?” he asked.
“Let me think about that. I’m not sure what’s happening today.” I was expecting some resistance, but I think that Alfie knew he was on thin ice after last night, and he let it go.
