Page 26 of Locked Down In Watch Hill
TEN
ASHLEY
He was in my bed.
Kyle was in my bed, wrapped in my sheets, snoozing, the late morning light streaming through the curtains and hitting the small dip between his shoulders. Our breakfast was just a memory, the coffee cold, the croissants in disarray on the table where we’d left them.
And this was one of the best moments of my life.
The last two hours had been everything I’d needed and hadn’t known I was missing. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed having someone around me, someone to lean my head against, someone to hold me, someone to see me as a person instead of an image on a screen or an avatar on an Internet profile. Humans weren’t made to live like this. We were social creatures, and we needed each other. The separation and forced insolation had robbed me of it all, and the quarantine had only made it all worse. But right now, I felt glorious.
Thank God Kyle didn’t turn me down when I asked him to stay.
Had I ever been with such a generous lover? A man whose attentiveness was not only a huge turn-on, but made me feel alive all over. Cherished.Beautiful.His moans of delight, his touch, the desperate way he’d kissed me as if he’d been waiting so long to find me.Sublime.
It was almost nine thirty, and the pizzeria opened at eleven. He probably had things to do before the first customers began placing orders, and the longer he stayed with me, the longer he delayed the inevitable. He’d worked so hard to keep the place moving, which was so damn impressive. I hope he continued to thrive.I hope he comes back to my bed too.
He shifted in the sheets and turned over, his eyes bleary and a small smile on his face. “Well, that wasn’t part of the quarantine orders, was it?”
I shook my head. “Nope.”
“What happened to breakfast?”
“It’s still in the kitchen. The croissants are probably gross now, though.”
“Probably.” Kyle rubbed his eyes and sat up in bed, the cotton sheet falling around his waist and showing off his lightly muscled chest. “So... um...”
“Um.” I smiled at him. “I was thinking I could work on a social media plan for the store this afternoon. I only have a quick conference call at four, so I have the time.”
“Thanks.” His face brightened. “That would be great, actually. I never thought of a social media plan.”
“Oh yes, you have to have a whole strategy if you really want to maximize your potential.” I was glad to have something else to talk about besides what had just transpired between us, which I desperately hoped would be the first time of many. “You can’t treat Instagram the same way you’d treat TikTok...” I blushed at his intense stare.
“Anyway. You get it.” He smiled, then reached out and stroked my cheek softly.
“Thank you, Ashley. I appreciate it.” I sighed into his hand.
“My pleasure.” I giggled when I thought about the double entendre then. Thankfully, he joined in too.
“I should get dressed,” he said. “You’re right, I can’t be late.”
Kyle got out of bed and began putting on his clothes. I followed his lead and got dressed too, throwing on underwear, a pair of black leggings, and a vintage Def Leppard sweatshirt. When we were both ready, we walked back to the front of the apartment.
“Do you want your coffee?” I asked, feeling odd about it. The last time we’d started drinking coffee, we’d ended up in bed. “I mean—”
“No, thanks, beautiful, but I’ll take my pastry.” Kyle picked up the bakery bag and raised his eyebrow. “I have to eat real food sometime, right?”
“Right.” I giggled. Apparently,I’dbeen his last snack. Heat rose up my cheeks. The man is seriously cute and sexy, all rolled into one.
I crossed to the door and opened it, hating that he had to leave.
“I’ll text you after work,” he replied, following me to the door, his gaze upon me. “And maybe I can come by?”
“Yes.” I smiled. “Sounds good. And we can go over the uh... the social media plan.”
