“Joking? Not at all. If I have you by my side, I want to hold you in my arms, I have no doubts about that. Aren’t you used to sleeping with your partners? Not counting your ex-husband, of course,” I asked, because it was time to learn a bit about her past, although to tell the truth, I didn’t like imagining her in another man’s arms.
“No; besides...” she began to say, but stopped thoughtfully and after a few seconds added: “since my separation I hadn’t been with anyone.”
What?! How could a woman like her not have been with anyone since her separation? It surely wasn’t because she didn’t have offers. Xavier himself had been captivated by her beauty and charm, and if I hadn’t forbidden him, he would have been pursuing her until she agreed to a date with him.
I took her chin and lifted her face so I could look into her eyes.
“How can that be? I can’t understand how a woman like you doesn’t get propositions.”
“I didn’t say that. I simply didn’t accept them. At first because I needed time for myself, then because I didn’t feel comfortable.”
And that was understandable, as was her shyness. Devon had told me she had married very young, so it wasn’t surprising that she had little experience with other men.
“And why did you agree to go out with me?” I asked, because knowing that she had accepted me made me feel a strange emotion.
“I don’t know; I really don’t know. I suppose because I was very attracted to you, although at first I thought you were a brute,” she said, making me laugh because I knew she was right. “Besides, my friends were always insisting that I should go out, not just dedicate myself to work, and I thought the time had come to do it.”
“How good that your friends insisted, although your little friend Araoz seems to take care of you a lot. It breaks my balls a bit that he’s always getting between us,” I stated, because that guy might be her friend, but he was too possessive with her and I didn’t like it.
“Orson just looks after me. He’s a great friend.”
“Is there something between you two that I should worry about?”
“Worry about?” she asked, with a look of astonishment.
“I don’t want anyone touching you. You’re mine, ‘Sweet,’” I stated, and gave her a delicate kiss on the lips.
“Orson is just a great friend.”
“Better that way. How many days off do you have?” I asked, because if she was planning to continue her leave, I was going to take advantage of it to spend quite a bit of time with her.
“Two weeks.”
“Then we’re going to make the most of those free days.”
“Do you have any idea when Alba is coming back?”
“She hasn’t told me yet. I’ll ask her as soon as I can. Now let’s sleep, my sweet doctor,” I suggested.
“Good night, William.”
“Good night, ‘Sweet.’”
I pulled her toward me and wrapped my arm around her. I felt my chest swelling with emotion. I had never slept with anyone, and having her there was incredible. Exhaustion overcame me because between the trip, the few hours of sleep, and the amazing sex I had experienced with Devon, I was also exhausted, but I fell asleep with a smile I couldn’t erase.
I woke up relaxed and rested as I hadn’t felt in a long time; I had slept wonderfully. I looked over to Devon’s side and the bed was empty. I would have liked to wake her up and make love to her, but given the hour and with Aurora sleeping in her apartment, it was better to leave it for another time. I went to the bathroom and, when I came out, I thought I heard their voices. I headed toward the bedroom where Aurora was, and the scene once again made me feel an indescribable emotion. I stood at thedoor listening to the conversation they were having. Devon was extremely sweet with my daughter, and it was clear that Aurora adored her.
“And did that little friend keep you company?” Devon asked, while showing her the stuffed animal I had seen my daughter sleeping with.
“Yeth,” she answered, and emphasized it by nodding her head affirmatively.
“That’s good, then we’ll let him continue to keep you company whenever you come to visit me. Now let’s have breakfast,” she suggested.
“Yeth!” my daughter said again, and stood up on the bed and threw herself at Devon, giving her a tight hug.
Once again I was astonished by that scene. I had never seen my daughter show such affection and with such enthusiasm. I don’t think she was even that demonstrative with me, but far from bothering me, it pleasantly surprised me.
“This princess nightgown looks beautiful on you.”