Page 10 of Tight End
Not a fucking chance in hell.
Marissa was it for me.
I wasn’t letting her go.
4
MARISSA
Iwoke before the sun rose, tangled in heat and muscle. For a few seconds, I didn’t move, holding my breath as I just lay there with my cheek pressed to Raiden’s chest and his arm draped around my waist. It felt like he’d caged me there even in sleep, and I liked the idea of that. Probably too much.
My body ached in places I hadn’t even known were possible, but not in a bad way.
The twinges I felt were reminders of last night that I’d carry with me. Of how hungry Raiden had been for me. The way I’d made him lose control. Even though I was inexperienced.
I should have been embarrassed that he’d realized I was a virgin before I told him. But I wasn’t. Not when he’d looked at me with so much passion in his dark eyes. Or with how he’d kissed me like he was starving and I was the only thing that could satisfy him. The feminine thrill I’d felt was too strong to allow room for being self-conscious.
Almost as though he felt me thinking about him, Raiden’s hand tightened on my hip in his sleep. The small, instinctive gesture melted my heart in ways that it shouldn’t after only spending one night together.
I slowly lifted my head an inch, and my lips curved at how much softer his masculine features were. The edge he’d had during the press conference was completely wiped away. His lashes were long enough to be unfair, and a lock of dark hair had flopped onto his forehead. He would’ve looked almost boyish except for his thick beard.
My gaze drifted down to his broad shoulders, and I noticed a scar that made me wonder if there was a story behind it. As I continued down his muscular chest, heat rushed to my cheeks as I took in how low the sheet was riding on his hips. It just barely covered the hard length that had been deep inside me last night.
I forced myself to glance at the nightstand where my phone sat upside down. Picking it up, I saw the time, and panic shot through me so fast I nearly jolted upright. I had a flight in just four hours that I couldn’t miss, and I still hadn’t finished packing. I had planned to do that yesterday…before Raiden tempted me into going out with him instead.
Although I’d need to scramble today, last night was totally worth it.
But since I was traveling for work for an entire month, I couldn’t just throw a few things into a bag on my way to the airport. And that meant I needed to get moving.
My stomach twisted. Leaving the country after what happened last night was the last thing I wanted to do. But I’d been lucky to land my job at Empire Sports Network so soon after graduating, and missing my flight would make me late for an interview with the figure skater everyone thought was going to win the Four Continents Championships next week. My knowledge of the sport and my access to the skating community were significant factors in my boss hiring me, so I couldn’t afford to mess up at the start of my first big work trip.
I thought about waking Raiden before I got up to say goodbye instead of disappearing like a coward. But then mybrain conjured an image of him blinking at me in confusion and offering a polite smile before brushing our time together off as a one-night stand.
After the way I’d given myself over to him so completely, I couldn’t stomach the risk of seeing that look. So I carefully eased myself out from under his arm one inch at a time. His hand dragged across my hip as I slipped free, and the cold rush of air that hit my skin as I stood was a harsh contrast to the warmth I’d felt while wrapped in his arms.
I gathered my bra and panties as quietly as possible, even though Raiden didn’t move except to pull the pillow I’d been sleeping on into his chest and bury his face in it. Then I grabbed the rest of my clothes from the living room.
My cheeks burned remembering how my outfit had ended up scattered across his floor—his doing, not mine. He’d been single-minded in a way that still made my knees wobble if I thought about it too hard. Which was a problem, because my legs were already unsteady as I made my way to the en suite bathroom.
I stared at my reflection while washing my hands, taking in the beard burn on my face, neck, chest, and everywhere else he’d kissed me. I pressed my fingers over a spot on my collarbone, heat blooming beneath my skin. I’d never been kissed like that before. Hadn’t even known I could want someone that much or that fast. If only the timing hadn’t been so awful.
Heading back into the bedroom, I felt the lingering ache between my thighs every time I bent to grab another piece of clothing. I was even more aware of it when I slipped into my jeans and padded barefoot to where my top had landed near the foot of the bed.
Raiden shifted slightly, the sheet sliding a fraction lower on his hips, and my breath caught. I shouldn’t stare—but I did, committing the sight to memory.
When I reached for my top, my hand brushed against one of his instead. The T-shirt that’d been under his sweater, soft and worn from years of use. It smelled like him, and I wanted to take it with me. But I forced myself to set it back down.
Then I moved to the nightstand, searching for paper. When I found a pad and pen, my hand trembled slightly as I wrote him a short note.
Had to run to the airport for an assignment.
Thanks for a great night
– Marissa
With no idea what the morning-after etiquette was, I kept it short and simple.
I set it exactly where Raiden would see it when he opened his eyes.
