I kiss her back, slow and deep, trying to show her without words that I'm not going anywhere.
The kiss changes.Gets hungrier.Her hands slide over my chest, and I groan.
"Carla," I say."You sure you want to do this again?"
"Yes."
"You're not too sore?"
"I'm fine."She pushes me onto my back and straddles me, and the sight of her like that, naked and confident, makes every coherent thought evaporate from my brain."I want you."
"You've got me."
She leans down and kisses me, and I'm lost.
This time is different from last night.Slower.Less desperate.I take my time, learning what makes her gasp.What makes her moan.What makes her dig her nails into my shoulders and say my name like a prayer.
When she rides me, her head thrown back, her body moving like she was made for this, I'm so gone I don't even recognize myself.
I've been with other women.Plenty of them.But none of them were her.
None of them made me feel like I'd been searching for something my whole life and just now found it.
When she comes apart above me, I follow her over the edge, and the only thought in my head is I’m crazy in love with her.
Afterward, she collapses on my chest, breathing hard, and I wrap my arms around her.Holding her.Claiming her in every way that matters.
"That was," she starts.
"Yeah."
"We should probably get up."
"Probably."
Neither of us moves.
Eventually, she lifts her head and looks at me."I have to call the diner.Tell them I'm not coming in today."
"You work today?"
"I was supposed to.But I can't.Not with Randall out there."
"Call them.Tell them you're sick."
She nods and reaches for her phone on the nightstand.I watch her make the call, apologizing to whoever's on the other end, promising she'll be back tomorrow.
When she hangs up, she looks exhausted.
"You okay?"I ask.
"I hate this.I hate that he's taken over my life again.I hate that I can't even go to work without being scared."
"It won't be like this forever."
"Won't it?He's not going to give up, Timothy.You saw him yesterday.He thinks I belong to him.And he's not the kind of guy who accepts losing."
"Neither am I."
