“I’ll be in Orlando for a conference after tomorrow anyway,” I say. “I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
“Oh.” He looks a little shellshocked at the news.
We fall silent, and I start thinking about what it will be like to stay here alone when he leaves. There was apparently no real danger, but I’ll be on edge the whole night. Sleep won’t be in the cards.
Ash seems to read my mind.
“Do you want to spend the night at my place?” he asks.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him yes, but I don’t like the idea of imposing on him, and going to his place would only put off the real problem until tomorrow. I need to feel safe in my own house.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll just-”
“Then I’m staying here tonight,” he interrupts.
I look at him in surprise. “What? No, I can’t-”
“Look, either you’re coming to my place, or I’m staying here, but you’re not going to be alone tonight,” Ash says with finality.
“Alright,” I agree before I realize what I’m saying.
The Indian food arrives a little while later, and we eat it with the bottle of wine my mother left. After that, we sit on the couch and watch a movie, but I’m too distracted by both the night’s events and the man sitting next to me to take in much of the film.
“Just let me know where you keep your spare blankets,” Ash says as we get up from the couch after the movie. “I’ll make myself at home.”
I look at him strangely until it hits me that he plans to sleep on the couch. I just assumed he’d sleep in the bed with me.
“I have a king bed,” I blurt out. “We can share…if you’d be more comfortable.”
A smile turns up Ash’s lips. “Sure. I’ll always take a bed over a couch.”
I smile back and head upstairs, Ash behind me.
“I’ll be right back,” I say as I grab some clothing out of a drawer in my room and head into the ensuite bathroom.
I brush my teeth and hair, then change into my sleep shorts and cami as quickly as possible. I should shower, but I don’t want to keep Ash waiting too long. I can’t believe he agreed to stay over and sleep in my bed with me, and I don’t want to give him a chance to change his mind.
Do I want a repeat of what happened at his parents’ house?
If I’m honest with myself, yes. But maybe not tonight? It’s a toss-up whether I’m too upset to enjoy anything that might happen between us or if it would be a welcome distraction.
I open the bathroom to find Ash still fully clothed and sitting on the edge of the bed.
“You don’t have anything to sleep in,” I say, realizing the problem.
“Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about that,” he says. “I’d have to sleep in my boxer briefs. I figured I’d give you a chance to reconsider thesleeping arrangements if you wanted.”
“No,” I say quickly. “It’s fine. I’ll get in bed and turn the lights out, and you can get undressed.”
He nods as he stands up. “Sure.”
I head to my side of the bed and climb in under the covers before turning out the light on the nightstand. The room goes dark, and I turn over in bed so I’m facing away from Ash.
The room is so silent I can hear the rustle of fabric as he takes off his shirt, then the rasp of his zipper as he removes his jeans. A few seconds later, the bed dips as he climbs in.
There’s a pause before he moves closer, and his hand touches my hip gently. I hold my breath, not daring to move. My bed is bigger than the one in his parents’ house with plenty of room for us to sleep without touching each other, but…
But maybe I want him to touch me.
