Harley was breathing hard, with his face in my neck, and when I suddenly started to cry again, he moved rapidly, pulling back, easing out of me, and sitting up beside me.
“Babe? Jesus, babe? Did I hurt you?”
I shook my head, covering my face as heavy sobs started to choke out of me, and I rolled onto my side, curling in a ball.
“Fuck, Caroline. Please. Talk to me.”
I felt him move, and then he was crouching on the other side of me, beside the bed, his fingers stroking through my hair.
“You’re scaring me,” he whispered against my forehead as he pressed his lips there, “can I hold you? It might help both of us right now.”
I nodded as I sat up, and Harley slipped onto the bed beside me again, drawing me against his chest, his fingers stroking my hair as I cried. The frustrating part was not understanding exactly what was going on, or why I was breaking apart, especially when I’d just experienced something so perfect. Something I never thought I’d ever do, or feel. Something that was only possible because of him.
“Caroline, babe? Can you answer yes or no questions at least?”
I nodded, still sniffling, and Harley sighed, stroking my hair back again.
“Did I do something bad?”
I shook my head, and he relaxed a little.
“Are you in pain?”
I shook my head again, and he stayed silent for a moment.
“Do you know why you’re crying?”
I lifted my head at last, swiping tears away as I stared at him, embarrassment flooding through me, and heating my cheeks. What kind of loser cries after sex, right?
“No. Do you?”
He smiled, reaching out to gently brush new tears away.
“If you feel okay now, maybe you were just letting go of stuff you were bottling up. Orgasms do more than just feel good. I think they unburden the mind too, at least for a while. There’s a reason sex is so addictive.”
Chapter Nineteen
ONCE SHE FELT MORE centred, I got up and disposed of the condom, washing my hands, and using the bottle of mouthwash I found in the cabinet. Not because I wanted rid of her taste, hell, I’d happily die with that still in my mouth. I did it because then she’d feel more comfortable if my lips were near hers.
Once I’d finished, I stepped out and found her standing outside, her robe firmly back around her now.
“I… I just wanted to freshen up,” she said shyly, so I nodded and stepped aside.
“Do you want me to leave?”
She gasped, spinning on her heel in the bathroom doorway.
“No! Do you want to leave?”
I shook my head, realising I was covering my junk from her gaze now, like I was the one feeling shy. Things felt weirdly formal between us now, and I had no idea why.
“I uh…”
She shot me a quick smile, and disappeared into the bathroom, so hell, I tidied up my clothes and tucked them on the dresser, and slipped my boxers back on, because for some reason nudity felt wrong right now. In fact… I slipped my jeans on too, and then my t-shirt. What the fuck was going on in my head right now?
“Oh… you’re leaving?”
Caroline was standing behind me, that robe firmly tethered around the waist, and her face freshly washed and practically glowing with health. She looked like she was feeling good, so why was I feeling like an intruder?
