I hoped it wasn’t too expensive because Lucy and Chris insisted on paying for my room since I was in the bridal party. I’d have to figure out how much it was so I could Venmo the money to her.
I lifted the lid off one of the covered plates and found a mound of croissants and pastries. My mouth watered at the smell of the warm bread, but I replaced the cover. I wasn’t going to eat until Elijah was out of the shower. The other covered plate held bacon, sausage links, and a fluffy pile of scrambled eggs.
As I replaced the lid, I heard the water shut off in the bathroom. I wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself, so I just stood by the couch and brought my coffee cup to my mouth.
I was glad I had a cup to hide behind when the bathroom door opened. A swirl of steam escaped as Elijah sauntered out wearing nothing but a small, white towel. Jesus, I’d had sex with this man three times last night. I should not be so affected by the way his body looked in that brief towel. I’d put my hands and mouth all over him, but I wanted to do it again. Right now.
Hiding my hungry expression behind my cup, I couldn’t stop my eyes from following him across the room to the pile of his clothes on the floor. Completely at ease, he bent down and grabbed his black briefs. Tossing the towel on the end of the bed, he pulled them on and slid his legs into his suit pants.
The coffee I sipped did nothing to wet my mouth as he slipped them on and zipped them but left the hook at the top undone.
“What did I tell you about looking at me like that?” he asked when he faced me.
There was no way I could play it cool so I merely said, “Then you should quit walking around here like an advertisement for sex.”
He threw his head back and laughed before heading toward me. He took the cup out of my hands, setting it on the side table behind me. His hands found my hips, tugging me closer. I laid my palms on his pecs, feeling the heat of his skin and crisp chest hair. When he leaned down to kiss me, I tasted the sharp mint of my mouthwash and him.
The kiss ended too quickly, but he kept his hold on my hips and guided me to the couch until I sat on one end. He sat next to me and poured coffee into our cups. Mine was nearly cold anyway. I watched as he added sugar and milk to mine before handing it to me.
Though we didn’t know each other well, we had spent time around each other over the past year. Enough that it seemed he remembered how I took my coffee. I hadn’t given it a thought earlier when I’d taken a sip from the cup he’d made me. Watching him now, it hit me that he paid attention.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
After taking a sip from his fresh coffee and placing it on the table, Elijah lifted the lid on the plate of pastries and set it to the side. Then he did the same with the other plate.
To my surprise, he picked up a fork and offered me a bite of the eggs. I studied him as I took the bite, slowly chewing.
“Good?” he asked.
I nodded. He took a bite also before offering me a piece of bacon.
The rest of our breakfast went like that until all the eggs were gone and I was nibbling on the last bit of my croissant. I never even touched a fork. He fed me in between his own bites, and we both sipped our coffee.
It was peaceful. And intimate. Maybe too intimate. My foolish heart yearned to do this again. Every weekend if I could. The tranquil bubble surrounding us popped when he finally set the plate aside and sat back in the couch, putting one hand behind his head.
“I had a lot of fun last night,” he murmured, his bright blue eyes locked on me.
“I did, too.”
“I’m glad.” He got to his feet and pulled me to mine, wrapping me in a warm hug. “It’s good things won’t be weird between us the next time we’re all together again.”
Just like that, the tender sprout of hope in my soul withered. It shouldn’t have hurt because this was exactly what I’d expected. I’d walked into the situation with my eyes open. And it was my own fault if I’d read his intentions incorrectly.
I squeezed him gently with my arms, letting the disappointment rise within me and slide away. I’d learned through experience and therapy to let those emotions move through me and release them. It was the only way to cope with the things that had happened in my life. The only way I could endure people and situations beyond my control. I couldn’t hold on to them and let them eat away at me. The only way I could survive was to let them go. Even if it hurt.
That was how I’d survived the loss of my grandparents, then the loss of my foster parents. I still struggled with the feeling that I would always lose everyone I cared about. Abandonment issues had nothing on the voice in my head that whispered I was always destined to be alone. I knew the thoughts weren’t true, but there were times I had to fight just to ignore them.
I released Elijah and stepped back. “I probably need to get dressed and get checked out. I’m sure it’s getting close to noon.”
His eyes moved over my face for a long moment before he finally nodded. “I’ll let you get to it, then.”
I drained the last of my coffee cup as he shrugged on his shirt and slipped into his socks and shoes. He stuffed his tie into his pocket and slung his suit jacket over his arm.
In less than two minutes he was ready to walk out of my hotel room and out of my life, except for the occasional event where we might bump into each other.
I followed him to door, my tightly clenched hands hidden in the pockets of my robe. Elijah paused, his hand on the knob.
