wake to soft lips brushing over my shoulder, Saint’s voice low and apologetic. “Sorry, pretty. I got a work thing I can’t miss.”
My eyes barely stay open, so all I manage is a soft hum. I don’t have the energy to question him right now—and honestly, I don’t want to.
My body is spent, my legs and feet ache from the dancing and everything that followed.
I overhear the shower and for a second I think about joining him, but even the thought of having sex again makes me tighten my legs together. I stare at his gray-and-white walls, breathing in the faint smell of his musky cologne that clings to my pillow.
I didn’t think it was possible to be worn out from sex, but they’ve proven me wrong. Yet… somehowthey make it worth it every time.
The shower stops and I force myself to get up. We move slow, like neither of us is in a hurry to break whatever’s left hanging in the air from last night. I can’t help but stare at his freshly shaved chest—he could be a model if he wanted to. I was way too relieved the first time he and Cairo took their shirts off and didn’t have hairy chests.
Even now, in the morning light, his skin practically glows.
I have to remember to ask him about his skin care routine one of these days. There’s no way he has better skin than me and I only get a pimple once a mouth when mother nature comes to visit.
I catch his eyes lingering on my thighs, his soft caramel eyes meeting mine, and for a second, everything stills—everything but our breathing.
“You look so beautiful in the morning. I wish I could stay in bed with you all day, but I have a meeting I have to host. I’ll call you when I’m out, okay pretty?”
“Okay, daddy. I’ll miss you,” I say softly, a little sad—because staying in bed with him sounds like exactly the kind of morning I need right now.
“You have no idea how much I’m going to miss you,” he says, kissing me gently, a goodbye neither of us has the courage to say out loud.
? ? ?
On the road, the silence presses in. Grabbing my phone, I call Arina not caring that it’s early. She doesn’t work today—so she can tolerate me even at seven in the morning. The lineclicks after a few rings, her voice groggy and half-asleep. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I say quickly, a smile tugging at my lips. “It just feels like I haven’t talked to you in forever.”
She lets out a raspy laugh. “Bitch, it’s barely been like a day.”
“I know,” I admit, laughing with her. “But still. Get up—I’ll be home soon and I havesomuch to tell you.”
I can almost picture her rolling her eyes, but there’s warmth in her sigh. “Alright, fine. But you better bring coffee if you’re gonna talk my ear off this early.”
I push the front door open with my hip, the smell of fresh coffee spilling into the house. Two cups balance in my hands as I head straight for Arina’s room.
She’s still buried under her covers when I slip in, but her head pops up at the smell of the coffee. “Now that’s how you wake a girl up,” she mumbles, sitting up as I hand her one.
I climb onto her bed with the other cup, sliding back until my back rest against the wall. My knees tucked up, robe tied loosely. I take a long sip and blurt, “So… I had sex with Saint by the tree at the ranch party the other night.”
She freezes mid-sip, her bright blue eyes wide. Then she groans, laughing. “Bitch! I knew you did something! You couldn’t fool me for a second.”
I laugh, covering my face with my free hand. “It’s not just that, though. When Cairo stayed the night after, Saint picked him up the next morning—pissed as hell at me.”
Her mouth drops open. “Oh my god, Jainey, you’re such a slut,” she jokes, shaking her head and sipping dramatically. “Go ahead, spill the rest of the tea.”
“I know bitch, but—what was I supposed to do? They’re both fine. As hell. But, that’s not even thebiggestthing,” I say quickly, needing to get it out. “I auditioned at Teasers yesterday!”
Arina shrieks so loud she almost spills her coffee, bouncing on the bed like the mattress is a trampoline. “What?! Shut up—you actually did it?!”
“Yes girl!” I can’t help my smile. “I walked in there nervous as hell, I thought I was gonna back out. But once I was up there, I don’t know… I just felt so… free and natural.”
Arina squeals again, throwing her arms around me. “I’m so happy for you! Do you know how fucking proud I am right now?” Her excitement seeps into me, stirring my own happiness to life.
“And then…” I hesitate, sipping my coffee. “I spent last night with Saint. And he—” my voice softens— “he made it very clear he wants more than just sex and a good time. He wants something real... and—that’s where I’m at.”
She cups her mug, her eyes sharp. “Jainey… are you sure you’re ready for a relationship? You fall in love like it’s a clearance sale babe and everything must go, including yoursanity. `Then I’m the one left searching for all the pieces of your heart, trying to figure out how to put it back together—again. I love that you love the idea of love, but I just want you to be careful.”
