That does it.
With a grunt, I release long ropes of cum before collapsing against the tiled wall. That was all it could be now: a fleeting fantasy that never came to fruition and would never hold any real significance in the long run, because she wouldn’t go for me. She wantshim.
I lather up with body wash, rinse, then step out and dry off.
After throwing on pyjama bottoms, I sink into bed and let the evening fade away.
I finally surrender to sleep, seeking solace in the darkness.
Chapter 19
April
Ascratchy, tickling sensation rouses me from my sleep. Slowly, I open my groggy eyes and lift my head to discover Basil licking my fingers, which are dangling off the sofa’s edge. The courtyard glistens with dampness and buttery sunshine spills through the large windows, casting a glow that makes me squint against the daylight. I spy an empty red wine bottle on the coffee table, faintly recalling pouring myself a generous glass after James dashed out last night, which probably explains my pounding headache.
“Hey, buddy,” I coo at Basil, running my hands over his silky fur.
Sitting up, I drape a fluffy woollen blanket over my shoulders. “Fuck, it’s cold this morning.”
Confused and dazed, I look down at my bare legs and realise I fell asleep in my miniskirt.
On the couch.
After almost rubbing off my ex-fiancé’s brother.
One minute I’m crying over Lucas, and the next I’m drawn to James.
Letting himtouchme.
I know it wasn’t right, but it felt good.
His warm touch. The deep, dulcet tones of his smooth voice.
He must have felt it too. It’s what made him run.
“Ugh,” I mutter, covering my eyes and cringing at the vivid memory of him slamming the door.
I’m struck by the memory of his large, calloused hands, the way they felt running over the thin fabric of my shirt, and how the pressure of his palm against my core set me on fire, igniting my insides and leaving me wanting more. The sharp contour of his jawline, and the intensity of his mossy eyes.
James showed me a side of himself I haven’t seen before, a rare vulnerability, and it drew me in like honey. Well, that and he’s one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Even though he has that classic bad-boy look going for him, James also possesses a captivating beauty in his imperfections. There’s a rugged kind of charm to him—the small scar by his eyebrow, his ever-present facial hair, and that singular dimple?God, that dimple. My mother once told me that dimples were kisses from angels, and that thought makes me smile. There’s nothing angelic about James. He looks as sinful as they come—temptation personified. His wavy hair always sits perfectly, as if all it takes each morning is a quick run of his fingers through the strands to make them fall flawlessly into place.
He’s gorgeous.
Reprimanding myself for the thoughts swirling in my mind, I reluctantly pull myself off the couch, padding barefoot to the kitchen to feed Basil, and then drag myself upstairs for a much-needed shower.
Flicking on the en suite light, I’m immediately confronted with my dishevelled reflection. I fell asleep in last night’s make-up, so my foundation has worn off unevenly. Thanks to my emotional outburst, mascara tracks streak my cheeks, and my hair is a mess.
Yes, I’ve certainly seen better days.
Rifling through the bathroom cabinets, I finally lay hands on my hairbrush and face wipes. I strip away the remnants of foundation and eyeshadow, and untangle the knots in my hair. With a determined twist, I turn the shower tap, opting for scorching hot to wash away the messy evidence of last night.
I’m stepping out of my skirt when the sight of the vibrator Anna and Gemma gifted me catches my attention. Deciding not to overthink it, I snatch it from my bedside table and return to the shower. I step under the spray, place the vibrator in the caddy, and tilt my head back, letting the heat soothe my sore head. Once I’ve shampooed and conditioned my hair, I lather my face wash before scrubbing my skin clean.
The longer I stand under the water, the more I fixate on James. The comfort that I felt with his touch. I’m still reeling from the revelation that he was on the brink of proposing to his ex-girlfriend. Lucas never mentioned their relationship being that serious. Then again, I suppose there are many things Lucas didn’t share with me.
I think of James’s sculpted arms and muscular legs as he sat inches from me on the sofa, and my cheeks flush.
