I yawned, my mind drifting back to that huge bed with the crisp white linen. Callum in it with me. For some reason, the idea of it was warming rather than fear-inducing.
“Shower and bed?” He was smiling at me. “You look exhausted.”
“I’ll jump in the shower now, I think. I’ve left the door unlocked so you can come in when you’re ready.”
He stood up, gave me a nod. “I won’t be long.”
* * *
The shower waseverything I’d hoped. Hot, powerful, spotlessly clean. I stood under it until my skin was red and used the scrub until I felt as if I’d managed to exorcise any grime left.
Feeling much better than I had done for days, I went back into the bedroom and saw that the lights had been dimmed and there was a familiar man in my bed.
Callum’s hair looked damp, his stubble trimmed so he looked slightly less of a mountain man. He was wrapped under the white sheets, head turned to face me and he looked like he belonged there, waiting for me.
“Close your eyes while I pull a t-shirt on.” I still had a damp towel around me, my hair still wet.
“Seen it before, Wren. Tasted most of it too.”
I watched him as I discarded the towel. He didn’t look away. Instead of acting coy, I stayed naked while I dried my hair, feeling his eyes lazily running over my body.
“I’m not sure you should have a hammam tomorrow,” he said as soon as my hairdryer was turned off.
I laughed. “Why?”
“Because someone else will be touching you.”
I finger combed my hair, standing up and looking at him in the glow of the lamps. “I imagine it will be a woman. And why would it bother you.”
“I don’t know, but it does.”
I took the few steps to the bed and pulled back the sheets.
“You’re sleeping naked?” His voice was sleepy but surprised.
“Aren’t you? I can put that t-shirt on.”
“Don’t bother on my account.”
There was no mention of needing will power or that I should wear something. We both knew where this was going. Just one night. One more night.
I slipped between the sheets, catching the scent of fresh linen and Callum. Both were soothing; both were settling any unease within me.
One more night.
We lay looking at each other, just one light still on, a Moroccan jewelled lamp next to Callum.
I don’t know who moved first, who shifted closer, or whether it was in fact a mutual affair, but our lips were pressing softly against each other, bodies almost touching and the kiss was the sweetest I’d ever known. Nothing like the last time when there had been urgency and haste.
This was slow and tender, everything I didn’t expect. It was almost as if we were innocent teens, not really knowing what to do, that there should be a blockage of pillows between us.
The kiss ended, leaving us looking at each other. I was wet between my legs from just a kiss and being so totally naked with someone, with Callum.
I placed a hand on his chest, slowly moving it up and down, over his pecs, to his abs and back up. He watched my eyes as if he was spellbound.
“Don’t do this because you feel sorry for me.”
I laughed quietly. “I don’t feel sorry for you. I’m feeling lots, but not sorry for you.”
