“You have a great ass,” I tell him earnestly. He does.
His black underpants stretch like nobody’s business.
“I like that you have no filter.”
When he turns around, my eyes almost roll back into my head. I’m fucked, I’m fucked. He clearly has the package to match the ass, and I swallow the growing lump in my throat. The glimpse I got earlier did not prepare me for this.I’m not ready.I try to convince myself I am.
“Where do you want me?” Jae asks me dutifully.
“Just…here...I guess.” I gesture broadly to my bed. It’s pressed up against the wall by the window to make more space by the doorway for my wardrobe and Lily’s bed. I’m huddled in the corner, bathrobe and Snoopy pajamas on.
His skin looks beautifully warm in this light and when he lies down next to me, I feel like I’m melting. Once I lie down, Jae turns so we are face to face.
“When do you want to go to sleep?” he asks, his voice husky and low.
“I don’t have a set time.” I look at his dark brown eyes, and I find a million safety nets within them.This is exactly what I need.“But I am ready whenever you are.”
“Can I put my arm around you?” He acts like a reverse big spoon by placing a hesitant arm around me. “I don’t want to go too fast for you.”
“This is just fine with me.” I tell him, and my eyes are sleepy as he draws me near and close to his chest.
“I feel safe with you.” It’s true.
“I’m glad you do.”
Jae presses an apprehensive but soft kiss to my forehead before closing his eyes.
“Goodnight Riley.”
Jae keeps his eyes closed and doesn’t say anything for what feels like an infinite amount of time, so before long, I also close my eyes.
“Goodnight Jae.”
16
When I wake, there’s a dip in the mattress where Jae used to be. It’s early morning, not earlier than seven o’clock. Panic rises in my chest when I don’t see him. My eyes dart around the room, and I find him. He’s there, standing in the corner of my bedroom, pulling on his shirt and pants.
“Where are you going?” My voice is a rustle of leaves in the wind.
“To take a shower and get some clothes. I’ll be back.” He walks towards me, his undershirt gone and his linen shirt unbuttoned exposing his supple, malleable skin.
“When?” I admire his tattoos. I want to trace them all. I want to paint them all.
“Soon.”
He curls his arms around me and delicately kisses my lips. Morning breath, who? I should have let him use my shower.
As soon as he’s out the door, I wiggle free from my covers and inspect myself in the mirror. I should take a shower too. I undress one by one, imagining Jae taking my clothes off of me. The thought sends a shiver up and down my spine. I can’t believeI slept in my bathrobe. The last time I did that I was sick with the flu.
I turn the hot water on, and Lily whines at my feet.
“I’ll be quick. Promise.” She plops down on my bathroom rug in response.
I rinse out my mangled curls and detangle them with my fingers. I quickly but thoroughly scrub the important parts of my body before dousing myself in cold water. Lily’s anxious cries become more and more persistent.
“Okay, okay!” I tell her. I turn the water off and slip back into my bathrobe. Normally, I hate taking her out while commando like this, but she’s running out of time.
I do my hair quickly up into a plopped towel and toe on a pair of sneakers, and instead of leashing her, I just pick Lily up and after locking the door, quickly run down the stairs with her in my arms. I reach the grass out front, and I promptly plop her down to do her business.
