There’s a heavy feeling building in my lower stomach, but my entire body feels as if it’s out of my control. I know something is happening, but I don’t know what to expect until I tip over the edge and the most intense orgasm has me spasming around him.
In the next second, he pulls out of me, and hot liquid hits my back. He makes a growling sound before I feel his palm smear the sticky mess he left. Even though my inner muscles are still convulsing, I let out a relieved sigh because he pulled out. I know being with him without a condom was dumb and reckless, but I don’t have it in me to care right this minute.
“I should fuck you raw for making me come so fast.” His words are harsh, but his touch is surprisingly gentle. I let my eyes fall closed as I catch my breath. When he places a kiss high on my shoulder, my body reacts, arching into his affection. “My beautiful creature has no self-preservation.” I don’t respond because he might be right, at least when it comes to him.
As the minutes tick by, my eyelids grow more and more heavy until I startle myself awake. His heavy weight is half on my back, but I’m able to turn so I can see the clock on the nightstand. It’s almost five in the morning. I have no idea how long I was asleep, but it only feels like seconds.
As I try to roll to the side, he grips me hard.
“I need to get back before they wake up.” I don’t mention whom I’m speaking about. It would feel weird to admit I’m heading back to my parents after what we did.
“And if I tell you I want you to stay here with me?” He circles my wrist with his fingers, and a tremor of unease filters through me that I try to ignore.
“They would come looking for me. I’m sure the hotel has cameras that would tell them exactly where I am.”
“Does that make you feel safer, pet?”
I curl my fist up by my mouth and softly admit, “No.”
He strokes his hand over my hair before moving to the side and allowing me to get up. As I move, I’m acutely aware of how sore I really am. I’m more tender than when I lost my virginity, and my body aches like I’m getting the flu. I look down and see a ring of bruises around my thigh, just above the knee. I don’t even know how it got there, but my mind goes a little hazy thinking about it, remembering everything he did to me and how much I liked it.
I peek over my shoulder to see him watching me intently. His eyes are lidded as if he was thinking about the exact same thing, and I falter. Should I give him my number and tell him to call me, or was this it?
Deciding not to say anything at all, I start searching the floor for my things. My jeans are at the end of the bed, but I don’t see my underwear. I give up looking after thirty seconds and just drag the denim up my legs. When I pull the sides in to button them, I realize that’s gone too, but the zipper works okay. Once my shirt is over my head, I chance another glance in his direction. His icy eyes are still trained on me.
“Will you tell me your name?” I question, knowing this might be the last time I see him.
His lips curl up slowly. “How about I tell you the next time I see you?” he teases.
I shake my head. I knew exactly what I was getting into, so there’s no point in regretting it now. “Sure.” I try to sound airy as I head for the door.
“Don’t worry, Lethe, you won’t have to wait long.” I can’t tell if the chuckle in his tone is because he’s being serious or if it’s because he has no plan of ever seeing me again. It could go either way.
CHAPTER9
The hall is bright compared to the dim lamp in the room, and I have to look both ways before remembering which way I should go.
I pause with my hand on the door to my parents’ room, holding the keycard a few inches from the lock. I’m a little hesitant about them knowing I was gone, but I just can’t muster up enough emotion to actually be worried about being caught.
The tiny beep that accompanies the green light on the lock seems loud in the quiet hall. I let myself into the room and close the door as soundlessly as I can. My heart is actually beating a little fast, but I still feel removed from the moment.
After a few seconds of silence, I find my way into the bathroom. Once the door is closed, I flip on the light and squint at the girl in the mirror. Her red curls are a mess, but what’s worse are the red blotches and dark smudges of fingerprints all over her neck that stand out on her pale skin.
I could lie and say I was attacked last night, tell them I went for a walk when I couldn’t sleep and got roughed up, but they might ask to see the hotel’s camera footage, and I would get caught in the lie.Maybe it will fade, I try to convince myself. My parents will probably be up within an hour or two, and I don’t think I’m going to look much better then.
A hard knock on the door has me jumping. “Lethe,” my dad grumbles.
“Yeah, be right out.” I flush the toilet and wash my hands quickly then make sure to flip off the light before I open the door.
“Sorry if I woke you,” I whisper as I exit.
Dad mumbles, “You didn’t,” and shuffles past me into the bathroom in his boxers.
I crawl under the covers quickly, pulling them up over my shoulders and ducking my chin. Hopefully he will go back to bed, and I can get a little sleep before I need to explain why I look like I lost a fight.
You’d think it would be hard to fall asleep, but exhaustion wins. I don’t even remember hearing my dad leave the bathroom.
* * *
