37
ROMAN
I waketo Marnie’s alarm at 5:45 AM and the immediate awareness that I’m leaving in three hours.
Three games in four days. Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. The kind of road trip that’s brutal even when everything’s going well, and right now I don’t want to leave.
Marnie’s still asleep beside me, face peaceful in the early morning light. She’s been back at work for three days and the exhaustion is catching up with her—late nights working on documentation, early mornings to avoid rush hour traffic. Yesterday she fell asleep on the couch at eight PM and I had to carry her to bed.
I could let her sleep. Should let her sleep, probably. The flight doesn’t leave until nine.
But we have time.
I lean over and press my lips to her shoulder, then her neck, working my way down where her sleep shirt has fallen open.
She makes a sleepy sound, shifting toward me. “What time is it?”
“Early.” I kiss her jaw. “But I’m leaving soon.”
“Mmm.” Her eyes are still closed but she’s smiling slightly. “So this is a goodbye?”
“Something like that.”
She opens her eyes then, turning to face me properly. “You’re leaving for five days.”
“Four and a half.”
“That’s still a long time.” Her hand slides up my chest, fingers tracing patterns. “What am I supposed to do without you?”
“Work. Sleep. Eat actual meals instead of protein bars.”
“Boring.”
“Healthy.”
“Still boring.” She snuggles into my chest. “Show me what I’m going to miss.”
I don’t need to be asked twice.
I roll her onto her back, settling between her thighs, taking my time kissing down her neck. I push the fabric of her shirt up, exposing her ribs, her breasts.
“Roman—” She arches slightly when my mouth finds her nipple.
“Shh. I’m being thorough.”
“You’re being slow.”
“Same thing.”
I work my way down her stomach, kissing every inch of exposed skin. The tattoo on her ribs gets special attention—the one about dancing alone. My mouth traces the words while my hands hold her hips steady.
“You’re really committed to this thorough thing,” she manages, breathless.
“You have no idea.”
I hook my fingers in her underwear, pull them down slowly. She lifts her hips to help and then she’s bare beneath me, beautiful in the morning light.
I spread her thighs wider, settle between them, and put my mouth on her.
