Page 13 of Love Like Lightning

I don’t have sex with people to make friends or connections. I have sex because it feels good. I have sex because I’m good at it and, frankly, I like getting the other person off. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t sometimes crave some of that warm fuzzy stuff that people who are actually in relationships get.

I’ve never had the urge for that, for a relationship. Not to say I never will, but I usually indulge my interest in cuddling with one of the four pillows I sleep with.

It works, for the most part.

But right now, I really want to stay the night in this hotel room with Gia. I want to curl my body around hers and see if she’ll let me hold her for the whole night.

I want to stay in this little bubble a little while longer and maybe enjoy the way she treats me like I know what I’m doing. Like I’m not just the youngest in the Wright family.

Like I’m Henry, not Hammer.

Mentally shoving that thought away, I duck my head and drop a quick kiss onto her lips. When I pull away, I watch as she presses her fingers to her mouth, a small smile breaking through. Every time I taste her lips, I have the urge to do it over and over again.

Yeah, maybe I’m staying partially to see if we’ll go another round, too.

“You’d honestly be doing me a favor. My brother Ian is staying with me, and he snores like a motherfucker.” It’s only a partial lie; he does snore really loudly. Usually when he’s sick. “And I live in a one bedroom, so it’s a pretty tight situation.” Another half lie. My apartment is a one bedroom, but it’s pretty roomy, and the pullout he crashes on is on the complete opposite side of the apartment from my bedroom.

Gia finally looks at me, scrutinizing me with narrowed eyes, and I just know she’s going to call me out. I’m not a good liar. I’m not a liar at all. And I just technically lied to her twice. It doesn’t feel good, but I somehow convince myself that it doesn’t really matter.

This is a one night only situation.

She clearly wants me to stay. I want to stay. She just needs a little nudge.

“Then you should stay.”

“Yeah?” My smile grows, and I hope it’s clear that this is no hardship for me.

“Why not? I’ve got this big bed, but I have to be up around nine to pack and head out for my flight.”

“Fine by me.” I’ll probably just go home and sleep for a couple more hours before I have to head to the movie theater for a job.

“Okay.”

“Okay.” I don’t give her a chance to rethink her decision before I slip away from her and slide right between the sheets. I get more than a little bit comfortable under the thick comforter and fluff the two pillows behind me before settling down on my side. “Cuddles are on the table, if you’re interested.”

She gapes at me, then turns away and finds something to mess around with inside her suitcase.

“I just figured I’d offer to save you from having to ask.” Also, I’m really in the mood to cuddle to sleep, and I’m afraid that if I don’t put it on the table, she won’t ask.

“Okay.” She throws a look at me over her shoulder while she finishes whatever it is she’s doing.

If her aim was to organize or start packing up her stuff, I can’t see that she’s made any progress. If anything, the pile of stuff surrounding the open suitcase seems to have grown.

“Sorry if that was presumptuous.” Her energy isn’t really saying “fuck yes,” so I start to climb out of the bed.

“No, no, stay.” She moves over to the bed, getting in with me. “I’m sorry. I just really don’t know how to handle this.”

Shifting onto my side, I look at her for a moment before responding. My gut reaction is to make a joke and turn up my charm a bit. It’s what I do.

It’s who you are.

“You handled me just fine earlier.”

It feels a little bit like I’m cheapening what we just shared, but I’d be lying if I said watching her blush wasn’t completely satisfying.

She looks at me for a long beat, then smiles. “I guess you’re right.” She flips onto her side so she’s facing away from me and glances back over her shoulder. “I was promised cuddles.”

My laughter bounces off the walls as I move so I’m lying at her back. Wrapping my arm around her, I tug her so she’s tucked against me. She fits so perfectly. Every curve finds its place against me, and I can’t stop the contented sigh that leaves me.

---