Page 47 of Mayhem

Great sex, great food and conversation, then even more great sex in the shower. All in that order. Even the few hours of sleep that we nabbed were enough to make me feel truly rested. I haven’t felt that in a long time. What a perfect night.

And now, it’s turned into a perfect morning. After dozing on and off in between a mind-numbing blow job, and then returning the favor, I can hear Tess in the kitchen trying to be quiet while making coffee. She’s failing at that miserably as I hear silverware clatter to the tile floor followed by a mutter curse.

Fucking hell, she’s a dream come true.

I debate laying here, and letting Tess come to me with coffee, but like a lodestone, I’m automatically drawn to her wherever she is. So, I drag my ass out of bed, throw on my jeans, and hang in the doorway to the kitchen, silently watching her sing quietly to herself as she makes coffee, her hips swaying sensually to the beat of the music only she can hear. She has her earbuds in and hasn’t noticed me yet.

I love that I’m seeing her with her guard down, when she thinks no one is watching. Her blonde hair is a bedhead mess, but sexy as fuck. I messed up that hair, and it’s like a fucking badge of honor to see her this way. Her lips are a little swollen from all our kisses, and again – I did that. Signs of me are all over her, and I fucking love it.

“Good morning,” I say in a normal tone because I don’t know how loud her music is in her ears since I can’t hear it. I don’t want to startle her.

Nothing.

The singing and dancing continue, so I just let her go on in her obliviously happy place. I lean further back and cross my arms, enjoying the show. Waking up to this every day wouldn’t be a bad way to live a life.

She must catch the movement out of the corner of her eye because she jumps about two feet off the ground with a yelp. I hurry over to stop her from backing into the refrigerator, my laughter erupting as I pull her into a bear hug.

“You scared the shit out of me,” she yells over the music still in her ears.

I pull out one of the earbuds and stick it in my own ear. It’s Murderous Crows’ latest song playing, and I’m not sure if I should be offended it’s not Chaos Fuel she’s listening to. I decide to let it slide just this once…

“Sorry, babe. You were too fucking cute to interrupt.” I nuzzle into her neck, inhaling her sweet scent as if it sustains me. Maybe it does. I can’t imagine being without it now.

“I was trying to be quiet and not wake you,” she says, a giggle playing in her voice as I squeeze her tighter.

“And I was enjoying the show,” I say, nibbling on her ear as I walk her backward toward the bedroom. “You look good in my shirt.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. But you look better out of it…”

30

THE BLISS

TESS

Brad just left to pick up Charlie, and I’m meeting Ivy for lunch. My mind is still reeling from the amazing night Brad and I just had, and I can’t quite put it into perspective. I’ve never felt like this about someone before.

Bliss. I’ve never felt bliss before.

I’ve been happy, sure. Even ecstatic. But never bliss. Things have never felt ‘perfect’ in any relationship I’ve had. And to be honest, it’s kind of scaring the shit out of me.

“Girl, you are giving off weird honeymoon vibes. What’s up with that?” Ivy asks after giving me a hug in the restaurant, her eyes flashing with mischief.

I sit across from her and grin, but even I can feel the fear emanating from me. “Honeymoon vibes?” I consider that. It did feel a bit like a honeymoon. It was only one night, but it was intense. I nod my head from side to side, trying not to let my doubts invade my thoughts and ruin everything. “That’s not too far off the mark.”

“So, what’s off, then? I get the feeling you’re not telling me something.” Ivy’s long dark hair, and intelligent dark eyes always gives her a mystical sort of aura, and when she reads me so clearly like this, it’s only accentuated.

Debating this within myself is going to get me nowhere, fast. So, I give in. “It’s almost too perfect, you know?”

“Is that a real thing?”

“Of course, it is. I’ve never felt this good with someone. There’s got to be something wrong with it. Something’s going to come along and pop this bubble. And whatever it is, is going to devastate me.” Saying it out loud makes me feel better, at least. It’s a scary thing to share your fears with someone, but I know I can trust Ivy.

She leans across the table and pats my hand comfortingly. “Babe, the bubble always bursts. But that’s life. That’s reality. Even honeymoons don’t last forever. The world just doesn’t work that way. Enjoy this one while it lasts.”

“Okay, it may not last forever, but how do I make it last longer? I don’t want to face reality yet.” I laugh, but it’s forced. And it’s the truth – I don’t want this feeling to end, even though it’s mixed with fear that it will.

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