Page 43 of Moonlit Temptation

As I walked out of the shop, I couldn’t help but wonder if I might’ve just lost the best person to ever come into my life.

When I got back to the hotel room, I dropped my shopping spoils on the ground. Housekeeping never came by, thanks to the Do Not Disturb tag that hung from the door, so the room still contained everything from the night before.

Sex and depravity and unleashed emotions.

The disarray of the sheets, rumpled with our indentations, wrinkled from our movements, greeted me.

I could practically feel the sheets sliding against my skin as Saint pressed his body into mine, into the mattress.

The room felt like an itch I couldn’t reach. An unnecessary nuisance.

Only, unlike an itch, I could get rid of this problem.

The remnants in the room were a reminder of what I couldn’t have. And maybe…of the person I lost.

Picking up the hotel phone, I called the front desk to request housekeeping. With a time frame of twenty minutes before they showed up, I started to get ready for dinner.

I was about to rifle through my purchases of the day, to find a cute outfit to wear, when something on top of my backpack caught my eye.

A small box with a black bow.

A present.

One that wasn’t there when I got ready for dinner the night before.

Saint.

Had to be.

He got me a gift.

When…when did he do this?

Why had he done this? He had never gotten me presents before.

Aside from his skateboard he gifted me, the only other time he gave me anything was at my high school graduation a couple of months ago, where he gave me roses that I had kept on my dresser until they were so dead they disintegrated across my carpet on their journey to the trash.

With trembling fingers, I picked up the box and thumbed the ribbon. It was silky to the touch.

Slowly, I pulled at the end of the bow and let it fall to my feet as a knock sounded at the door.

Housekeeping.

I absently went to answer the door while clutching the box, wondering what could be inside. My mind was blank of possibilities.

I was still staring at the box as I opened the door and a throat cleared to get my attention.

Snapping my head up, my eyes went wide in disbelief.

“What’re you doing here?” I blinked a couple of vigorous times to make sure my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me.

“I didn’t like the thought of you here all alone.” His deep rumble was a familiar balm.

“You’re supposed to be on a plane.”

“Flights can be rescheduled.” Saint shrugged, no cares left to give.

He was here. Really here. My chest swelled as I took him in.

---