Page 120 of Swim To Me

“The book gets released at midnight tonight, so the meeting will be to discuss the first overnight sales and our strategy from here on out.”

“The strategy for what?”

“Book sales,” I grumble.

“On a Saturday!?” Grey repeats, disbelief still etched tightly into his tone.

“I know…”

“I guess it probably makes more sense to stay over at yours tonight then. Since it’s closer to the office for you.”

I really do close my eyes then, trying to soak in every inch of this moment, every inch of this evening. Prepared or unprepared, it’s been perfect, even more than I could possibly have imagined, with my favourite person by my side.

When the private car pulls up, Grey directs the driver to my apartment, while I lay my head on his shoulder.

“Delilah,” I hear Grey call my name, his hand gently shaking my arm. “Gorgeous. We’re at your apartment.”

Blinking, I peel open my eyes, registering the familiar sight of my tall apartment block towering above us in the back of the now still car.

“Did I—”

“You fell asleep,” says Grey. “Come on, let’s get you upstairs.”

I’m still in my half-asleep state by the time Grey and I make it into my apartment, locking the front door behind us. I slip my feet out of my dreaded heels, hissing through gritted teeth as I stretch out my cramped toes and flatten my feet to the hard wood floor, while Grey turns on the thermostat to warm us up.

I limp down the hallway to my bedroom, yanking at the pull tab zipper on my evening dress as I go without succeeding to free myself. The soft sound of Grey’s laughter kisses my ears, as he follows me into the bedroom, hands gripping the curve of my waist to halt me.

Gently, he gathers my hair, draping it over my right shoulder and leans down to press a quick kiss to the nape of my neck, making the fine hairs there stand up.

The zipper tab of my dress gives away easily under Grey’s skilled fingertips causing my dress to pool at my feet, his whispered “I love you” sinking into my naked skin.

I turn and capture his lips with mine, feeling a silly little lovesick smile grace my mouth when we break apart and I pull back the covers to crawl into bed, tugging Grey with me.

Beep! Beep!

Gasping, I jolt awake at the loud noise cutting through my dream.

It takes me a second to recall where I am and where the grating noise is coming from, feeling my heart pick up speed in my chest at the thought of imminent danger, before consciousness settles in and I realize what the hell is going on.

Beside me, Grey groans something unintelligible into his pillow, tightening his arm around my waist.

“It’s my alarm,” I whisper, licking my dry lips and reaching an arm out of my very warm bed to hit thestopbutton on my phone. “I’ve got to start getting ready for the work meeting. I’m sorry.”

Grey mutters something else, but I don’t catch that either.

I peer over at him – brow smoothed in relaxation, lips ever so slightly parted, the soft curve of his hands.

Oh, so carefully, as to not wake Grey, I lift his arm from my body, kiss the top of his hand and slide out from under the covers.

The floor in the kitchen is freezing beneath the soles of my feet, so I brew my cup of well needed coffee quickly, pushing past the slight pounding in my head – the consequences of one too many cocktails from the complimentary bar last night. Showering at a rapid speed, I sip my coffee in between coats of mascara, hoping to make myself appear more awake than I feel.

What I wouldn’t give to crawl back into bed with Grey for just a few more hours and then…

I highly doubt he’ll still be sleeping when I return home from the office, but maybe I can persuade him to still come back to bed with me for something a little more satisfying than sleep.

That thought keeps me going while I dress into a pair of trousers, tuck a light blue blouse into the waistband and secure the topmost section of my hair into a messy braid, leaving the rest of my curls to sweep down my back.

Downing the rest of my coffee, paired with a painkiller to stop the stomping rattling through my skull, I swill out my cupin the sink and then return to the bedside. Grey is still fast asleep on his back, the covers pooling around his waist to reveal the steady rise and fall of his chest with each steady breath.

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