Page 43 of Swim To Me

My body protests, but I peel myself away from Grey, slipping out of bed and across the hallway, into my bathroom.

I don’t imagine it’s going to be easy, but I know what I need to do. Mind over body. I just need to step away, allow my brain to take back its familiar set of reins and give my body, myhormones,a few days to adjust until it gets the memo.

Grey is off limits. He’s boyfriend material, quite obviously with his generosity and wit and kindness. But I also get the feeling he’s a relationship type of guy and I’m not that type of girl. Not anymore.

In the bathroom, I empty my bladder and brush the fur from my teeth, peering at my face in the mirror. My foundation is practically non-existent, mascara flaked and settling under my eyes and my lips are red and puffy from kissing.

KissingGrey.

Honestly, I don’t want to admit how good it felt. His lips on mine, his body cradled between my thighs, his cock inside of me. The way he pinned me down and spoke dirty to me, igniting a fire in my stomach I haven’t felt in alongtime.

I could get addicted; I know I could.

Except I can’t and I won’t. It’s not happening.

I give my face a quick wipe over with some makeup remover, whack on a swipe of deodorant and pad back into my bedroom in search of something comfy to wear. It is a Sunday, after all.

Grey’s still out like a light as I move around, one arm thrown behind his head, the other reaching out to the empty left side of the bed where I’d been sleeping.

For a split second I watch him, the sheets pooling around his waist giving me a clear image of the steady rise and fall of his chest. That fine line butterfly tattoo of his, the one I so desperately want to trace with my fingers now I’m not caught up in my own pleasure, visible.

I wonder what’s the story behind it, but I don’t think we’re close enough for me to ask.

In my drawers, I find some clean underwear and a matching sage green loungewear set, quickly pulling them over my body, while my stomach growls. I’m paying for not eating anything since yesterday afternoon.

In the kitchen I go about brewing myself a cup of coffee, popping a caramel flavoured pod in the dispenser, and watching the nectar drip down into my mug. A large splash of milk, and I leave it on the side to cool while I scour the fridge for something I can eat.

The bacon I find in the back of the fridge spits and hisses in the frying pan while I crack four eggs instead of my usual two, just in case, into a large bowl, adding a dash of milk and a sprinkle of sea salt and crushed pepper. I’m not going to be mean and just kick the man out before breakfast. But if he doesn’t want any then no hard feelings.

I’m slicing a bagel in half, about to pop it into the toaster, when I hear my bedroom door open and the sound of footsteps.

“Morning.”

I raise my head to find Grey, hair all mussed from sleep, wearing nothing but his pair of black briefs. The saliva in my mouth dries up at the sight of him, but I manage to eek out a polite greeting in return.

“Morning, Grey.”

Christ, has the heating turned itself on?

My cheeks are flaming, I know they are, I can feel the sudden heat building there and my chest begins to prickle too.

Turning back to my half-cut bagel, I attempt to play it off. “I-I’m making breakfast. Would you like some?”

Grey doesn't answer straight away, in fact it takes so long for him to speak, that I peer over my shoulder at him, catching the way his gaze has landed on my arse.

“Grey?”

“Y-yeah” He nods jerkily, tearing his eyes away and up to my face. “I’d love some breakfast, thank you, Delilah.”

Instinctively, I press my thighs together at the smooth cadence of his voice, the sound of my name falling from his lips. Not only that, but I can recall the filthy things he came up with,said, and my body isn’t willing to forget any time soon, apparently.

“Do you want a cup of coffee?”

“Please. Dash of milk, no sugar. Do you mind if I use your bathroom?”

I wave my hand dismissively towards the hallway. “Be my guest.”

I’m swiping butter onto our bagel halves when Grey returns, perching himself on one of my breakfast bar stools. I push his plate and coffee towards him and then take my own seat, shoving a forkful of fluffy eggs into my mouth.

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