Page 84 of Rum Sips and Salty Lips

Orion

Come over. The front door code is 0815.

I don’t even bristle at the order.

I grab a fresh toothbrush from a drawer and shove a pair of leggings and a sports bra in a bag. I leave out the front door and lock up behind me. His house is dark, so I enter quietly and walk up the stairs to his room. He’s sitting in bed watching TV. I nervously place the bag by the door. He throws back the sheets for me to climb in with him. I do and he draws me close.

“We’re really only sleeping?” I ask. His bedroom is done in slightly darker wood than mine but still keeps the same coastal decorative feel, especially with the gauzy curtains over the door to his balcony. He has white and light blue linens that are just as soft as mine and his walls are painted light gray. I almost never have time to appreciate how cozy the room is since we’re usually in a rush to get naked.

“Yes.” He kisses the top of my head. “Is that a problem?”

“No,” I say. He spent all day with me. I don’t understand why he wants more time with me, especially if we aren’t having sex. But his body is the right kind of warm and he smells like paradise. “I have a six a.m. yoga class.”

He turns off the TV. “We should sleep, then.” He reaches for his bedside lamp and turns it off too.

I get comfortable underneath the blankets with his arm around me. He keeps his home a little cooler than mine, and even through his windows and the little extra distance, I can hear the waves crashing on the beach.

When my alarmgoes off in the morning, I’m in Orion’s arms. I move out of them but he pulls me back to him.

“Stay,” he whispers.

“I can’t.”

“Come over tonight?”

I roll to my back and look up at him. His eyes are soft in sleep, but that can’t be desperation behind them as much as I want to believe it is.

I kiss him gently before I answer. “Of course.”

I don’t know what it means that he wants me around this much. But I’ll take it. Because it’s only a matter of time before he gets bored and moves on. Keeping him at arm’s length isn’t working. But I can enjoy the time I have with him.

I’ve fallen in love, and he doesn’t even know.

thirty-two

ORION

Shortly after Brooklynnand Spencer leave, Carina shows up at my place. I wonder if she watches for me the way I watch for her. She has a determined look on her face that I hope will lead to sex.

“I need to see this suit you claim to have,” she states.

Oh.That’s significantly less fun.

“Sure. It’s in the closet.” I lead the way to my bedroom and into the closet where the suit hangs in a garment bag. She opens the zipper and traces the fabric with her hands.

It’s amazing to watch her judge it. I’m not worried, but clothing is her thing and she’s so incredibly sexy when she’s doing what she’s passionate about.

“It’s nice. Can you try it on for me?”

“Why? Are you concerned?” She’s stressed about something, and it’s not the suit. But we’re deep enough in that I can ask directly, and she’ll tell me what she’s thinking.

She looks at me and bites her lip, as if deciding how much to share. “We’re less than a month out. Bachelor and bacheloretteparties are next weekend. I had the final fitting for my dress this morning.”

“Right.” That is normal to me. But the worry on her face suggests there’s something more. I take the suit out and head to the bedroom. I strip out of my clothes. The suit will need to be dry-cleaned since I’m a little bit sweaty.

Her gaze follows my skin. I’ll let her stay focused on this for now, but when I’m done trying this on, I’m getting her naked with me.

Once I’m dressed, she steps in front of me, running her hands along the seams. “It’s good. You look good,” she says.

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