Page 30 of Solemn Vow

His breath, heavy and hot, washes over my throat as he regains his composure.

I’ve lost mine.

I’m not sure I’ll find it again.

I stroke his hair at the back of his neck. There’s a haze around us and I’m not sure I want out of it just yet.

He rolls to his back, pulling me to lie on his chest. He hugs me to him.

“We didn’t use a condom.” Panic fills me with the realization.

“No.” He shakes his head. “We didn’t. It’s not a problem. I’m clean, and I saw your birth control pills in the bathroom.” He turns and kisses my forehead.

I soften against him, falling into the beating of his heart as it comes to a calm. His tree trunk of an arm holds me to him, cradling me. His breathing slows. He runs his fingertips up and down my arm.

It’s sweet.

It’s soothing.

This is the safest I’ve felt in days.

His phone vibrates against the top of my dresser.

I could fall asleep in his arms right now.

Moments of silence stretch between us, easing me into a sense of calm.

His phone dances again on the dresser.

“Marlena?” He kisses my forehead again.

“Hmm?” I blink my heavy eyelids open and turn to look up at him.

“I have to go.”

He’s leaving.

Of course he is.

I shouldn’t be surprised. He got exactly what he wanted: in my pants.

And now, he’ll walk out.

“All right.” I throw the blanket off and climb out of bed. I grab a t-shirt from the dresser and shove it over my head before snatching my leggings from the foot of the bed.

“I’ll be back tonight, when I’m done.” He works his boxers over his hips. Even in a pair of soft gray boxer briefs the man looks like a sex god. I could have skipped the washer at the laundromat and just used his abs to wash my clothes.

“Uh. No.” I avert my gaze from his perfect form. It’s impossible to think straight with all those muscles, tattoos, and that devious grin of his perched so arrogantly on his full, kissable lips.

“No?”

“That’s right. No. I’m going to go to bed early tonight. I have an early client tomorrow.” I find a pair of slippers and shove my feet in them.

He works his thick leather belt back through the buckle while looking up at me from behind hooded eyelids.

“I’ll stay here tonight, and then in the morning, I’ll drive you. It’ll be cold and still dark that early in the morning. I don’t want you taking the bus.”

“I’ve taken the bus to work for the last two years. I can handle myself fine.”

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