Page 123 of Play It Sinful

ONE MONTH LATER

It’s eight in the morning, and I’m already showered and dressed, but Sean hasn’t moved a muscle since I got out of bed. He celebrated St. Paddy’s Day a little too hard yesterday, and now he’s dead to the world. I partied too, but unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of sleeping in. I have to go to a meeting with my counselor in half an hour.

I spent the night at Sean’s place. Sometimes, my house gets too busy with all my roommates and their friends. Sean only shares an apartment with Darren, and the Warriors goalie is the mellowest person I know.

Not wanting to wake Sean up, I walk toward the door on my tiptoes. I open it slowly, but all my care is for nothing. The moment the door is open, Dots, Sean’s dog, comes running in and jumps onto the bed.

“Hey, buddy. Good morning,” Sean croaks.

“Dots, come down,” I command, but the dog ignores me. Sean has never bothered to train his dog properly.

Sean looks at me. “Where are you going, babe?”

“I have a meeting with my counselor, remember?”

“Oh shoot, that’s right. I forgot. Can I get a kiss before you go?” On cue, Dots licks his face. “Not from you, you doofus.”

I laugh. “Well, I’m not kissing you now. I gotta run.”

I close the door behind me and rush to the front door. Kissing Sean is never a quick affair in the morning, and I’m already running late. I also don’t want to give Sean the chance to ask me again what the meeting is about. I gave him a vague answer before, not wanting to get into it yet.

I’ll find out today if I was accepted to the art residency program in Europe. If I was, I’ll have to move at the end of the semester after I graduate. When I applied, I was keen to leave Sean and all the heartache behind. But now that we’re back together, I’m torn. The residency is a great opportunity, but after so much suffering, I don’t want to go through another separation.

Stop stressing about it, Ash. Wait until you know for sure you got in.

Easier said than done.

SEAN

Since I was already awake, I took Dots out so he could do his business, but when I returned, I went immediately back to bed. I drank way too many Irish car bombs last night. I don’t even remember getting home.

I wake up to someone kissing my cheek. I don’t need to open my eyes to know Ashley’s back.

“Hey babe. How was the meeting?”

“It was good. I can’t believe you’re still in bed.”

“I did get up to let Dots out.” I yawn. “Where is he, by the way?”

“Playing with Darren’s dog. I brought food if you’re hungry.”

“Yeah, I could eat.” I loop my arm around her waist and pull her into bed with me.

“Sean!”

“You left without a goodbye kiss.” I hide my face in the crook of her neck, then place open kisses upward until I find her earlobe and bite it.

With a moan, she arches her back, digging her nails into my forearms. “The food will get cold.”

“That’s what microwaves are for.”

“The door is open. Darren could walk in on us.”

“You know he won’t.” I nudge her legs open with mine and grind my pelvis against hers. I’m so hard, it hurts. Thank fuck Ashley has healed from her injuries and the bedroom activities have returned to normal.

“Well, Dots will,” she replies.

“Ugh, you win. I’ll close the door.” I jump out of bed. “You’d better start getting rid of your clothes.”

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