Page 44 of Only If You Dare

I pressed play and strolled back to her. Taking a seat, I rested against the couch throwing my arm over the top. For a moment, Desiree looked like she wanted to shrink away, but before the thought took root, I reached for her pulling her flank against me.

We settled into a zone and watched the movie while taking sneak peeks at one another. It had felt like light years since my interest in a woman went beyond the physical, and enjoying my time with Desiree like this made me wonder what it would be like to have someone to call my own. The thing most fascinating was the aura that warmed me, felt invasive but pure and untainted. There was no motive of wanting sexual release from her, and she held no incentive of being on the arm of what I’d been deemed, a wealthy bachelor. Instead, we were two people enjoying the company of one another; basking in a delightful friendship that began budding the moment we’d set eyes on each other in that hospital room.

There were no promises made, no intentions sought after, no contract to be signed. It was refreshing, and the added chemistry that heated my core when we were around each other was a new edition; something I’d never experienced with anyone. When the movie ended, the disk changed and Brown Sugar came on. We were halfway through the film when Desiree fell asleep with her head resting against my chest. I held her there, but before long, she’d drifted into such a deep slumber that she spread and stretched; her head now in my lap and her legs lying languidly down the couch.

I watched her for a long moment. The tug on my chest tussled with my mind, going back and forth, telling me I was falling for her while I denied it in the same thought. I reasoned I didn’t know her. We had only been acquainted for a few weeks. Love like this wasn’t possible. But everything I felt denied the silent rebuttal.

“Do you need anything?”

I glanced up to see Kelsey standing in the doorway.

“Something to drink or eat,” she questioned. Looking down to Desiree she offered. “A blanket maybe?”

“I’ll take a blanket and something to drink.”

Kelsey disappeared and re-emerged moments later. She spread the dark blue blanket over Desiree and handed me a bottled water.

“Thank you,” I said. “You’re the best.”

She grinned. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

I chuckled.

“Are you sure you don’t need anything else?”

“Certain.”

Kelsey gave me two thumbs up and left the room. I finished off the water, but my thirst was not quenched. Glancing down at Desiree, I knew within her lied my refreshment.

“Julian, wake up.”

My eyes opened and I stared up into Kelsey’s face. I glanced around. “Did I fall asleep?”

“You did, and we’re getting ready to land in thirty minutes.”

Desiree lay still across my lap. I’d never slept sitting upright unless I was dog tired, so I wondered for a moment, if relaxation had taken over. I reached down, sifting my hand under the blanket to rub Desiree across her arms. She stirred and turned her body from her side to her back to look up at me.

“Oh my God, I fell asleep on you.” She invited me in with her soft smile.

“Anytime Bella, anytime.”

“What time is it? Felt like I slept for a month.”

I chuckled. “Not quite a month. We’re getting ready to land in thirty minutes.”

Her eyes popped. “Land? Already?”

“Mmhmm.”

“So I did sleep a month!”

This brought hearty laughter from me.

“Oh my God,” she said again, rising to sit. She threw her legs over the sofa and stretched. “I am not good company, am I?”

“The best.”

She smirked. “And you’re too sweet to tell me when I suck.”

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