Page 48 of Fever

Chapter Thirteen

Santana

Awakening from my dream ushered an instant smile to my face. Rarely had reality been better than my late night restful slumber. However, with the rise of this new day, I expected to be in for a real treat. Josiah.

His name bounced around my thoughts as if he’d been a part of my life for my entire existence. It was amazing how this man made me feel. It was sensible for me to be concerned that I was falling for a skirt-chasing bachelor, but I wasn’t. After all, Josiah and I weren’t in a relationship. Not a real one anyway. But I couldn’t deny that he made me feel like his only girl whenever we were together. Even before my crazy proposition, he’d treated me with respect as if I was the only girl in the world.

I tried looking at my life decisions in the best way. I wanted to see the good in everything. I knew our state of affairs had its set of challenges. One. The deal. Our agreement was clear, and I was easily falling in love with him. Damage could be done to my heart, and I’d put myself in this position. But I chose to think about everything that could go right. What if, Josiah was the guy for me? I snickered and rolled to a sit inside my queen size bed. The other side was vacant, but I knew he was still around.

I could smell breakfast cooking. I wiggled off the bed and landed on my feet, staggering. I almost lost my balance, and my vagina ached with a jubilant pain. My arm shot out to the bed’s post to steady myself. Josiah.

I wanted to get to him, but I needed to shower first. The thought crossed my mind to ask him if he’d like to join. But the soreness between my thighs thought better of it. I wasn’t a regular when it came to sex. Honestly, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been with someone. My past encounters were of meager flings and my high school boyfriend who was now an up and coming rapper. Who knew?

I padded to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Because I was already naked, I grabbed a housecoat and hung it on the back of the door then stepped inside the dual shower. The warm water against my skin was numbing, and suddenly, I wished I had asked Josiah to accompany me. I stood under the fall of the showerhead and wondered if he would spend a little time here today. I was ready to take advantage of what each hour would bring, but not without him. Showering quickly, I washed, rinsed, and tied a towel around me not, wanting to keep Josiah waiting. After brushing my teeth and combing my hair, I wrapped myself in the housecoat and left the bathroom to make my way to the kitchen. I pulled my hair behind my ear and smiled as I entered.

“Good morning,” I greeted.

Josiah smiled up at me with a grin. “Good afternoon,” he countered.

I glanced up at the clock on the wall.

“So it is afternoon. Wow, I must have been exhausted.”

“So it seems,” he said with a smirk. “I made us some breakfast. I hope you don’t mind.”

“We’re having brunch?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool.”

I floated up to him and offered him a half of a hug in which he pulled me into the embrace of a toasty cocoon.

“Wassup with this half a hug, girl?”

I placed both arms around his neck, and he absorbed me, brushing his lips on my face. His warmness laminated my skin, and I wanted to shed my house coat.

“Showered without me, huh?”

I gasped and pulled back. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know if you’d want to get in or if you should,” I half spoke, and half whispered.

Josiah gave me a questionable look.

“Let’s make a deal,” he said.

“Another one?” I shouted.

He laughed, and I couldn’t help but chuckle with him.

“Yes,” Josiah brought his hands to cup the sides of my face. “Another one,” he agreed. “We will never assume something about one another. If we have a question, we’ll just ask.”

“Agreed,” I said.

He bent down and kissed my lips, and I teetered on the edges of my toes to meet him halfway.

“So, last night was—”

“Incredible,” I shot out.

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