Page 43 of Texting My Valentine

Tori:You can’t go without sleep all night and then work a shift like that!

Alex:Not to shatter your illusions about the healthcare industry, beautiful, but that’s not exactly uncommon.

I smile, which feels like a miracle after the night I just had.

Tori:How are you feeling?

Alex:It isn’t important.

Tori:Don’t be silly. This has been a wild experience for you, too. It’s not every day you face down a gunman.

Alex:The only thing I feel is a desire to make sure you’re okay.

My heart grows warm with this Valentine’s silliness. The heat with my silver fox savior was never supposed to burn this hot this fast.

Tori:I just want to forget about it all.I don’t want to think about anything. But I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep, either.

Alex:Why don’t you write some poetry?

Tori:Writing is thinking.In fact, it might be the worst thing because it means disappearing into my mind.

Alex:You’re so… soulful, Tori.

Another smile.

Tori:Soulful, huh? That’s a new one.

Alex:You are.You put up a shield. You want to pretend nothing bothers you. But you can’t.

Tori:I just want some distraction. It’s not that deep.

Alex:Don’t tempt me to play that game, not when all this adrenaline is still surging through my body.

I sit on the edge of my bed, a shiver coursing through me. It feels dangerous, taboo in some way—we shouldn’t go here so soon after what happened.

Tori:What game are we talking about, huh?

Alex:You know damn well. I think you’re trying to get me to tell you.

I don’t want to tell him how little experience I’ve got. But I’m texting the truth.

Forgetting about all of it—Damien, my doubts, my quest to keep this casual – is so much easier than thinking.

Tori:…

Alex:Three dots have never meant so much.I could distract you, beautiful, but you’d probably think I was a psycho for getting so damn horny so damn fast after what happened tonight. But each kiss, each touch, it’d be a sign that I’m never going to let anyone hurt you.

Shivers dance all over me as I read his message, remembering the feel of his lips, his hands on my hips.

Tori:…

Alex:I’d find you in bed, you perfect, curvy, sensual poet. Then, I’d tear your pants down to reveal your thick and delicious legs. I’d fall to my knees, getting ready to feast on you and worship you in equal measure.

Tori:…

My one hand begins to stray up and down my thigh, almost like it’s doing it on its own. My core aches, my underwear suddenly feels too tight, my clit throbbing as if needy for his attention.

So much for not getting swept away.

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