Page 33 of Allison

“Oh, Allison!” Emma pulls her out of Russell’s embrace to hug her tight. “I knew you couldn’t be happy out there without any family around. I don’t want to sound like our aunts, but you need to be near people who love you and want the best for you.”

Allison doesn’t reply.What is there to say?Emma is right, but there is no way Allison can move back home with her parents, nor could she find work to make a decent living in the little town where she’d grown up. She isn’t happy in San Diego anymore, hasn’t been for years, butwhere would she go? What would she do for a living?

Straightening up from Emma’s embrace, Allison puts on her poker face. She can’t do anything about it right now, and she’s already caused enough trouble for Emma at her bachelorette party.

“Now, Emma, don’t go worrying about me,” Allison insists. “I promise I’m fine. I love my job, and I live in a decent part of town. I just meant that Susie Beth should be out meeting a nice guy.” Allison groans. “Oh, God! I sound like Aunt Jenny.” Emma throws her head back and laughs. Allison joins her.

“Yes, you were channeling her hard core,” Emma wheezes out between laughs. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m ready to call it a night. It’s been a long day.” Allison is in full agreement. She needs to shut down for a little while and get her mind off the attack.

Half an hour later,the posse arrives back at the hotel. Everyone begins to break off, either going to their rooms or heading to the hotel bar for another drink. Allison just wants to get away from everyone. She heads to the elevator and presses the button.

“You turning in, sugar?” Russell’s voice rumbles in her ear, causing goosebumps to erupt over her. His hand slides along her back, coming to rest on her hip. Without conscious thought, she leans into his warmth without answering.

The elevator doors slide open. Russell guides her inside. They face the doors. He presses the button for their floor. Then, they’re alone in the small space. “How are you doing?” Russell prompts when she remains silent.

“I…I’m okay,” she answers, trying for honesty. “It’s just I can still feel his hands on me and the fear of what he intended to do if I hadn’t fought back.” Allison shivers. Memories of Emma lying in bed, staring at nothing for days, refusing to talk or eat. Then when the shock had worn off, the wailing, from the reality of what she’d suffered. “I know the guy was drunk, and he likely just wanted me to dance with him. I don’t know that he would have forced himself on me, but I was intensely afraid that was his intention.”

“That is understandable,” Russell assures her. “He had no right to touch you in the first place, and then when you said no and he continued? That crossed a line. I can understand why you were afraid and why you’re still a bit freaked out.”

“Thank you for understanding.” The elevator dings, sounding their arrival to their floor. They step out together, making their way to Allison’s door. She pauses, turning to him. She has no right to ask what she’s about to, but she needs this. “I can’t have sex with you tonight, not after what happened. I’m sorry.”

“I know, sugar.” Russell steps closer. His hand cradling her face. “Never apologize for telling me what you need.” He places a gentle kiss on her lips before stepping back. His hand falls to his side. His body is all coiled muscle. Allison can feel his reluctance to leave her.

“It isn’t fair of me to ask”—Allison pauses, gathering her courage—“but would you stay with me tonight? Just hold me?” Russell’s body relaxes, a smile playing on his lips. He takes her keycard from her hand, unlocks her door, and ushers her inside.

Once the door is closed, Russell urges her toward the bed. He begins to remove her clothing. There is nothing sexual about his behavior. Slowly, he unzips her dress allowing it to slip off her shoulders and pool at her feet. Reaching behind her, he unclasps her bra, slipping the straps off her shoulders and letting it fall to the floor.

Allison watches in fascination as he kicks off his shoes and pulls his t-shirt off before slipping it over her head, cocooning her in the fabric. It’s still warm from his body heat. She stifles a moan. It feels so good to be in his clothes.

Russell picks up her discarded clothing and pitches it toward a chair. She is too distracted by his next actions to see if they land or not. Russell steps out of his jeans, but leaves his boxer-briefs on. Reaching behind her, Russell pulls the bed covers back and motions for her to slide in. She complies, scooting over more when she feels his body following her into the bed.

Wrapping her in his arms, he pulls her body flush with his. Her head rests on his broad, firm pec. She sighs softly, feeling warm and safe. “Sleep well, sugar. I’m here if you need me.” Tears well up in Allison’s eyes. She knows this isn’t how he’d hoped their night would go, but the fact he is willing to stay with her knowing sex is off the table speaks volumes to her about his character as a man.

“Goodnight, Russell,” she whispers, pressing a kiss to his chest. Then she settles down over the spot. Sleep comes much sooner than she would have expected. Just knowing he is here makes surrendering to sleep that much easier.

The next morning Allison awakes still wrapped up in Russell’s arms. At some point they’ve changed positions. She’s on her left side with him spooning her from behind. Allison feels completely surrounded by his warmth and his strength.

“Good morning, sugar,” Russell murmurs in her ear, pressing a kiss to the side of her neck, instantly causing desire to flare in her lower regions.

She turns to face him. “Good morning, Russell.” She wants to kiss him, but she’s worried about morning breath. He doesn’t seem concerned, though. He captures her lips. His tongue begging entrance, which she eagerly accepts.

The kiss turns hot and wild, an intense exploration with tongues that leads to hands getting in on the action. All too soon, Russell breaks the kiss, tucking her into his side. She snuggles into his chest, not yet wanting to face the day.

Emma has a hike planned for them with a picnic up on the mountain. Allison has become a city girl during her years in California. She isn’t relishing the idea of a five-mile trek through the woods, climbing up the side of a mountain, just to eat cold sandwiches, fresh vegetables, and fruit. She’d much rather stay at the hotel in bed with Russell, but she knows that isn’t going to happen, not today.

“We need to get up, sugar,” Russell reminds her. “We don’t want a repeat of yesterday morning.” He chuckles, but Allison doesn’t see the humor in it. She’d been the one to endure her cousins and later Aunt Jenny and Aunt Lettie giving her a morals lecture.Not fun!

Allison sighs but lifts her head. “Yes, we don’t need that.” Allison gives him one last quick kiss before slipping out of bed. “I suppose I need to return your shirt so you don’t have to do the walk of shame bare chested.” She gives him a questioning look. He smirks, sending her into a fit of giggles.

“It’s no walk of shame, sugar,” Russell insists. “When we have sex, it’ll be a walk of pride that I finally convinced you to let me have you. Keep the shirt. I like knowing you have something of mine.” An unspoken message passes between them, briefly.

Allison isn’t sure what he is trying to say with his eyes, but it feels like a promise of more than a quick fuck. She shakes her head being sure she’d misunderstood. They clearly couldn’t have more than that, right?

“Hey.” She looks. He is right in front of her. “Where’d you go just now?”

“It’s nothing,” she answers with a smile. “Just letting my mind wander. You better get going.” She tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek. “I’ll see you at breakfast?”

“Yeah, I’ll save you a seat.” He gives her one more toe-curling kiss before pulling on his jeans and heading for the door with his shoes in his hand. Allison can’t keep from smiling while watching him open the door. He turns back to see her watching him. “Enjoying the view?”

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