Page 61 of Game Changer

37

Opal

“I need to go home,”I insist as William stands in front of me in his bedroom, wearing only the sweatpants he put back on after we made love one last time.

It was hours after he brought me to orgasm in the kitchen. I’ve never been that brazen with a man before. I rode his hand shamelessly while chanting his name. It was an incredible experience I know I’ll never forget.

I won’t forget a single moment of this night.

He nods slowly. “I can take you. I’ll call for a car.”

That would be the safest route, but it would mean that he’d know where I live. Beyond that, I know that by the time we got to my apartment in Manhattan, I’d be aching to crawl into bed with him again.

I can’t. I need to leave here now with at least a small portion of my willpower intact. I’m falling for him, and it goes far beyond the sex. This is dangerous emotional territory for me. I’m not ready for it. I’m not sure I’ll ever be.

I finish buttoning my dress. “Thank you, but I’ll get there on my own.”

I don’t look at his face to see his reaction. I can’t. I’ll fall apart inside if I see disappointment marring his expression, and if I don’t, I know I’ll feel even worse.

“Are you sure, Opal?” he asks, concern tainting his tone. “It’s late.”

“I’ll be fine,” I lie because I’m far from fine.

For over two years, I’ve been able to get into bed with a man, have fun, and walk away without looking back. That doesn’t feel possible now, even though I desperately need it to be.

I turn to search for my shoes. I kicked them off somewhere in this bedroom.

“I put them by the door,” William says. “Your shoes are by the door.”

I walk over to them and slip on the right one before I steady my stance with a hand on the doorjamb to slide on the other.

I take a moment to catch my breath before I turn to face him again. When I do, I spot the T-shirt I had on. It’s on the bed. That’s where William tossed it after he took it off of me before he fucked me from behind.

A reminder of what that felt like storms over me. I’m both aroused and panicked. I’ll never feel that again. I’ll never feel as connected to a man during sex as I did with William.

He steps toward me. His hands are fisted at his sides. It’s obvious he’s restraining his emotions. “Is everything okay? Did I hurt you? Did I do anything that made you uncomfortable?”

I stare at him, tempted to ask him to stop talking. I don’t want to hear compassion in his voice or see it in his expression. I don’t want him to be an amazing lover and a kind man.

“Everything is good,” I manage to say with a small smile. “You didn’t hurt me.”

Relief softens his shoulders. They fall slightly. “Good. That’s the last thing I’d ever want to do.”

The last thing I want to do is walk out of here and never see him again, but I need to. For the safety of my heart, I have to. I’m starting to feel things for him, so we can never repeat what happened tonight.

“I should go.” I gesture beyond the open doorway to the hallway.

He nods. “I can’t let you leave without kissing you goodnight.”

I keep my gaze trained on him as he walks toward where I’m standing. Once he’s in front of me, he reaches for my face with both hands. Cupping my cheeks, he looks into my eyes before he presses his lips against mine in a kiss that will stay with me until I take my last breath.

* * *

“You’re walking funny,”Aunt Hildy says from where she’s perched on a stool in front of the bar of Turquoise Crown.

I almost spit out a laugh because I am a little uncomfortable after spending most of last night with William. The man is a beast in bed.

His size and stamina are not to blame for the current state of my gait, though. The shoes I’m wearing are. I slipped my feet into them as I rushed out of my apartment less than an hour ago. I took my time showering and drying my hair. I thought I’d have more than enough time to put on a little makeup, make myself a cup of coffee, and scrounge through my cupboards to find a granola bar or a forgotten package of instant oatmeal for breakfast.

---