Page 404 of Rock Me All Night
I shouldn't want to hear it. But I do. I want Tom protecting me. I want Tom in every way it's possible to want a person.
The ride passes in silence. Just our breath and the quiet hum of the car's hybrid motor. When we get to the hotel, Tom pays the driver and helps me out of the cab. He slides his arm under my shoulders, holding me upright.
Tom takes over, leading me to the elevator, punching the button for the proper floor, fishing my key out of my purse and opening the door.
It's hard to navigate the room in the dark. It's already a mess—clothes and suitcases spread out over the floor, photo equipment all over the table.
Tom helps me to the bathroom then steps back. He stares at me, his expression filled with uncertainty.
I grab my toothbrush and squeeze a little paste on it. It's late. I'm ready to collapse in bed but not alone.
I turn back to him. "Will you stay with me tonight?"
He thinks it over for a minute. "You've got two queens. I can stay in the other."
"No." I bite my lip. "Will you sleep with me? Not sex. But in my bed. Holding me. I get nightmares sometimes. After tonight... I don't want to wake up alone."
He runs a hand through his hair. His eyes go to the ground. "I don't know if that's a good idea. I don't really do that."
"You don't hold people?"
He shakes his head.
"You never want that kind of comfort?"
"An orgasm is more than enough." His expression is confused.
Does he really mean that?
I can't tell. I want that comfort, but not if it's going to make him feel as shitty as I do. "It's okay if you don't want to hold me. I understand that it's not a normal request." I turn back to the mirror and get to brushing my teeth. It's strange, him standing behind me as I get ready for bed. Intimate.
Tom goes to the door. The deadbolt clicks. Locked. Then he's back, behind me.
"I want to," he says. "You have an extra toothbrush?"
I shake my head, spit, and offer him my toothbrush. "You can use mine."
"I usually sleep naked."
So my body can still feel desire. A hell of a lot of desire. Enough to push away everything else.
"Boxers okay with you?" he asks.
"Naked is okay with me."
"Nice try."
There's a heaviness to Tom's smile. This whole night is heavy. I miss our easy conversation, the way he makes me feel light and free. No one else has ever made me feel like that, like I could float.
I wash my face, change into my pajamas, and wait on the bed.
Tom takes his turn in the bathroom. He steps into the main room and strips. Once he's down to his boxers, he slides into bed and lays his body behind mine.
He's awkward, stiff. He really doesn't do this.
I press my back against his chest, my ass against his crotch. His cock stirs but I know better than to read into that.
He feels good. Hard. Safe. Strong.
