I turn the handle to the bedroom door. It creaks, filling the living room with a gorgeous midnight blue light.
Damn. The view in this room is better than I remembered. The windows are huge, letting in an expanse of skyline.
Alyssa is lying on the bed, comforter wrapped around every part of her body but her head. She murmurs something I can't make out.
It's closer to an invitation than to an objection.
I close the door behind me and slip my jacket off my shoulders.
She rolls over, pulling the comforter tighter around her body. Her eyes pass over me. "This isn't much later."
I loosen my tie and undo my top two buttons. Her eyes go to the exposed skin, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. But she snaps out of it, shaking her head.
"I'm not here to talk."
Her gaze goes straight to my chest. She swallows. "What are you here to do?"
I pull my tie off, letting it fall to the floor.
Her eyes are glued to me, like I'm performing in a private show just for her. Maybe I am. I undo the rest of my buttons and shrug my shirt off my shoulders.
It slides down my arms, falling to the floor behind me.
"I'm here for your viewing pleasure." I raise my eyebrows and throw her a cheeky wink.
She tries to stifle a laugh, but she fails. Her lips curve into the tiniest smile. For a split second, her eyes are bright. Happy. Then it's gone, and she's back to her distant expression.
I unbuckle my belt, pull it from its loops, and drop it on the floor. Alyssa sighs, her tongue sliding over her lips.
It has been a long time.
I unbutton my slacks and slide them down my thighs. Her eyes go wide, but she shakes her head to try and hide her interest.
"I'm not." She takes a deep breath. "We shouldn't... Right now. Luke, I..."
"I'm only getting comfortable." I sit on the bed, a few feet from her, and pull off my dress socks.
She scans my body again, taking in every inch of it. Every inch she can while I'm in my boxers.
I lift the comforter to climb in with her. "Do you mind?"
"No."
I climb in with her. It's damn warm, all from the heat of her body, and she's so close. Only inches away.
I bring my body behind hers, pressing my chest against her back, my crotch against her ass. She groans, lightly, and tilts her head back to meet mine. There's something so familiar about the way she smells. Something that feels like home.
The tension in my neck relaxes. Her thoughts might be a million miles away, but she's not. She's here. She's close enough to touch.
I slide my arm around her waist, pulling her closer. She sighs, melting into me.
I hold her for a while, listening to her breath, her heartbeat. The room is quiet, no sounds except for us. Nothing in the world matters except for us.
She arches her back, bringing her neck to my lips. She's so soft, so warm, so sweet.
I suck against her neck, scraping my teeth against her skin. She moans, putty in my hands.
"Luke..." Her voice is barely a whisper, but it's so strained and desperate. There's no doubt to her intention.