Page 87 of The Invitation
He grips my hips so hard that the skin burns beneath them, and then I feel him swell inside me. He grunts, his whole body shaking, as he loses himself alongside me.
My arms buckle. He scoops an arm under my stomach, and I think he presses a kiss to my shoulder. I close my eyes, relishing in the moment just in case I never experience it again.
He pulls out and then helps me to my feet. When I turn around, he’s removing the condom.
A blast of anxiety riddles me because I’m unsure what happens now. But when his gaze meets mine, and a soft smile graces his lips, my nerves melt away.
“Shower?” he asks.
I grin. “One at a time because that thing is tiny.”
“Thank God that’s the first time I’m hearing that today.”
I snort, shaking my head at the mischief on his face. And, suddenly, I think everything just might be okay.
Somehow.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Georgia
“Shouldwe leave rent or a tip when we leave?” I ask, coming out of the bathroom. “And by we, I mean you. I have no money—here or elsewhere.”
Ripley’s sitting on the sofa, repacking his backpack. He grins, nodding toward the table. A letter and a business card have been placed in the center.
Hello,
We used this cabin for shelter during a storm. Please contact me at the number on the business card, and I will pay for any cleaning fees or inconveniences.
Thank you,
Ripley Brewer
“Aren’t you afraid someone is going to get a hold of this and extort you?” I ask.
He laughs. “Extort me for what?”
“I don’t know. The possibilities are endless. Don’t you watch television?”
“Ironically, no.”
“Not to freak you out or anything, but they could burn this place down and then charge you with arson,” I say. “They could break everything in here and say you did it and demand you refurnish the place. They could kill someone, drop the dead body here, and say you’re the prime suspect.”
“First of all, who is thistheyyou’re talking about?”
“Whoever owns this place.”
“Second,” he says, as if he wasn’t expecting an answer to the first question, “someone would have to be very diabolical to burn their own cabin down just to blame it on me.”
“It happens.”
He nods like I’m the diabolical one. “Third, DNA would clear me on murder, so I’m not worried about that. And if they say I broke everything, I’ll pay for it and move on. Or, I’ll have myattorneys fight them. Either way, the karma of not leaving a note is worse than taking my chances.”
I roll my eyes. “You have such a rich person’s perspective on stuff.”
“Well, probably. But am I wrong?”
“I mean, no. Not technically.” I wander to the window and peer out. “It’s just interesting how you think about things that other people don’t.” I face him. “I’d be terrified to leave my contact information just laying out for the public. What if the wrong person found it and tracked me down?”
