Page 109 of Sparks
His intensity morphed into gentleness as he came down, his hand running along my spine until he was soft enough to pull out. I turned to look over my shoulder and our eyes met. His perfect hair had fallen into waves over his forehead. When he grinned, almost shyly, I’d never thought anything was hotter.
“That was unexpected.” He lifted my panties over my bottom and I stood, turning to him and biting my lip as he maneuvered himself back into his jeans and buttoned them.
“Yeah,” I whispered, adjusting my skirt and hair, also feeling suddenly bashful.
Silas gently took the back of my neck and pulled me until our foreheads were touching. “Did you really come during sex?”
“Yes,” I admitted, giddy. “My first time.”
He grinned and gave me a soft kiss. “I’m honored.”
“Cheryl said we needed to finish what we started,” I whispered. “I guess she was right.”
He let out a huffing laugh and pushed his hair off his forehead. “Cheryl is also the one who told me I should leave you alone until my divorce was final. After what you went through, she was worried you’d have some trust issues.”
“Ah,” I said. “Wise, but sneaky.” She had been right. If Silas had tried to date me while he was still married, I would not have been able to feel stable. And I don’t think I had full closure from Shawn until I’d found out he was married.
“The bathroom’s down that hall if you need it. I’m going to make sure nothing burned.” He hitched a thumb to the kitchen and I nodded, my lips pressed together to hold back insane giggles, because holy shit. We’d just had sex.
I cleaned up in the bathroom and stared into the mirror for a long while. My brain started to overthink, because of course, and my nerves ratcheted up again. We’d gotten it out of our system. We’d finished what we started six month ago. Now what? What if that’s all this was? I closed my eyes, inhaled, and exhaled.
If that’s all this was, then we would be okay. We were grown adults. And I was pretty sure by now that our friendship could withstand…whatever this was.
I double checked my skirt and went to the kitchen. Silas was plating our dinner and he shot a grin over his shoulder.
“The potatoes are nice and crispy.” He laughed. “Can you get the back door? The weather’s nice so I figured we’d eat on the balcony.”
“Sure!” I slid the door open and Silas went through, holding both plates and setting them down on a small glass table. He had plants in rows along his balcony and the whole set up looked like something from France.
“I love this,” I said, letting it transport me back.
We sat on the balcony overlooking the river and laughed as we ate.
“I’m missing Rhea’s homemade vindaloo tonight, but it’s worth it,” I said. “Plus, she’s going to make me a container for work tomorrow.”
“Mm. I want some.” He grinned and took a bite.
“I’ll share.” I smiled back and took a bite, too, feeling mushy on the inside. “This is so good,” I told him after I’d wiped my mouth. He’d made balsamic chicken with rosemary roasted potatoes and parmesan asparagus. “Is there anything you can’t do? Seriously.”
“Um.” He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m bad at laundry. Like, really bad.”
I eyed him. “You can’t work a washing machine?”
“It’s not that part. I can’t fold, and I hate putting it away. Likehate. I pretty much live out of laundry baskets.”
I laughed in surprise. “But you always look freshly pressed.”
“I have my uniforms, and even some of my casual clothes, dry cleaned.”
I had to giggle because he seemed so embarrassed about it. “We all have some chore we hate. I think you’re okay.”
“Oh, yeah? Which one do you hate?”
I thought about it. “I don’t love any chore, but I guess I don’t hate any either. I don’t get very excited about cooking.”
“I love cooking,” he said.
“Thank God.” Now we both laughed, though I felt a blush creep up as I wondered if I’d made it seem like I wanted him to cook for me on the regular. I mean, that would be the best thing in the entire world, along with more of that amazing sex. Could I place an order?
