Page 235 of Now and Forever

Chapter 82

S

lowly coming out of my deep sleep, I had never felt more relaxed in my life. This sentiment lasted for a few seconds … until I decided to roll over to my other side.

“Shit!”I loudly hissed into my pillow as the strong, throbbing ache between my legs vibrated all over my body.

Then my mind immediately came out of the sleepy fog as the memories of last night flashed in my mind. Cruz kissing me … inside of me … our sweaty bodies tangled … the feeling of his thick dick fucking me…

“Oh. My. God!” I blushed as I tried to shake the giddiness that bubbled out of me.

Last night was … the best thing I had ever experienced. Well, I didn’t doubt for a second that Cruz was going to be great in bed, but last night … He took me to a different place. There was sex, and then there was that.

Promises of self-control did nothing to stop the crazy passion he and I ignited together. There was no question that I wanted him, yet there were a lot of things to consider before jumping into a full-blown relationship with him.

First off, he was fresh off his engagement, so I should wait until the dust settled on that front. Then there was Archer and my ex-Aaron, who had begged to speak to me. I wasn’t sure where he had gotten the number for here, but as surprising as it was for him to call me, I was more curious for his reasons behind it.

Sighing, I reached towards the dip on the other pillow, the imprint of last night where Cruz barely slept a few hours before reluctantly leaving my bed to go to his old bedroom located in the opposite wing, on the other side of the house.

I didn’t want to move. My mind was too busy wondering if Cruz was awake and already downstairs or if he had already left to go to his own house.

He was so different from all the other guys I had dated. Maybe it was due to the fact that he was a little older than me or that he was a totally different caliber. He intimidated me because I wasn’t sure what to expect from him. I knew what he had said last night about not easily giving up on me and what not, but that was last night. What he thought and felt in the morning would be critical. Men were known to change their minds after they got what they were after. And how easily I had let him take it, bending and opening my legs without a second thought.

As much as I told myself it wouldn’t bother me if it went either way, deep down I was terrified to find out if Cruz had already lost interest in me.

Bracing the sharp sting that came with too much sex from last night, I began to walk towards the bathroom for a much needed hot shower.

After twenty minutes, I had barely made the effort to dry my damp hair before haphazardly knotting it in a loose bun. Donning a cotton, floor-length dress, some light lip gloss, and tinted moisturizer, I made my way downstairs. Most women I knew would probably put more effort into their appearance after last night’s festivities, but with the odd sensation between my legs and with my ever limping confidence, I sort of needed to be comfortable.

Anne quietly greeted me with a smile when she saw me stroll down the hallway that led towards the informal sunroom where Sunday lunches were held. Since it was already about one in the afternoon, I was hoping Margaret had retired already and Cruz would still be in there, comfortably sipping his espresso as he went through the news.

Shaky though my legs were, I couldn’t help feeling anxious as I got closer to my destination. With deep breaths and determination, I stepped into the bright, cozy room.

The white linen sofas were the first thing that caught my eye before I directed my gaze towards the opposite end where the rustic dining table was located. And sure enough, Cruz sat there, just as I had pictured him, with steaming coffee cup on a saucer and the Sunday newspaper claiming his attention.

He seemed so engrossed in his reading that he barely noticed he wasn’t alone in the room. This gave me a chance to take in his chiseled profile and the air of command he carried about him even when he wasn’t in his power suits. How could someone like Cruz Elliot hold interest in me after he got what he had been after?

The pang in my heart made me take a step towards the table before clearing my throat to get his attention.

“Hello,” I murmured with a wan smile, seeming unsure.

His mercurial gaze zeroed in on me, clashing with mine. It took about a second or two before he broke contact, snapping back into his usual demeanor by getting up from his seat and striding towards me.

“You look lovely as always, Serena,” he greeted me with a smile before leaning over to kiss me on the lips.

His gesture took me by surprise. I simply stood there, tense as a piece of wood. My reaction didn’t seem to bother him, though, because his smile was still in place as he pulled out a chair for me to sit.

I demurely thanked him, blushing like a notorious freak as I watched him pour me coffee. Then he basically took it upon himself to choose whatever food to place on my plate from the buffet the in-house chef had prepared for us.

“Thank you … That’s very sweet of you to do that.” It couldn’t be helped; I swooned like any other woman would. His sweet, unexpected gesture touched me deeply.

He carefully placed the plate before me that had a great selection of fresh, roasted vegetables, steak medallions, and grilled seafood. I wasn’t particularly hungry, but since he had put in all that effort, I felt obligated to eat, so I slowly worked on the scrumptious yet heavy meal.

“Did you sleep well?” he inquired softly, still hovering next to me.

“Yes … I guess I did.”

He was making the effort of small talk, and I appreciated it greatly, too nervous to fully function with him so close to me.

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