Page 106 of Rewrite the Rules

I don’t know if he would’ve had time for any other way. Joel groans as he spills inside of me. I always imagined I’d feel it…but I don’t—not really. Just warm. Full. Safe. He collapses to the side, pulling me with him so we face each other. We lay there allowing ourselves to admire the other. My climax has faded, but love takes right over. It’s powerful and postpones my descent back down to earth. I’m higher than high. Overcome…

“Joel?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Boyfriend sex was worth the wait.”

Chuckling, he pulls me into his chest and kisses the top of my head. I barely notice the faded voice of Usher singing something about having it bad.

“Noted,” Joel says. “Only boyfriend sex from now on.”

thirty-six

Adler

My sex hangover is absent this morning. I have no regrets or cringeworthy moments that I’m obsessing about as I lie here in bed next to Joel. The way we were together last night felt like something more. I regret nothing. Not even telling him I love him.

“Good morning, Baby Spice. Have I ever told you that your snoring sounds like a freight train on the tracks?” Joel smiles at me playfully.

Okay…one regret.

“You have not. I will add it to the list of compliments alongside ‘talks too much’ and ‘eats like a five-year-old’.”

Joel pinches my side and I squeal as I try to wiggle away from his tickle torture. “It’s your bed, baby. You don’t snore at my place because of the adjustable frame. I always have it set on a slight incline.”

My expression flattens. “I don’t snore because your bed is already at an incline, or you put your bed at an incline so I don’t snore?”

Joel runs his fingers across my face, outlining the slopes of my forehead and nose. He traces the hard lines of embarrassment on my face. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

“Nope.”

“Didn’t think so. But I want to buy you a new bed for Christmas. I’m partial to Tempur-Pedic, but Sleep Number works well too. What do you think?”

“Nope to both of those.”

“Okay. What if we go shopping for a bed you want?”

“Nope.”

“Okay. What ifyougo shopping and buy a bed you want and then I just reimburse you? We won’t even call it a gift.”

“Oh. Okay, well that works.” I smile disingenuously.

“Really?” Joel’s face lights up in triumph.

“Nope.”

“You’re impossible.” He rolls on his back and tucks his hands underneath his head. I climb on top of him pressing my naked breasts against his warm bare chest. God, this feels good. He smells good. A hint of my perfume is scant across his skin. This is how I want to be buried one day. If this is a dream, stay the hell away with those pinching fingers. Let me be.

“But speaking of Christmas gifts, I actually did get you something. It’s a two-part gift.” I reach into my nightstand and pull out a long black velvet box and hand it to Joel. “Open it.”

“I don’t know if I should. Christmas isn’t for another week. And you said I can’t buy you a bed.” But Joel sits up anyways and shimmies his shoulders in excitement.Huh. Interesting.Joel Lewis, the man who can buy himself whatever he wants, apparently likes getting gifts. His eyes gleam with the childlike wonder of a kid at the front gates of Disney World.

He opens the box revealing a silver chain collar with a pink heart charm dangling from the center. His enthusiastic smile fades immediately. I hide my grin. “This is just part one. The rest will be delivered later.”

“This is um…a bracelet?” Joel blinks at the collar, looking incredibly uncomfortable. I could clarify immediately, but I stay silent as he sweats. I bite my bottom lip, thoroughly enjoying myself. He may be my boyfriend now but watching him squirm is no less fun on this side of the equation.

“What do you think, babe?” I smile eagerly at his labored expression.

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