Page 22 of Still Here Without You

Joel’s lips pull up, and before I know it, I’m pushed onto my back with him positioned on top of me. “Best we do something to fix that,” he says with a cocky grin, but then it falters a little before he adds, “If that’s what you want?”

“Oh, I really want that. Now, hurry up.”

“You got it!”

Having received permission, Joel’s sheathed and back between my legs faster than I thought physically possible. He lines himself up and pushes inside me slowly, drawing out a long groan from both of us.

“Perfect, just like I knew it would be,” he says with a strained voice.

I laugh and then lift my hips, changing the angle, and when he pushes in deeper, I scream out at the feeling.

“Jesus Christ, woman.” His face matches the strain of his voice, and the thought that it’s me causing that drives me wild. I can’t help but giggle until he moves again, and another moan escapes me.

We both seem to decide at the same time that the slow speed needs to change, because without words we move faster until we’re both a mess of panting and rocking and swearing. Joel grips my hip, slamming into me over and over until I’m screaming his name and flying over the edge for the second time.

“Thank fuuck,” he yells, following me over before falling onto the bed by my side.

“Enjoythat?” He smirks.

“I could take it or leave it.” I shrug, but considering the smile I can’t seem to shake, my breathless pants, and undoubtedly flushed skin, I don’t like my chances of him believing me.

“Shame,” he says with a pout. “Guess I’ll have to try harder next time.”

“This was a one-off—” I start to say, but my words are drowned out when Joel tickles my waist and dives back on top of me.

Chapter Nine

Delilah

Myphoneringingwakesme at some ungodly hour later that night. Joel’s wrapped around me, his hand resting on my bare stomach and his face burrowed into my neck. It’s a nice feeling, one I’m definitely not ready to give up. But the shrill of my phone, when it’s still dark out, must be important.

I wriggle free from Joel’s grasp without waking him, pull on my panties, and throw his tee on over my head. Phone in hand, I silence it as I sneak out of his bedroom, walking toward the kitchen just as the vibrations stop.Damn. Looking around, I thank God I’ve been here before, or this would have been super weird. I can’t help but scan the room now that I’m alone, trying to take in anything that might clue me in to the real Joel. If the Joel I’m seeing isn’t the real one.

There’s a Heartwood U sweatshirt on the back of the kitchen stool and a couple of branded drink bottles on the counter, most likely all Dylan’s, and Joel’s leather jacket is by the front door, but that’s nothing new. I’ve just spotted a photo when my phone starts vibrating again, reminding me why I’m out here at—I glance down at the screen—four a.m. International number?What? Ugh! That’s got to be a mistake.

Ignoring it, I wonder what to do now? It’s eerily silent, and here I am, half-naked, at the house of my hookup, hanging out alone in his kitchen. Do I sneak out? Get back in bed? God, talk about awkward. My phone buzzes with a voicemail, drawing my attention. It’s the same international number. Okay, maybe it’s not a wrong number. A woman with an English accent comes through the speaker as I listen to the message.

“Hi, Delilah. It’s Diana from Madison Wills. I wanted to personally congratulate you on your upcoming position with our company. I’ve just realized it’s probably the early hours of the morning over there, so I do apologize if I’ve disturbed you. Please feel free to call me back at your earliest convenience. I’ve sent you an email with my information. We are all very excited to have you over here. An American in Paris. I love it. Talk soon. Bye Bye.”

An American in Paris?What the hell?

I’m staring at my screen, trying to process Diana’s words, when I hear a door close down the hallway. Seconds later, Joel walks into the room, scratching his head. “Hey, I thought you’d snuck out. I was actually going to congratulate you on being so stealthy, but… Is everything okay? You look a little spooked.”

I stare at him for a few seconds, then back at my phone, then back at him again.

“Del? What’s going on?” he asks, his voice filled with concern.

Shaking my head, I huff out a laugh of disbelief, peering up at him from under my lashes. “The company I got the internship with just called.”

“At four in the morning? What the fuck?”

“They’re in Paris. It’s not the middle of the night over there.”

“I guess that’s true, but it’s not that difficult to figure out the time difference and call at a responsible hour. Anyway, not the point. What happened?”

“She called to congratulate me. And to say…to say, um…she said she’s looking forward to having me over there.” My words come out slowly as my brain still struggles to process them.

Joel’s silence draws my attention. Even though I’ve been looking at him, I haven’t really been seeing him. Until now. I hadn’t even noticed his bare chest. I catch a strange expression on his face before he schools his features. “You never mentioned the internship was in Paris. That’s…that’s great.” His voice is gruff and stilted. Nothing like it was seconds earlier.

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