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Tilly
I roll over onto my side and immediately I’m flooded with confusion. I sit up in the bed. I’m nude in my bed.
I know for a fact that I didn’t fall asleep here. I did that in Sebastian’s bed in his arms after we made love.
He was telling me about his first day on the job as a police officer when his deep voice lulled me to sleep.
It’s morning now.
The sun is pouring in through my windows. My blinds are open. The spot next to me is still smooth and the blanket untouched.
He must have carried me in here at some point.
I was in his bed last night, wasn’t I?
I didn’t dream what happened. I couldn’t have.
I dip my fingers between my legs and wince at the spark of pain when I touch my pussy. It’s swollen and tender.
We were together and now we’re not.
I stand and cross the room to my closet. I tug my short blue silk robe from a hanger and wrap it around me.
The chill in the air bites at my skin as I open the door of my bedroom and peer out. I don’t see or hear anything.
I tread quietly across the apartment to the hallway.
I stand in place staring at the door to Sebastian’s room. It’s ajar.
“Matilda?” His deep voice startles me enough that I jump.
I spin around to face him.
It’s obvious that he’s showered and shaved. He’s dressed in jeans and a blue button-down shirt. The bruising around his nose hasn’t faded at all, but some of the swelling is gone.
“You’re dressed.” I point out the obvious as I tug on the sash of my robe to tighten it. “How did I end up back in my bed?”
His gaze darts to the open door of my bedroom. “I had a nosebleed early this morning. I wanted to get my sheets into the wash, so I carried you to your bed and tucked you in.”
That makes sense.
I notice the keys in his hand. Maya had a washer and dryer installed in the closet at the end of the hallway when she moved in. He didn’t have to leave our place to do his laundry.
“Did you go out?”
He looks down at the keys. “I had to meet someone earlier.”
Someone? That’s vague enough to pique my interest.
I know he has the day off, but I ask because my curiosity is pushing me to. “Was it a work thing?”
His eyes narrow as he weighs his response. “No work talk today. We both have the day off.”
Anxiety bites at me as I weigh his answer. I know his work is shrouded in mystery. It’s not like he can tell me about the cases he’s working on. I get that his job doesn’t fit into the typical nine-to-five box.
“I should shower too.” I change the subject. “When I’m done, we can go to my favorite breakfast place if you’re hungry.”
“Or I can have another taste of you.” He closes the space between us with a few wide strides. “Let me eat you before you shower, Matilda.”
I don’t protest when he pulls on the sash of my robe to loosen it. I only moan in response when he lifts me up and places me down on the sofa. As he kneels on the floor and slides his tongue between my legs, I let the world disappear one more time.
***
“Let’s talk about Maya and Julian.” Sebastian chews on the corner of a piece of toast.
I look around the interior of Crispy Biscuit, my favorite diner. I’ve been coming here for the past year. I discovered it by accident one day when I was looking for a sandwich shop I was supposed to meet a blind date at.
My date was waiting for me a block over.
I canceled on him, ordered the lunch special and sat at the counter talking to the owner, Jo. She’s one of the friendliest people I’ve met in Manhattan and whenever I get a chance, I stop in for the food and her company.
“Let’s not.” I sigh.
“Why not?” he questions as he swallows a mouthful of coffee.
I knew this conversation was on the not-too-distant horizon, but I had no idea we would be diving into it while I’m enjoying Eggs Benedict.
I set my fork down and look at him.
His hair is still mussed from when I tugged on it while I came against his face. I almost drifted off to sleep again after that, but the ring of his cell phone pushed me back into reality.
He didn’t answer it. Instead, he got to his feet, leaned down to kiss my left breast and then helped me stand.
I took a shower, got dressed in jeans and a blue sweater and braided my hair. When I walked back into the main living area, he was waiting for me on the sofa staring at the windows. He was lost in thought and when I finally cleared my throat, he turned to find me standing next to him.
I didn’t ask what he was thinking about. I can’t begin to imagine the weight of his world.
“Maya was trying to set me up with you for months.” I push my plate aside. “I kept telling her I wasn’t interested.”
“I know.” He skims his tongue over his bottom lip. “Julian told me as much. I took it to mean you weren’t interested in getting involved with a good friend of his. I admit I was hesitant too.”
I let out an exaggerated sigh. “It’s an odd dynamic, isn’t it? We’re both important to them. We slept together. When it ends, we are still going to end up running into one another whenever they have a family gathering.”
He stares at me, his jaw ticking. “I think we’re both mature enough that we can handle it, Matilda.”
My heart dips. I’m trying to be mature, but it’s not working.
The sex was phenomenal.
I like being around him. I love talking to him. I’m crushing like mad on this man and I don’t know what it’s going to feel like in the future when I see him with another woman.
I fist my hands in my lap. I can’t let my heart race circles around my common sense anymore.
I’ve done that in the past and it’s always ended up with me being dumped because I’ve gotten too attached.
I want to enjoy this for as long as it lasts, not derail it because I want more than he can give to me.
“I can handle it,” I half-lie.
“Good,” he responds quickly. “That’s settled, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
