I’m putting together a couple of sandwiches—ham, turkey, cheese, mayo, mustard, with thin slices of tomato and lettuce—when Reese clears her throat. “I wasn’t sure where you wanted my towel, so I hung it on the back of the door.” She places her clothes on top of her purse, giving me a glimpse of her panties. Fuck, knowing she’s bare beneath the borrowed shorts is doing nothing for my re-hardening cock.
“That’s fine.” I lick my lower lip as she walks towards me, a sway in her hips that Reese is completely unaware of.
“Can I help with anything?”
“Sure, you want to grab a couple of drinks? There’s some fruit in the fridge, and chips in the pantry.” I may live on my own, but that doesn’t mean my house looks like a cold, stark place or that I have no food. My mom may think otherwise with the way she brings food to the bar, but it’s more for her sake than mine. After so many years of it just being the two of us, she doesn’t know how to cook food for just one person, not that I can blame her. It’s damn hard, and you always seem to have a shit ton of leftovers.
“Your place is amazing, really. The land, the animals, the house, it’s everything.” Reese has told me she rents an apartment in the same district where she teaches. It’s costing her a mint, and everyone knows when you’re a teacher, you don’t get paid very much. Even when you work at a prestigious private school.
“Thank you. I was serious when I told you you’re welcome here anytime. In fact, I was going to see if you wanted to stay here tonight. I’m not going to be gone that long. I’d love nothing more than to come back here and you be here.” Reese may say no. She is renting a condo on the intracoastal this summer. I’m hoping she’ll say yes though.
“That shouldn’t be a problem, as long as you have an extra toothbrush.” I plate the rest of the sandwiches, almost dropping them when she gives in so sweetly.
“Fuck, yes. Me coming home to you in my bed, it must be my lucky fucking day.” I stop what I’m doing, wipe my hands off with a towel, and then I’m on Reese in a flash, lips meeting hers lightly. Clearly, taking things slow with her isn’t an option, not with this soul-consuming need.
“Maybe we can go back and forth, but stay here more because you have animals. I hate to pay for a place I’m not staying at either though,” Reese says when we pull a part.
“We can do that, or you can cancel your vacation and just stay here.” I may as well go for broke while I’m at it.
“That’s something to think about. Can we do it the other way for a little bit?” Her eyes are full of hope, and I’d never dream of dimming them.
“Anything you want, sunshine. Anything at all.” I squeeze her hip, smile at her. It’s the damn truth. I don’t give a fuck that we just met. When you meet that one person who lifts a heaviness off your shoulders you didn’t know you’re carrying, you know it’s the real deal, the whole damn enchilada.
“Thank you.” I’m not sure if she’s talking about compromising or the meal. Either way, I nod at her as we sit down at the eat-in kitchen table and tuck into our food.
Eight
Reese
We spent the rest of the day until Wolf had to go to work relaxing, learning so many things about one another. Like when how his dad passed away when he was only six years old, his mother never felt the need to bring another man into either of their lives. He said it wasn’t always easy, nonetheless, he was thankful he had his friend’s dad to pick up the pieces. Little did I know that my man can apparently ride a bucking bronc like nobody’s business. I mean sure, Mrs. Shaw touched on how he squirreled all of his money away, but she didn’t really go into detail that as soon as he graduated high school, he was hell bent on making it. Which he did, to nationals, twice, then he stopped before it got to his head. He came back home, helped pay off his mom’s house. She apparently cussed him out and ran after him with a flip flop, threatening to whoop his tail. That part had me snickering. She seemed so sweet the one time I met her that I can’t imagine any of that happening. I told Wolf how miserable I am at my job, how uptight all the faculty is and how opinions are like assholes in the school, in which everyone has one. He suggested that if I’m that unhappy, maybe finding a new school to work at would be better, and then I wouldn’t feel so burnt out. Wolf isn’t wrong in that aspect. It’s still scary though.