We lay like that, breathing hard, exhausted and sated. Nothing else mattered but what had just happened. It was one of those brief moments in life when there is nothing wrong but everything is right.
Saul’s fingers trailed down my back slowly. I closed my eyes tighter and pressed into his chest. I could stay right here and be happy for the rest of my life.
He continued to gently caress my back and my body became even more relaxed. My eyes grew heavy and the warmth pulled me under. Until there was nothing but Saul and that was all I cared about.
Twenty- Four
“Henley.” Saul’s deep voice was near my ear and I turned to snuggle closer to him.
When I heard a low chuckle, I smiled contentedly and went to slide a hand over him, but I couldn’t find his body. Confused, it took me a moment and I blinked then realized it was dark. I had fallen asleep.
“It’s dark.” I stated the obvious. My voice was thick from sleep.
“Yeah, it’s four in the morning,” Saul replied.
Four in the morning? Four in the morning! I sat up quickly, almost losing my balance and falling off the edge of the bed.
“Woah,” Saul said as his hands held my arms. “Easy,” he added.
“Work,” I said. “I have to bake.”
“I know,” he replied. “Let me get you home.”
Oh. Okay. Yes, I could go back to Gran’s and have plenty time to bake. It was fine. I started to stand up and I remembered. Several things. First of all, that I was completely naked. I grabbed for something to cover myself with and ended up pulling the sheet up to my neck.
More laughter from Saul.
“I’m naked,” I told him.
“I’m aware of that,” he replied, sounding amused.
I sighed and looked around the dark room for my dress. That’s when the memories of him taking the dress off and all that followed surfaced. I looked back at him and even in the darkness, I could see his smirk.
“Henley, my face was between your legs last night. Are you really worried about me seeing you naked?” he asked.
When he put it that way, it sounded ridiculous. “Yes,” I told him, knowing it was dumb.
He moved then and was right back holding my dress out to me. “Here,” he said.
I took it. “Thank you.”
I slipped it on quickly and then stood up. He was still standing by the bed, so my body brushed against his. He didn’t say anything or even touch me and I felt a slow sick knot begin to form in my stomach.
“I’ll get your bag,” he said then moved away.
I stood there in the dark room and watched him go. This was not what I expected him to act like after… well, after we had sex. I wasn’t sure how I thought he would act, but this was not it. He was acting like he had before we had done anything.
I wasn’t sure how I should act. Having sex with a guy I had only known a few weeks was not like me. Especially since the guy had just broken it off with his girlfriend. Who was I? Where had Henley gone?
Saul returned with my bag. “I’ll carry it. Here’s your shoes,” he said and put them in front of me. Looking at him I realized that Henley had lost all common sense due to the hotness of the man in front of her.
I quickly slipped my feet into them as he began walking to the door. I followed, trying not to read too much into this. I needed to focus on getting to Gran’s and baking things. I didn’t need to overthink every single second of last night. I had slept with Saul. It had been incredible. I was twenty-one years old and we were single. This was completely acceptable.
I had to be honest with myself though, Saul had been with a lot of girls. This was nothing new or special to him. Whereas I had only been with Will three times before he died. That was the extent of my sexual experience. We were not the same. This was all surprising and confusing for me.
The house was quiet as we went down the stairs and then out the front door. Saul held it open for me then when we reached his truck, he opened the door for me again. Both were polite and I thanked him. However, there was no soft kiss on the lips or touch of his hand on my back. Nothing. It was all very cold and I couldn’t convince myself that this was normal.
“I forgot your panties,” he said as he backed up and pulled out onto the road.
“Oh,” I replied. My panties weren’t of great concern right now.
He didn’t say anything more and a couple minutes later, we were pulling into Gran’s driveway. When he cut the engine and climbed out, I was surprised. At this point, I expected him to open my door and push me out while the truck was still moving. He seemed ready to get rid of me. Was this how it worked? He got sex and now he was moving on.