His dirty texts filled my phone during the day, and his even dirtier words filled my head each night before I went to bed, the phone typically on FaceTime. Our Tumbler account was filthy, and I loved it.
I did not love how our schedules never seemed to align. He worked all the time, and whenever he had a few free hours, it was always when I had class. I’d never missed a class unless I was on death’s door, even if I was trying to be a bad girl.
I hadn’t seen him in person in five days, not since our late lunch that ended with a belt around my throat and the most intense experience of my life. I snuggled into bed with my iPad and fired up Tumblr. Posting clips no longer induced worry. I simply posted what I liked, and every now and again . . . we’d inadvertently post the same clip.
You have class at eight tomorrow, Sensible Noemi rumbled. She hardly made an appearance anymore. Joseph had run her off. I curled up under the covers and drifted to sleep, wondering what he was doing and if he was thinking about me as much as I was him.
I was awake.
I rolled over and peered at the alarm clock, having to get close since I didn’t have my glasses or contacts. Holy hell, it was three in the morning. I flopped over on the bed.
“Hey,” a male voice whispered in the darkness.
I screamed and bolted upright, wrapping the comforter tight around my body. Holy shit, I needed a weapon—
“Noemi, it’s me, it’s Joseph.” In the moonlight, I could see the figure had his hands up.
“What the hell? I almost had a heart attack, are you trying to kill me?”
“No.” His blurry figure moved, like he’d reached a hand behind his head to rub his neck. His voice was resigned. “I came to sleep with you.”
My brain refused to function. “Excuse me?”
The bed shifted as he lowered, coming into view. His expression was . . . unsure. Part of me was excited to see him, but a much larger part was just plain exhausted. I felt anything but sexy right now. He was my Dom, though. He liked to keep me guessing and on my toes, and I’d given him a key to my place. Using his own hand could only stave off the need we both felt for so long.
“I came to sleep with you,” he repeated. “I’m sorry, I know it’s late and you’ve got class early, but . . .” His arms wrapped around my shoulders and pressed me back into the mattress. “I still haven’t actually slept with you, and that . . . bothers me.”
He settled beside me on the bed, and as he got comfortable, my breathing grew short. Never would I have guessed he’d be into this. The distance he held himself from me seemed to be shorter each day.
“You still have your clothes on,” I whispered.
“Precautionary measure.”
I laughed softly. “What are you trying to prevent?”
“You know exactly what would happen if I took my clothes off.”
Now that I was fully awake, I rose up onto my elbow. “Oh? What would happen?”
“I’d be the third wheel to you and the tattoo.” He tucked my hair behind my ear and his fingers slipped down to cradle my face. “We can’t sleep together without the sleeping part, little girl.” He brushed his lips over mine, and warmth poured through me. “You need to get some rest. We’ve got plans tomorrow night.”
“We do?”
“It’ll be twenty years cancer-free, tomorrow. You said I should have a party.”
I smiled. “Yeah?”
He made a face. “It’s not going to be a big deal, just a few friends. Don’t go ordering me a sheet cake or anything.” Joseph urged me to lie back down, my head resting against his chest. “Your last class is at six, can you be ready by nine?”
It was stupid, but it always caught me off guard when he knew my schedule or remembered a detail I’d mentioned. With as busy as my father was, the way the professors treated me as another faceless student, and of course Ross’s general attitude, I didn’t realize how invisible I felt. Not until Joseph noticed me.
“Yeah, nine, no problem. I’m sure I can have the balloon bouquet ready by then.”
“Perfect. Now go to sleep before you say something that gets you in trouble.” I imagined all the sexy discipline he’d give, but before I could open my mouth, he added, “I’ll take away your pillow.”
I smiled, closed my eyes, and enjoyed the quiet with him for a moment. “I’m glad you came. Good night, Joseph.”
He let out a soft breath. “Night, baby girl.”