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Euphoric
We try as bestwe can to collect ourselves. Jake made me come two more times before he finished inside me, and I honestly am having a hard time standing. Even propped against the backside of the barn.
“Be right back,” he says as he leaves me here. Probably to go get our shoes and pants.
In the stillness of his momentary absence, I continue to come down from this high and am left with a feeling of pure bliss and satisfaction. Though I’d be lying if I said a hint of yuckiness didn’t stain the two at their seams.
I did the one thing I said I wouldn’t do. Crossed the one line that didn’t need to be crossed because it felt good to be remembered. To not feel abandoned.
And I have no idea where to even go from here. What I do know is that he still has some explaining to do.
“You look like you’re overthinking over there,” he teases as he tosses my pants and boots over.
I get my pants on first and then work on zipping my booties back on my feet. Run the pad of my finger over my lips that are still tingling from his stubble. “That’s because I am,” I retort with a half-smile, then straighten. It takes my shaky legs a moment to remember how to work, but when they do, I saunter up to him, squaring up, and give him a semi-playful shove as he buckles his belt back into place. I should have done it harder. “You remembered our drunken sexcapades this entire time?”
He chuckles at drunken sexcapades, but it’s short-lived. He also knows I mean business. I want answers. He then holds up his hands in surrender. “Look, I thought you were the one that didn’t want to acknowledge it and keep things strictly business.”
Oh, sure. “How so?”
He situates the cowboy hat on top of his head, covering the glorious mess I made of his hair. “Well, you certainly were all business yesterday morning when you came to see me. I was just following your lead.”
I narrow my eyes at him, contemplating calling bullshit.
“Figured, if you wanted to mention it, you’d bring it up.”
“But I did,” I counter. “Last night at the lake.”
“And you barely gave me a minute to say anything before you rushed in with some bogus story about how we met.”
Yeah…I did that, didn’t I?
“And then I realized you were hoping I didn’t remember.”
I wince, apologetic. Essentially.
“I’ve just been going along with it.” He smiles a slick smile. “It’s your world, boss. I’m just living in it.”
My lips twitch. “Not sure I’m buying this.”
“What’s not to buy?” He leans against the backside of barn. In the exact spot we just…
I don’t know how to answer that.
His features soften and he reaches out to brush a stray lock of hair from my face. I let him. Come in a little closer. “I never forgot you, Scarlett. I was actually hoping you’d reach out so we could reconnect.” His touch lingers on my cheek, his eyes sweeping over my face, soaking it all in like it could be the last time. He knows I could still want to leave. I know I should. “When Curtiss told me Scarlett Reed with the AJC would be coming by to chat with me, I was hoping it was the same Scarlett.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “Is that why you came out naked to meet me?”
“Curtiss only told me right before you got there. I was still in the shower.”
“Sounds like you need a manager with better time management skills.” I’d scheduled the meeting a week before.
“Tell me about it.”
So, fine. Maybe there’s a possibility he’s not full of shit. Maybe he remembers me. And when I showed up at the hotel to give him a heads up yesterday, he had a hopeful moment for a reunion before I shot it all to hell. And apparently, gave off vibes that I didn’t want to acknowledge our tryst. Sure, it makes things easier…in theory. To not acknowledge the one-night stand and keep everything strictly business. Though I’m honestly questioning how true that logic is at this point. Nothing about this has been easy. “But…if you hoped I would reach out all this time, why wouldn’t you just find me?”
“Did you want to be found?” He says it with a knowing look.
I…why would he ask me that? He was the one who bailed that next morning.
