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“A distraction worth indulging in,” I said, daring a smile.
She shook her head, a reluctant grin tugging at her lips. “Give me an hour. Then we’ll see.”
“An hour,” I agreed, stepping back, giving her the space she needed.
I continued to undress, unbuttoning my slacks and letting them fall to the floor. Erika’s gaze flickered down, landing on my erection, and I caught the quick rise and fall of her chest as she gulped. She slipped on her t-shirt, her fingers trembling slightly as she bent over to search for something to cover her bottom half. When she finally found a pair of black yoga pants, she pushed her panties down her hips and stepped out of them, her every movement deliberate.
My eyes traced the curve of her ass, a masterpiece that I’d admired from afar but never up close. Now, seeing it in the flesh, I felt a surge of desire that made my mouth water.
“Are you sure you have work to do?” My voice came out rough, barely above a croak. I didn’t wait for her answer, stepping closer and gathering her loose blonde hair in my hand. I gently tugged, guiding her to look up at me.
“I do,” she whispered, her voice betraying the conflict in her eyes.
“Don’t be too long.” I leaned in, placing a tender kiss on her lips before reluctantly stepping back. “Is your bed comfortable?”
“Very, but I thought you said I wasn’t emotionally ready,” she shot back, her tone laced with sass.
“I think you are, and I don’t know about you, but I can’t hold off any longer. You’re under my skin,” I admitted, my voice thick with need.
She slipped on her yoga pants, shimmying slightly to get them up her hips. The motion gave me a tantalizing glimpse of her clean-shaven mound, and my breath hitched. I couldn’t wait to kiss her there, to explore every inch of her body with the reverence it deserved.
Erika finally straightened, her eyes locking with mine. The air between us was charged, thick with unspoken desire and anticipation. I nodded, though every fiber of my being screamed to close the distance between us again. But I knew this was a battle of patience, one that I was willing to endure for the promise of what would come after.
I snuggled into her bed, relishing the scents of her which were embedded in the sheets and her pillows. I don’t know how long I slept but if I could wake up to her face every morning, I would be in heaven.
“Lincoln, baby, wake up.”
Her voice pulled me from a deep sleep, and as my eyes fluttered open, I found Erika sitting beside me, her fingers gently stroking my face. The warmth of her touch sent a shiver down my spine, reminding me just how comfortable her bed really was. After the early morning I’d had, with little sleep the night before, I must’ve crashed the moment my head hit the pillow.
“How long was I out?” I asked, my voice thick with grogginess.
“Long enough for your erection to disappear,” she teased, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.
I couldn’t help but smirk back. “Wouldn’t take long to bring it back.”
Her smile faded slightly as she shifted closer. “We should talk.”
I pushed the covers off my chest and sat up, bracing myself. “Here we go.”
“Why so negative?” she asked, a hint of concern creeping into her tone.
“Because I have a feeling you’re about to tell me this isn’t going to work out.” I didn’t wait for her to respond, already swinging my legs over the side of the mattress, ready to make a quick exit.
“Where are you going?” she asked, her voice sharper now.
“Escaping the heartache,” I said quietly.
“What heartache?”
I stood, but she grabbed my hand, her grip firm and unyielding. “Stop and listen.”
“Don’t break my heart, Erika.”
“Stubborn fuck,” she muttered, pulling me back toward her. “I like you, Lincoln. I want this to work. That’s what I wanted to say. I’m not telling you to go. We should get to know each other better.”
Her words sank in, and the heavy weight in my chest began to lift. She was willing to try. After years of leaving a trail of broken hearts behind me, it hadn’t occurred to me how much pain I’d caused—or how much I might have been trying to avoid it myself.
“How?” I asked, my voice softer now.
