Page 7 of Tension

“Good morning.” His voice was low and husky from sleep, the sound vibrating through his chest and sending a shiver through me.

I slid away from his body, a dull headache pulsing behind my eyes. The sheets felt cool against my skin in the absence of his warmth.

“There’s medicine and water on the nightstand,” he said. “Once you opened that second bottle of wine, I knew I was in trouble.”

I took the medicine, memories of last night flooding back with a fresh wave of embarrassment. I vaguely recall oversharing about my life: how I grew up, what it was like losing my mom at a young age, how I met Brian after my dad died… and how I’ve been treading water ever since.

I remembered passing out, only waking up when Vel carried me to his room. He paid for the tow truck while I was asleep and told me to stay. He said he didn’t trust letting me leave with the driver. He helped me change and cuddled me to sleep, giving me everything I needed.

“I’m usually a fun drunk, but under the circumstances…” I shrugged it off. I noticed the T-shirt I had on barely covered my ass, but at least I was wearing panties. I got up and headed to the bathroom, feeling his eyes following me.

When I sat down to pee, I screamed, momentarily forgetting my situation.

Vel’s laugh exploded from the other side of the door, loud as hell. When I walked back out, he was still grinning, handing me a washcloth and towel.

“Go ahead and take a shower. I left some clothes on the bed. Probably a little tight around the chest,” he said, glancing down at my breasts, then back up at me. “You’re coming with me to get tested, then I’ll take you home.”

I just looked at him, annoyed because I couldn't argue with a man who was helping me out.

“Thank you,” I muttered. It came out flat, but I was grateful.

Vel playfully kissed my forehead and tapped my ass. “Relax, Honeydew. I got you.”

VEL

“I can’t believe you’ve never seen those videos,” Chris said, her crossed leg swinging slightly as we sat in the clinic waiting room. “The ones where fishermen scrape barnacles off crabs and lobsters. Oh, and don’t get me started on the turtles.”

Her voice was light, but it carried.

This girl can talk.

Normally, I tuned women out after the basics. Smile, nod, catch the important details. I had always been available enough for a woman to know she could trust me with her body, but also understand I wasn’t good for anything else.

But with Chris? I was actually listening. Worse, I was interested in every random thought, every tangent. I didn’t even mind it.

Shit… I liked it.

“Why do you watch this mess?” I laughed. “That’s nasty.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s weird, but I like knowing they feel better after. Like… someone finally took care of something they didn’t even know they needed.”

I grinned. “So your man’s the barnacle that needs to be removed?”

“Pretty much,” she said easily. “This whole thing was just what I needed to be done with him. I can’t stay after getting an STI from him.”

“Mmm,” I said.

Having heard this before, I’ve dated a few girls stuck on their exes. They always went back, no matter how good my dick was. Not that I wanted them to stay. She admitted that she didn’t know what the fuck she was doing. She stayed through the other bull shit what was different now?

What does it take for a woman to leave?

She squinted at me. “What!? You don’t believe me?”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” I said, just as the nurse called my name.

I stood and grabbed Chris’s hand.

She jerked back. “What are you doing?”