“It’s okay. I’m going out for a breather. Could you let them in and…yeah.”
I smile. “Yeah.”
As I leave the bedroom, Conner grabs the pack of cigarettes from the counter and steps outside. I push the buzzer, and Sammy’s energetic self is as vibrant as ever. Feeling relaxed, I press the button that lets them in, telling myself I won’t get this worried over the buzzer again.
I’m safe.
60
BIRTHDAY
My breath hitches,and my fingers dig into his flesh as my legs buckle. Conner buries his head into my shoulder, his back contracting and his body stiffening.
Our breaths are nothing but pants, and our chests rise and fall irregularly. All energy drains from me when Conner rolls over and sits on the edge of the bed. Part of the sheet conceals his naked body while I lie there, uncaring. Too exhausted to even move the sheet over my chest.
Conner chuckles. “Out of everything I offered to give you for your birthday this morning, you wanted sex.”
I smile while rolling onto my side. “Is that a problem?”
Conner shakes his head as he leans forward. He grabs a smoke from the packet and the lighter by the bed and stands. My face flushes, watching him as he slides the condom off and puts his boxers back on.
“It was more of a surprise,” he admits. A wicked smile plays on his lips when he leans down and kisses me on the forehead. “I’m going to have a smoke before a shower. When you’re ready to get up, could you strip the sheets so I can wash them?”
As soon as he’s out the door, I roll on my back again and touch my chest.When did I become so confident?
Shaking it off, I sit up, shuffle out of bed, and tear the sheets off. My eyes linger on a wet spot. Embarrassed, I hide that while I go to the laundry room, which is only a tiny closet. I stuff the sheets in, tip two scoops of laundry powder and a dash of softener into their designated slots and turn on the washing machine.
After, I grab a towel folded above the washing machine and head in to wash the remnants of what happened off my body. Conner joins me a few minutes later, and we stay there longer than expected.
“Okay.”Conner collapses on the lounge while heaving a sigh. “You’re a minx today.”
I sit beside him, a grin on my face as I say, “A minx?”
“Yes,” he declares. “My horny little minx.”
“Ah.” I giggle. “Is that a red flag?”
He eyes me, a crooked smile reaching his face. “I see what you’re doing.”
“And what’s that, Conner?” I playfully say while my fingers trail up his leg.
He twitches a brow, struggling to suppress his emotions. “Can I at least give you your actual birthday present?”
“All I want is you.” I pout.
I’ve become addictively close to Conner. Yearning for him and wanting to be closer than ever before. I’m not sure why. I think it’s because I’ve never been this open and honest with anyone. And since living here, I feel closer to him than ever before.
“Yes,”—Conner grabs my arm before I can feel between his legs—“I can see that.”
Sighing, I lean back and fold my arms across my chest.
“Are you sulking?”
He laughs when I nod.
He groans as he stands. I eye him while he goes into his bedroom. Sitting upright, I watch his movements as he opens the drawer that leans against the wall and takes out a box with a bow tied around it. I recall the box in his car and how weirdly he reacted when I grabbed that instead of the envelope.
I furrow my brows when Conner sits and hands me the box. I clutch it, already seeing the engraved silver label of the store beneath the bow. My eyes widen. Pinching the end of the bow, I pull at it until the ribbon comes undone. The silk slips through my fingertips, landing on my lap. Conner leans in, more eager than I, when I lift the lid off the box.