Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Cosmos

O nce the elevator opened in the lobby, Cosmos untangled Abby’s legs from around his waist and set her on the ground. “Need you to walk just a short way, sweet thing.”

She mumbled a complaint against his chest.

He smiled to himself. “Just need to get to the car. I’ve got a room for us over at the hotel.”

Wrapping an arm around her waist, he helped guide her to his car. It wasn’t far to the hotel. When he parked, he pulled up the reservation on his phone so that his electronic key was ready. Once again, he helped Abby from the car, this time guiding her in a side door to avoid her being embarrassed by how disheveled she looked. Inside, he picked her up and carried her to the suite that he’d secured.

Inside, he took her immediately to the bathroom, sitting her on the vanity. “I’m going to start a shower, okay?” He smoothed the hair back that was still sticking to her forehead. “You’ll feel much better afterwards.”

He stepped away for just a moment to start the water, then stripped naked. “One more minute, Abby-girl?” He stepped into the main room, opened the closet, and pulled out the laundry bag. Taking it into the bathroom, he quickly shoved his clothes into the bag, then stripped Abby down and did the same with hers.

By now, Abby was awake. He opened the shower door and tested the water, then helped her under the spray. “Be right back.”

Out in the main room again, he called Guest Services. With the promise of a hefty tip, they agreed to come grab the laundry bag and do an overnight order. He hung the bag on the door and went to join Abby in the shower. Stepping in, he noticed she was now awake. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he kissed her shoulder. “Feel better?”

“Much.”

He watched the blush spread across her neck and chest. “Don’t be embarrassed, sweet thing. You were fabulous. So proud of how you let go. I pushed you tonight, and I probably shouldn’t have.”

Shyly, she admitted. “I liked it, Cosmos. It’s just….”

“It’s just what?” he asked as he left a line of kisses up her neck.

“I didn’t know… I never… That wasn’t like me.”

He smiled against her skin. “Yes, it was, Abby. You may not have known that’s what you liked, but now you do. There’s nothing wrong with it. Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone likes different things, and it doesn’t mean it’s something that you need to enjoy sex. Clubs like The Lucky Rabbit give people a safe space to explore the things they like or think they might like.” Turning her to face him. “What’s wrong, exactly?”

Abigail

“What if,” she began, then stopped.

Tipping her face up to his so that she was looking him in the eye, he prompted, “‘What if’, what? ”

“Will I need that all the time?” she asked.

She could feel the tension in her body. He said there was nothing to be embarrassed about, but that didn’t prevent her from feeling ashamed of her actions. Why, she wasn’t sure. It wasn’t as if she would ever see those people ever again. But she also didn’t think the images from Alice, and her superhero, would ever fade in her memory.

He framed her face in his hands, brought his lips to hers, and coaxed her to open to him. His tongue slipped inside her mouth, the tip teasing hers until she was responding to him in kind. When he withdrew from her, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Would that be so bad?” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Abby, I sincerely doubt it’s a fetish, if that’s what you’re worried about. Have you ever felt the need to do that before?”

Closing her eyes, she shook her head.

“Then I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Kinks are very different. They’re things you enjoy, but don’t need in order to enjoy sex.” Kissing her closed eyelids. “Will it make you feel better if I tell you it’s my kink, too?”

Her eyes sprung open.

He nodded. “Not a lie. It’s not something I need, but it’s a definite turn on, and I would never have pushed you to do that if I hadn’t read the signs that watching was turning you on.” He reached to shut off the water and led her out of the shower. They hadn’t cleaned up, but it was more about cooling her down than that. Wrapping her in a towel, he gave her a quick pat down and allowed her to process his words. Done, he threw the towel on the vanity, and he looked her in the eye. “Let me prove to you that nothing’s changed for you. At least, not really.”

Abby felt herself swept up into his arms, and she threw her arms around his neck. When they arrived in the bedroom, he lay her on the bed and covered her with his body. She watched his eyes as he brushed her wet hair back from her face, then traced her features. “Make love to me, Cosmos. ”

“Christopher,” he corrected. “Call me Christopher. Cosmos is for work and the club. But here, between us, it’s Christopher.”

“But–”

His kiss cut her off. “Don’t think. Just feel.”

And for the next several hours, she did just that.