CHAPTER TWELVE

MARCUS

On the way to the bathroom, I grab a pair of pajama bottoms from a dresser drawer along with a plain t-shirt and make my way into the bathroom.

I clean up and get dressed as quickly as I can, my body feeling energized and sluggish in a way only a good orgasm can cause. I’m still in awe that Alice is in my bed and that she touched me the way she did.

Her tangy flavor is heavy on my tongue, and I’m loathed to brush my teeth or rinse my mouth out and lose that. With real regret, I wipe my face down and quickly swish some mouthwash before returning to Alice.

“Bathroom is all yours,” I say, wheeling over to the bed.

Silence greets me and I see her face, peaceful and relaxed, turned to the side and snuggled into the pillow. She’s fast asleep.

Watching her sleep doubt digs into me. She looks so young and beautiful with her hair spread out on my pillow, like an angel.

My room smells of sex and a throb of desire pulses through me at the thought of her naked body underneath that one thin cover.

And she’s too good for me. I know that. She deserves someone a thousand times better than I’ll ever be. As she kissed and touched me I wanted nothing more than to flip her onto her back and take her. To feel her pussy gripping my cock as I fucked her. To hear her screams of pleasure as I took her again and again.

Instead I had to settle for fingering her as she brought me to a shuddering climax.

Adapting and settling was what this new part of my life was all about. Just like she would be settling by being with me.

But because I’m a selfish jerk, I’m going to enjoy having her in my life as long as I can.

I return to the bathroom and do my entire nighttime routine before turning out the light in the hallway and then, as carefully as I can, I work my way under the covers and lay my head down on the pillow next to her.

Without the light I can no longer see her, but I can feel her warmth and hear her soft, even breaths.

She lets out a few incoherent mumbles and then wiggles her way next to me, pressing her body against mine as her arm slings across my chest.

Closing my eyes, I heave a contented sigh. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone to sleep with a woman in my bed with me. And never one that made me feel this way.

Sleep claims me and when I wake up, I pat the mattress next to me, but Alice is gone.

A sense of loss fills me and dimly I stare up at the ceiling.

The flush of the toilet has my head jerking to the side and after a minute Alice comes out of the bathroom wearing her wrinkled dress from yesterday. Spotting me, she laughs. “Oh my, I never used a bathroom like that before.”

“The bathroom in the hall is a regular one. This one was adapted for me, remember?”

“It’s your house. That makes sense.”

“I could get a regular sink put in for you…” I trail off, realizing how presumptuous that sounds. We’ve spent one night together. That doesn’t mean I should go ring shopping just yet.

“Forget I said that,” I mutter, turning my head and gazing back up at the ceiling, even as my face burns in embarrassment. “Let me get up and I’ll make us breakfast.”

“I’ll get started while you go do…Ummm… well, whatever you need to do.”

Laughing, I turn to look at her again. “What do you think I need to do? Polish my toenails or something? I just need to pee and then I’ll be out.”

“Marcus, has anyone told you how odd you are?” Alice says, grinning at me.

Her hair is a glorious mess and my fingers itch to get lost in there again. “A few might have mentioned it, but it sounds far nicer coming from you.” I sit up and push my way to the end of the bed, feeling a stiffness in my shoulder that isn’t usually there. Remembering that’s the side Alice slept on makes the discomfort more tolerable.

We make breakfast together, but a bit of the carefree and easy mood of last night is gone. I’m kicking myself for letting my tongue run away with me this morning.

“Forget what I said about the sink.” I snap, cracking the eggs with more force than is needed and sending shells into the bowl along with the eggs.

“Why?” she asks, handing me a spoon to scope the shells out. “That was very sweet. A lot of men shy away from commitment.”

She found some pancake mix in the kitchen that I don’t even remember buying. After handing me the spoon she goes back to dumping an alarming amount of chocolate chips into the mix. “I take dating seriously.”

I hand over the bowl of eggs and watch as she adds it to the pancake batter. “Have you ever been married, Alice?” It still shocks me that someone as lovely and nice as her is single.

“Not quite.” Her answer is short and something cold flashes in her blue eyes.

“Got left at the altar?” I joke.

Hurt tightens up her face. “Yes.”

I gasp. That wasn’t what I was expecting. Who would leave this perfect woman?!

“I suppose it was better than going through a divorce,” she says lightly, stirring the batter. “But being humiliated in front of my family and friends isn’t something I would wish on anyone.”

“Damn. I’m sorry, Alice.” My breath pants out as my pulse pounds loudly in my ears. “That was beyond rude of me. I shouldn’t have said anything, joke or not.”

She pauses and offers me a sad smile that makes my heart break in two. “No, it was bound to come up at some point.” Her eyes drift down to the spoon she’s clutching in her hand, and I can’t help wondering if she’s remembering an engagement ring glittering on her ring finger.

“Recent?” I ask, even as part of me doesn’t want to know. She’s mine. A primitive part of my brain cries out. No other man can touch her.

Alice’s hair swings as she shakes her head. “Over a year ago. I’m over him. Don’t worry about that.” She heaves a sigh and looks up. “Honestly, it was the right thing to do. He wasn’t the man I thought he was. It wouldn’t have been a good marriage.”

The pain in her voice makes me clench my hands and wish that asshole was in front of me right now so I could clock him for hurting her like this.

“We moved too fast.” Her eyes swing over to me, and she utters a tiny laugh. “I guess I haven’t learned my lesson.”

“How so?”

Her lips inch up into a genuine smile. “Last night,” she prompts, as a bit of color floods her pale cheeks. “We’ve just begun dating and already we slept together.”

Licking my lips, I try to relax my clenched fists. “We can slow down,” I say softly, wanting nothing of the sort. It takes effort but I force the words out. “Alice, do you regret last night?”

Her smile turns soft. “No. I don’t.”

Relief rushes through me, and my smile is genuine as I stare at her. Once again I’m struck by how beautiful she is. Not just her features, but who she is inside. The beauty shines so brightly that I just want to wrap her up and keep her safe from all the ugliness of the world.

After a beat she looks away and goes back to mixing. “I was left at the altar and wanted to hide in a hole forever. But silly me still believes in love and happiness.”

“Good,” I say, wheeling myself closer and reaching for her hand. “I’m glad that didn’t dim your light.” Even as I say those words I’m hoping that I don’t do it either.