Chapter 44

CHAPTER 44

SIMON

S eeing Rylee shivering in the chilly night air, I quickly grabbed a towel from the nearby rack and wrapped it around her. I couldn't help but admire her all over again. The way her wet hair clung to her face, the way the towel barely covered her, it was a sight that could very easily inflame my desire once more.

"Here," I said, handing her another towel to dry her hair. She looked up at me, her eyes glimmering with postcoital warmth that made my heart beat faster. Was this what she meant when she said she felt the same? This connection, this pull between us was stronger than any physical need.

I watched as she padded into the living room, wrapping the towel tighter around herself. I found myself smiling, wrapping a towel around my waist. It was easy to forget about the rest of the world when it was just the two of us.

"I'll get you something to put on," I told her. "Look in the fridge and see if there is anything that looks good."

I walked up to my room and quickly pulled on a pair of shorts and grabbed a T-shirt for her. I didn't see any need for either of us to wear a lot of clothes. If I had my choice, she would be naked again soon. I walked back downstairs and found her staring into the refrigerator.

"Here," I said, holding out the shirt.

She looked at it. "A shirt? That's it?"

I grinned. "Do you need more?"

She laughed. "I suppose not."

She closed the fridge and dropped her towel. I watched as she pulled on the shirt, that dropped just low enough to cover her ass. It was impossible to ignore how incredible she looked in my shirt. My sex drive ramped right back up. I was ready for her again.

"Did you find anything to eat?" I asked.

She nodded, pointing toward a takeout box on the top shelf. "Is this still good?" She pulled it out and opened it, sniffing cautiously.

"If it's from last night, it should be."

She clapped it shut and turned toward me, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. "Then I suppose that's dinner."

I had a grocery order delivered earlier and knew I could find more. I took her hand and led her to the walk-in refrigerator that looked like a cupboard. Her eyes widened when I pulled open the door. She looked at me. "You have to be shitting me." She laughed. "This is your fridge?!"

"This is the good fridge," I added with a wink.

We walked in, the cold biting at our skin as we scanned the shelves. "I'll make us a meat tray," she said. "My friends and I practically live off charcuterie."

"That works for me," I replied, feeling a flutter of anticipation. "Go ahead and choose what you'd like."

She took charge then, selecting a variety of cheeses, meats, fruits, along with a box of crackers and a jar of pickles. The sight of her moving about with such ease was enough to infuse warmth into my chilly skin.

"Do we have wine?" she asked, peering at me over her shoulder.

"One thing I always have in stock," I answered with a smile.

My eyes followed her movements, and when she leaned forward, my shirt lifted just enough to show off the bottom of her ass cheeks. I couldn't stop checking her out, which she noticed.

She arched an eyebrow at me. "Down, boy."

I chuckled, unable to tear my eyes away from her. All I could think about was how I could get used to spending my nights like this and waking up to this view in the morning. I took a deep breath, deciding to go for it.

While she put together our snack, I selected a bottle of chardonnay from the wine fridge that still needed to be stocked. I was glad I had a few bottles on hand. I poured us each a glass. We opted to eat in the living room, choosing to sit on the floor with a platter of goodies on the coffee table.

We settled on the plush rug before the fireplace. I turned the gas fireplace on low heat, taking the chill off and providing enough light without needing to turn on any other light. The flickering light from the flames cast dancing shadows on her face, highlighting her features in an ethereal glow. The room was filled with a comfortable silence as we dug into our impromptu dinner.

Rylee had tucked one leg under her body while the other was stretched out, her foot brushing against my thigh. The casual contact sent a jolt of heat through me, and I shifted closer, my hand settling on her bare knee.

"Alright," I said, my voice steady. "I'm asking. You. Me. Exclusive."

She laughed, a sound that always made my heart feel lighter. "It sounds more like you're telling."

I shrugged. "You can say no."

She bit her bottom lip, driving me nearly mad. "Why on earth would I say no?"

A grin spread across my face. "Good answer." I leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.

She picked up one of the gourmet cheese chunks and held it up. "I never knew expensive cheese could really taste so much better," she said with a shake of her head. "I mean, you guys have been holding out on us."

"Us guys?" I asked.

"Rich people."

I chuckled. "Now you know our secrets. What cheese is that?"

She held it up. I opened my mouth and let her feed me. I nodded as I chewed. "That's the gouda."

"It's delicious." She smiled.

"Wait till you try the camembert," I said, reaching for a tiny wedge.

She opened her mouth, and I fed her the cheese. She closed her eyes as she chewed, a small hum of delight escaping her lips.

We laughed, we ate, we drank wine and enjoyed each other's company. The angst of previous weeks seemed to have evaporated, replaced by a sense of tranquility. She made everything better. I could never do this with anyone else. She was the only woman I could imagine sitting half-naked on the floor and eating cheese with.

I watched her as she took another sip of wine, her eyes closing for a brief moment before she looked at me with that mischievous twinkle in her eye. "One more round?" she asked, waving her empty glass.

"One more round," I echoed, my gaze never leaving hers as I got up to get the bottle. When I returned with the chilled bottle of white, she had sprawled herself on my shaggy rug in front of the fire. The sight was so breathtaking I had to stop and just admire the scene.

"Wow," I muttered, mostly to myself. Laid out like that, her hair splayed out on the rug, her skin glowing in the firelight, she was a sight to behold. A sight I intended to keep all to myself.

She propped herself up on one elbow and looked up at me, her eyes shining with mirth. "Get a good view?" she asked teasingly.

I smirked at her. "The best," I replied as I sat back down next to her, opening the bottle of wine. She held out her glass and I filled it, then poured more into my own.

We clinked glasses, a soft chime ringing through the room. Her gaze was still locked on mine. Something in her eyes made my heart skip a beat. It wasn't just lust, though there was plenty of that, but something deeper.

"I'm glad you asked me," she said after a moment, breaking our silence, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Asked you?"

"To be exclusive," she whispered.

I got back on the floor and stretched out beside her with my head propped up on my hand. I lay on my side and looked at her. I leaned closer to her. "Me too," I confessed, my voice rough with the intensity of my emotions.

We stared at each other for a moment longer before she closed the distance between us, pressing her lips onto mine in a slow, languid kiss. The taste of wine and cheese mingled, creating an intoxicating blend that was unique to us.

Kissing her was like coming home after being lost for years. It was comforting yet exciting—like finding the last piece of a puzzle you had been trying so hard to complete. I had no idea how I had gone through life without this kind of feeling. She was the missing piece of my life.

We sipped our wine and finished off our snack. "Do you have to work in the morning?" she asked.

"Kind of," I replied.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I can call in and handle my business," I said. "I don't have any actual in-person meetings. No one wants to be seen with me."

"I'm sorry," she sighed.

"It's fine. It'll pass. I just have to ride it out. We should go to bed, though."

"Should?" she teased.

"Or we could sleep here," I offered.

"I caught a glimpse of your bed. No way am I sleeping on the floor." She laughed as she rolled over.

I hopped up and grabbed her hand to pull her up. We collected the tray and glasses and went to the kitchen. She was finishing the last of her wine when some dribbled onto my shirt.

"Oops," she said, feigning innocence.

I smirked, feeling a mischievous glint in my eyes. "That's an easy fix."

Before she could react, I lifted the shirt over her head, leaving her completely naked. She gasped, but her eyes sparkled with excitement. I backed her against the island and kissed her deeply, my hunger for her growing with every passing second. She responded eagerly, her hands running through my hair and pulling me closer.

I was ravenous, and we still had the rest of the night. I would sleep later. As our kiss deepened, I could feel the heat between us intensify. My hands roamed over her body, savoring the feel of her soft skin. She pressed herself against me, her breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps.

"Simon," she whispered, her voice filled with desire.

I pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes. "Rylee, you drive me crazy."

She smiled, a sultry expression on her face. "Good. Now show me just how crazy."

I needed no further encouragement. My lips found hers again. I lifted her onto the island, positioning myself between her legs. I kissed her while she pushed my shorts down. We moved together in a fevered frenzy, our bodies matching each other's pace as we explored and discovered new ways to pleasure each other. My hands roamed every inch of her body, savoring the feel of her beneath my fingers. The tension between us reached its peak, and I knew there was no turning back.

After, I led her up to my bed. We climbed in, our naked bodies fitting together perfectly. I held her close, inhaling the scent of her.

"I could get used to this," I whispered, my lips brushing against her ear.

She looked up at me. "Me too, Simon."

In that moment, I knew that what we had was special. Rylee wasn't just a passing fling. She was someone I could see a future with. The thought of waking up next to her every morning, sharing my life with her, filled me with a sense of happiness I hadn't felt in a long time.

As we drifted off to sleep, I made a silent promise to myself. I would do whatever it took to make this work, to keep this incredible woman by my side. Because nights like this, with Rylee, were worth everything.