Geren headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower. Across town, Tempest did the same thing.
• • •
Geren’s jaw almost hit his chest when Tempest greeted him at the door a little while later. He’d violated about a dozen traffic laws to get there. She was scantily clad in a black silk teddy and a short, sheer black robe.
“You’re so damn beautiful,” he finally managed to utter.
Tempest didn’t respond. Instead, she grabbed Geren by the collar of his navy oxford shirt, pulling him inside into her arms before standing on her toes and gliding her tongue into his mouth. He eagerly accepted it.
She broke the kiss, took his hand, and led him to her bedroom. They collapsed onto Tempest’s bed together, groping each other all over.
Geren palmed Tempest’s breasts and drew her left nipple into his mouth through the silk fabric.
He was fidgeting with the straps of her teddy, trying to lower them when Tempest whispered, “You’ll hurt me.”
The statement took him completely off guard. He let go of her straps and propped himself up on his elbow so he would have an eagle’s-eye view of her face. “What makes you say that?”
Tempest darted her eyes over to his and redirected them to the ceiling. “Just like the rest of them.”
Geren let out a frustrated sigh. “Fuck all of those stupid assholes who tried to run a game on you!”
I did, Tempest thought to herself. I fucked every last one of them, and they dogged my ass out anyway.
“They didn’t try to run a game on me, Geren,” she replied, still gazing at the ceiling. “They did run a game on me. A very cruel game.”
“Look at me Tempest,” Geren pleaded. Tempest looked at him, though it was difficult. She was so confused, it was pathetic. She’d spent all that time in preparation to jump his bones, and now that he was here in the flesh, all the maggots from her past were invading her thoughts again.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” Geren continued. “I’m not like the rest of them.”
“That’s what they all say,” Tempest snidely remarked. How many times had she heard that one?
“Are you convinced we’re going to fail? Are you?” Geren was just as confused as Tempest. Not about his feelings, but about her feelings toward him. “Because if you’ve already got it etched in your mind that our relationship is doomed, then it will be.”
Tempest responded without hesitation, “I want this to work.” She did want him. She just wasn’t sure she was ready. “I want us to be together more than anything.”
Geren let out a sigh of relief. He’d been on the verge of losing all hope. “So what’s the problem, sweetheart?”
Tempest sat up and positioned her back against a pillow. Geren followed suit, taking hold of her right hand.
“I guess I’ve always had a problem separating the past from the present.”
“You’re going to have to learn to let go, or you’ll never be happy with anyone.” Geren prayed he was getting through to her. She was the one. There were no lingering doubts on his part. “Whether it’s with me or somebody else.”
“You’re right,” Tempest readily admitted. “I realize that.”
“Do you want me to leave, Tempest?” Geren let go of her hand and got up off the bed. “I came over here to comfort you after a rough day. I honestly wasn’t expecting anything else.”
“No, I don’t want you to leave!” Tempest exclaimed. She sat up on her knees. The last thing she wanted was to be left alone. “Please stay with me tonight.”
Geren gathered Tempest’s face into his hands and kissed her gently on the forehead. “Not a problem. I’ll stay as long as you like.”
Tempest got up off the bed so she could turn down the covers. They both climbed in and cuddled. Tempest laid her head on Geren’s chest. Ten minutes later, they were both sleeping soundly. It was 5:00 A.M.
• • •
At 8:00 A.M., Tempest’s alarm clock blared out, interrupting the silence. She reached over Geren and slammed her palm down on the snooze button. Geren didn’t budge. She cut the alarm completely off. She had no intention of going into the center that day—not after the incident the night before. There were no scheduled group sessions, and bottom line, people would just have to understand.
Geren looked so peaceful lying in her bed, like he belonged there. She ran the tip of her index finger over the well-defined features on his face. His eyebrows. The bridge of his nose. His thick, luscious lips. They looked so damn enticing.