Page 153 - Interior_SPRING SUMMER FALLING_2021

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condition-chilled wood cools my feet with each step. For a moment, I’m cool and
calm. I’ve convinced myself that I can totally handle one night of platonic movie
watching. We are adults and capable of keeping our hands off each other.
I nod to myself. We used to rock at hanging out and getting to know each other
without veering into sexual territory. I see Henri. He’s stretched out on the couch.

He has one muscular arm tucked behind his head while the other holds the remote.
His tank top leaves his arms completely bare while hugging his chest and abs. His
thin pajama bottoms hug his crossed legs and outline his thigh muscles. His hair is
soft and mussed. Henri’s amber eyes watch the commentators intently while he
absently chews on his bottom lip. The light from the television screen bathes him
in blue light and shadows. My confidence evaporates faster than…hell, I don’t
know, it’s gone.
All the desire I’ve been trying to tamp down returns with such force I’m
momentarily frozen. If he truly wants to just hang out, I might suffer from my
overly horny state until I die. I resist the urge to raise up my shirt to show him I’m
naked underneath. He leads the night; it’s his day.
My peripheral vision catches a glimpse of my kitchen island. The same island
he’d bent me over and made me scream his name until I was too weak to move or
speak. That island now holds all the decadent desserts I’d purchased for tonight. I

see a bolt of lightning. The clap of thunder soon follows. Heavy rain pelts the roof
and windows.
Ah! Come on! The universe has to be fucking kidding me. I’m supposed to
cuddle up with Mr. Sexy while it’s raining to just watch a movie. Everyone likes rain
sex. I can make it back to my room if I run. I look over my shoulder to check the
distance. Henri shifts on the couch; my greedy eyes follow the movement.
Henri is looking at me. Part of his mouth curves into a half smile. He crooks
his finger at me. It’s just a finger. Bone and tendons covered with skin. I look at my
hands. Just fingers. Then back at him. Why is his finger sexy? My whole body hums.
I move to him as if I’m on a string. I settle onto the couch and pull the cover over
my quivering legs.
“I thought you’d forgotten about me and went to bed,” he admits just above a
whisper.
I force cheerfulness into my voice. “Forget you on your birthday?
Never! We have a movie marathon date and dessert.”