The Only Exception

CHAPTER 23

Trey had to wake me up when we got back to Central. I’d fallen asleep with my head against the car window, and I swore he probably even caught me drooling. “We’re home,” he whispered.

“Can I just sleep a little longer?” I moaned, adjusting myself in the seat. Sleeping in the car was never comfortable, especially a sports car like the mustang.

I thought he was going to leave me there once he got out of the car, but instead he walked to the other side, unbuckled my seatbelt, and then cradled me in his arms like a baby. With my lack of sleep the night before, I didn’t complain until we got to the elevator, and I felt his body shake slightly.

“I can walk,” I mumbled with a big yawn, sliding down to my feet. He put his arm around my waist and guided me to the elevator and up to our floor. He walked right past my door and opened his, ushering me in.

“I should probably go back to my own room,” I said, stretching my arms over my head.

“Or,” he said, taking a step closer and put his hands on my hips. “We can hang out here for a bit. You can nap, do homework, or whatever.”

“I don’t know. I haven’t been back to my own room for awhile.”

“Do what you want.” Trey pressed his forehead to mine. “But I’d love to hang out with you the rest of the day. Just us. No housekeepers, no parents, and no roommates.”

“You had me at do.”

He kissed me gently as if my lips were a fragile flower and then let go, walking toward the kitchen. “Are you hungry? I can order Chinese?”

I raised an eyebrow. I was starving but figured he would have something in his fridge I could munch on. “I can just eat whatever you have here.”

He raked his fingers through his hair, digging through a drawer near the stove. “That’s the thing. I don’t really cook, so there’s nothing here to eat.”

I shook my head walking to the kitchen and standing in front of the fridge. “That’s ridiculous. You have to have something.”

I opened the fridge door and he was right, the only things in the fridge were a carton of orange juice and a box of baking soda, not even milk for cereal. I opened the freezer, and it looked like nothing had ever been in there. It was just a frozen ice block. I closed the door and stared at Trey who was holding a menu for China Bistro.

“Do you want General Tso’s chicken?” He held up the menu.

“How can you have absolutely nothing in your fridge? What do you eat?”

He shrugged. “I go out or order-in.”

“Even breakfast?”

He groaned. “Yes, Mon, even breakfast. I don’t cook. Now can we just move on and order lunch?”

I pulled the menu down, meeting his eyes. “Okay, I’ll deal with your take out today, but tomorrow night I get to pick up groceries and make you dinner.”

Trey raised his eyebrows. “You’re not buying my groceries.”

“Fine,” I huffed. “I’ll get my groceries and just happen to put in whatever you want for dinner, and then I’ll make it.”

“Isn’t that against some sort of rules of feminism? To cook your boyfriend dinner?”

I took a step closer so that we were toe-to-toe. “No, because we’re going to cook together.”

His eyes widened. “You’re expecting me to help cook?”

“If you’re expecting the future women of America to vote for you, then you have to get a little domestic.” I took my hands off the menu. “Now tell me, what is your favorite food?”

“Duck a l’orange.”

I groaned. “We’re not making duck.” I had no idea how to even begin to prepare a duck, and I doubted they sold that at the local supermarket.

“Sushi?”

“Try again.”

He placed the menu down on the counter and then wrapped his arms around my waist, rocking our bodies from side to side. “Okay, since we are having Chinese tonight, how about we try Italian tomorrow? Can you swing that?”

I nodded. “I think I can manage.”

He kissed my forehead and moved his hands to the counter, picking up the menu. “But for now I’m cooking, so pick out your food and then while I order I’m sure you’ll want to catch up on whatever bachelor or pseudo celebrity reality TV show I recorded.”

I kissed his cheek. “You’re the best.”

***

After my third reality TV show and a carton of schezwan chicken, I felt like I overstayed my welcome. “I should probably go...”

I went to stand up, but Trey put his hand on mine, pulling me back down next to him. “I think you should stay.”

“Stay? The night?” I widened my eyes, pulling my legs underneath me and turning to Trey, so I could fully understand what he was saying.

He nodded. “Yeah.”

I had spent the night after barn dance, but I had a feeling he didn’t mean in separate quarters.

I put my chin down. “Like sleep together?”

Trey took my hands in his. “Yes, I mean sleep. Not sex. I want to hold you as you fall asleep and I want you to be the first thing that I see when I wake up.”

“But isn’t that against some sort of conservative rule?”

He shook his head. “Forget any preconceived rules. I’m not saying we’re going to be doing something kinky. I just want to spend the whole night with you. We may both hate it, or it may become a regular thing. I don’t know, but I know that I just want you to stay.”

“Okay, then I’ll stay, but I do have a nightly ritual that I need to do. If that’s okay with you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Some girls’ moisturizer thing?”

“No...” I looked down, feeling the heat in my cheeks. “I like to take a bath.” I looked up, gathering all the courage I could. “But you can join me if you’d like.”

Now it was his turn to get embarrassed. He tugged at his collar and cleared his throat. “Well, I guess that shouldn’t be a problem.”

I swallowed hard. I didn’t expect him to say yes, but my libido was in full force. “Okay then, let’s take a bath.

***

We stood in the bathroom, facing each other like a standoff at the O.K. Corral. The bath was full and steaming, and I used the last of my body wash that I brought to Trey’s parents to make it into a bubble bath.

“I guess we better get in before it gets cold...” I said, pulling off my sweater while I still had the courage to.

“Yeah, probably a good idea,” Trey said, swallowing so hard that I saw his Adam’s apple bob.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” I slipped my khakis down my legs and stepped out of them.”

He pulled off his socks, his eyes roaming over my body. “Believe me. I want to.”

I reached into my bag for my iPod, put on my classical music list, and then set it on the counter near the sink.

“Beethoven?” Trey asked.

When I turned around his button down shirt was off, and he was just in his midst of tugging off his undershirt and tossing it to the floor.

“I like classical when I take a bath.” I reached around and unhooked my bra, tossing it on top of his shirt.

He took a step closer, putting his hands on my back and pulling my bare chest against his. He was so warm it felt like his body was on fire. “How am I supposed to concentrate on the music when you look this good?”

I tilted my head up and kissed him softly on the lips. He gently kissed me back, sliding his tongue in my mouth. I reached to the front of his pants, unhooking his belt. He didn’t stop me; not even as I fumbled over his buttons and zipper.

I broke the kiss and pulled back, watching him step out of his pants. Thin wisps of hair trailed from his belly button down to the waistband of his boxer briefs, brandishing the expensive logo. I’d never seen this much of Trey Chapman. He looked even better than the male model did in the ad for the same boxer briefs Trey was wearing. I had to keep from drooling.

“I guess it’s bath time,” I said and pulled down my panties, tossing them on our pile of clothes.

His eyes widened like two saucers, and he just stood there, not moving. “Okay.”

I let a coy smile cross my lips and stepped into the tub, easing into the warm water and rested my back against the wall opposite the faucet.

Slowly, Trey pulled down his boxer briefs and tossed them aside. He was fully erect and was definitely well endowed. I tried not to stare, but there was only so many other things I could look at; especially when it was my first time seeing that part of him. He took a few steps forward and slid into the tub, easing his way across from me. “This is nice,” he said, letting out a deep breath.

“It’s my daily decompress,” I said, completely aware of his legs against mine and another part that was dangerously close to mine.

“So you just sit here and listen to music?”

I shrugged. “Basically.” Then I took a hand full of bubbles and blew them in his direction.

A mischievous grin crossed his face, and he took another handful of bubbles, brushing them on my cheek.

“Do I look sexy with a bubble beard?” I asked, wiggling my eyebrows.

“I think you look sexy no matter what.”

I took another handful of bubbles. “When I was younger I used to make myself into a bubble monster and put bubbles all over.” I moved my hand down to my chest, placing the bubbles on there and took Trey’s hands, moving them to replace mine. His fingers grazed my nipples, making every hair on my body stand on end.

I pulled him closer, kissing him hard and pressing my hands on his bare back. He moved forward, deepening our kiss and putting his hands on either side of my butt. I pulled my legs up, letting his body slide closer to mine while I pressed my thighs to his waist. He cupped my breast with his hands, caressing them slowly, each finger roaming freely against my bare skin. I ran my hands down his back, then up to his broad shoulders. His massive erection was pressed against my belly button, if he moved slightly downward he would be there. I didn’t know if he was ready, but his very nearness was making every part of me turn to gelatin. I opened my mouth, a slight moan escaping my lips before I nibbled at his bottom lip.

I thought it was his favorite, but he pulled back, sitting on his knees and wincing like he was in pain with his hands clasped below the water. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“Oh.” I sat up. At first I was disappointed that I did something wrong, but then I saw that his hands were clasped over his member. “Um, did you just finish?”

He kept his eyes shut tight and nodded slowly.

“Okay,” I said, slowly standing up. That was one way to stop. “I’ll just let you clean up, and I’ll see you in the living room.”

He just nodded while I grabbed my clothes and ran into the bedroom. At the time it wasn’t that funny, but when I closed the door behind me, I couldn’t help but let a little giggle escape. It could have counted as our first time, but I’d like to think he would possibly have a little bit better stamina for the second attempt.

***

It took Trey forever before he finally emerged from the bathroom in just his boxer briefs and his undershirt. I was sitting on the bed, already in my pajamas, and reading through my email when he sat down at the end of the bed. I glanced over my laptop, and his eyes were focused on the bedspread. “I’m sorry about that. It’s never happened before.”

I set my laptop down and leaned forward, putting my hand on Trey’s arm. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal.”

“Monica, I finished before we even started. It’s one of those nightmare situations you usually only see in cheesy comedies.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way.” I rubbed his arm, but he still kept his head down.

“It’s embarrassing,” he snapped. “I’m usually in full control of everything, but all this sexual stuff just has me out of whack. It’s like I don’t know what to do with myself.”

He put his head in his hands. I didn’t know if he would actually break down and cry or what he was going to do, so I just stayed silent for awhile, watching him shake his head in his hands for a few minutes before I finally spoke.

“Um, do you want me to go?”

Trey slowly lifted his head up. “I’d love to still have you here with me, but I completely understand if you want to leave.”

I moved his hands and crawled in front of him so that we were facing each other, placing his arms around my waist while I sat in his lap. “Like I said, it’s not a big deal. I’m not going to hold it against you, but I would love to spend the night holding my body against yours.”

“Still? Even after I did that?” He looked at me with big, puppy dog eyes.

I nodded, placing a chaste kiss on his cheek. “Yes. If you can still love me with all my faults, I can handle one stupid little thing.”

“Okay, it’s a deal,” he said, his smile slowly coming back.

“But I’m still really tired, so if it’s okay, I’d actually like to go to bed.” I raised my arms above my head and yawned for good measure.

“Sounds great,” he said, and I scrambled off his lap and crawled back to the head of the bed.

Trey got up and went to his dresser across from the bed, tugging on one of the drawers. I stopped from pulling the covers over me and raised an eyebrow at him. “What are you doing?”

“I’m putting on pajamas.” He held up a pair of folded plaid pants and a plain green shirt.”

I shook my head and motioned a finger toward me. “Just take your shirt off, and get in here.”

“You mean sleep in just my underwear?” He asked it as if I just suggested he skin a cheetah.

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, sleep in your underwear, please. I promise it won’t kill you.”

“I don’t know. It’s not something I usually do. What if someone tries to rob us in the middle of the night?”

I groaned and flopped on the bed, turning to my side. “Do whatever you want.”

He didn’t say anything. I heard the drawer close and then some fumbling, but no words. The left side of the bed got heavier and then he lifted the covers. His warm arm draped over my side and then I felt his bare chest press against my back. I cuddled up close to him, pressing my butt against his groin and my hand over his. I heard him suck in a deep breath as his body reacted, and I felt the rumbling in his boxers. I silently prayed we could lie together without him finishing again.

“I wouldn’t do this for anyone else but you,” he whispered in my ear before kissing it gently.

“I hope not,” I whispered back.

He reached over and turned off the lamp on the nightstand and shut my computer before cuddling back up to me and burying his face in my neck. “Goodnight Monica, sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight, Trey.”

I knew I would have the sweetest dreams I had in a long time because there was nothing better than falling asleep in Trey’s arms.