Abby grabbed at my clothes, desperate to remove them. I unzipped her dress with one smooth movement, and then watched as she pulled it quickly over her head, tossing it to the floor. Our eyes met, and then I kissed her, moaning into her mouth when she kissed me back.
Before I’d even had the chance to think, we were both naked. Abby grabbed my ass, anxious to pull me inside of her, but I resisted, the adrenaline burning through the whiskey and beer. My senses returned, and thoughts of permanent consequences began flashing though my mind. I had been an ass, I had pissed her off, but I never wanted Abby to wonder if I’d taken advantage of this moment.
“We’re both drunk,” I said, breathing hard.
“Please.”
Her thighs squeezed my hips, and I could feel the muscles under her soft skin quiver in anticipation.
“This isn’t right.” I fought against the alcohol haze that told me that the next few hours with her was worth whatever was on the other side of that moment.
I pressed my forehead against hers. As much as I wanted her, the painful thought of making Abby take the walk of shame in the morning was stronger than what my hormones were telling me to do. If she really wanted to go through with this, I needed solid proof.
“I want you,” she whispered against my mouth.
“I need you to say it.”
“I’ll say whatever you want.”
“Then say that you belong to me. Say that you’ll take me back. I won’t do this unless we’re together.”
“We’ve never really been apart, have we?”
I shook my head, sweeping my lips across hers. Not good enough. “I need to hear you say it. I need to know you’re mine.”
“I’ve been yours since the second we met,” she said, begging.
I stared into her eyes for a few seconds, and then felt my mouth turn up into a half smile, hoping her words were true and not just spoken in the moment. I leaned down and kissed her tenderly, and then she slowly pulled me into her. My entire body felt like it was melting inside of her.
“Say it again.” Part of me couldn’t believe it was all really happening.
“I’m yours.” She breathed. “I don’t ever want to be apart from you again.”
“Promise me,” I said, groaning with another thrust.
“I love you. I’ll love you forever.” She looked straight into my eyes when she spoke, and it finally clicked that her words weren’t just an empty promise.
I sealed my mouth over hers, the rhythm of our movements picking up momentum. Nothing else needed to be said, and for the first time in months, my world wasn’t upside down. Abby’s back arched, and her legs wrapped around my back, hooked at the ankles. I tasted every part of her skin I could reach as if I’d been starving for it. A part of me was. An hour passed, and then another. Even when I was exhausted, I kept going, afraid if we stopped I would wake up, and it would all be just a dream.
I SQUINTED AGAINST THE LIGHT POURING INTO THE room. I couldn’t sleep all night, knowing when the sun came up, it would all be over. Abby stirred, and my teeth clenched. The few hours we spent together wasn’t enough. I wasn’t ready.
Abby nuzzled her cheek against my chest. I kissed her hair, and then her forehead, and then her cheeks, neck, shoulders, and then I brought her hand to my mouth and tenderly kissed her wrist, palm, and fingers. I wanted to squeeze her but restrained myself. My eyes filled with hot tears for the third time since I’d brought her to my apartment. When she woke, she was going to be mortified, angry, and then leave me forever.
I’d never been so afraid to see the different shades of gray in her irises.
Her eyes still closed, Abby smiled, and I brought my mouth back to hers, terrified for the realization to hit.
“Good morning,” she said against my mouth.
I moved halfway above her and then continued to touch my lips to various spots on her skin. My arms dug beneath her, between her back and the mattress, and I buried my face in her neck, taking in her scent before she bolted out the door.
“You’re quiet this morning,” she said, running her hands over the bare skin of my back. She slid her palms over my ass, and then hooked her leg over my hip.
I shook my head. “I just want to be like this.”
“Did I miss something?”
“I didn’t mean to wake you up. Why don’t you just go back to sleep?”
Abby leaned back against the pillow, pulling up my chin to face her.
“What in the hell is wrong with you?” she asked, her body suddenly tense.
“Just go back to sleep, Pigeon. Please?”
“Did something happen? Is it America?” With the last question, she sat up.
I sat up with her, wiping my eyes.
“No . . . America’s fine. They got home around four this morning. They’re still in bed. It’s early, let’s just go back to sleep.”
Her eyes bounced around to different points of my room as she remembered the night before. Knowing any moment she would recall the fact that I’d dragged her out of the party and made a spectacle, I put both hands on each side of her face and kissed her one last time.
“Have you slept?” she asked, wrapping her arms around my middle.