Page 65 of Old Habits

Chapter 18

Jovie

I feel him before I wake up.

His calm breath touches the back of my neck. He lies on his side with one arm wrapped around me, spooning me against his chest. For a second, I wonder how we ended up in this position, but it’s obvious.

Because we wanted to.

I open my eyes and look around his room without moving. The night before comes flooding back to me. Two lives that drifted apart but somehow ended up right back in the same place again.

I feel him stir and quickly pause,probably halting to think the same questions I just asked myself.

I spin around onto my back to see his face. Will props himself up on his elbow, keeping his other hand on my abdomen.

“Hey,” I whisper.

He blinks his tired eyes. “Hey...”

We breathe slowly, daring the other to say something first but we just end up staring instead. I wouldn’t know what to say even if I could. Should I thank him for a pleasant night and roll off the mattress as if we didn’t wake up like this? Or should I tell him that this was amazing and I haven’t slept this well in ages?

Will’s thumb caresses my arm. Finally, he lets out the breath he’s holding as his eyes fall to my lips.

“Fuck it.”

He kisses me, crushing his mouth on mine and I kiss him back as I run my fingers through his thick hair. His hand shifts down my body, aiming to crawl beneath my dress but I don’t stop it. I do the same to him, touching his abs beneath his shirt as his hand reaches between my thighs.

“Wait— wait,” I pause. “What time is it?”

“Uhh…” Will reaches over to turn the clock on the bedside table. “Almost nine.”

“Shit.”

“Why?”

I exhale. “I have to be at the store by ten.”

“Oh…” He furrows his brow. “Shit.”

I nod. “Yeah. Do you work today?”

“No, I have Saturdays off.”

“Lucky.” I push up onto my elbows. “Guess we’ll have to rain check this part.”

“Sure.” He presses his lips together, his eyes still lustful and wild. “But… you don’t have to leave right this second, do you?”

I think for a moment. “No.”

His head drops to my chest. “Good.”

He kisses my neckline, slowly moving up to my throat, making me lose my cool again as a sharp throbbing takes hold of my core.

“So, what do you do?” I ask, my voice panicked and high-pitched.

“What do you mean?”

“With like…” I try to focus on anything but his tongue gliding along my collarbone. “Work. What do you do?”