Page 4 of All or Notching

“Maybe you’re just too big.”

He looks down at me, quirks one dark eyebrow, and surges forward with a satisfied grunt.

I gasp, the exhalation quickly turning into a groan of pleasure as he immediately pumps in and out.

He sets a quick pace, and I try to keep up, meeting every powerful thrust, but soon I have to just give up and let him pound into me. I won’t see this man again, and want to enjoy every minute I can.

Tristan pulls out of my arms and rises to his knees. He takes my legs and pushes them to my chest, changing the angle as each plunge hits some spot far inside that has me sucking in air while my eyes roll back. He withdraws and then drives into me again.

“Christ, the way you’re squeezing me—fuck.” I widen my legs, and he drops forward, his hands landing beside my head as he pumps his hips faster, rotating them in a way that nerve endings I didn’t know I had pulse in excitement. I clutch at his forearms as a smaller but no less devastating orgasm takes hold of me.

Suddenly he stops, his body rigid, his arms trembling. With his eyes squeezed closed, he explodes, groaning through his long release until he finally collapses on top of me.

His warm weight feels lovely, and I put my around his shoulders, holding him tight as my eyelids lower, and I drift off.

He shifts, and I hug him closer. I don’t want him going anywhere. I want to keep him right here, tight against me, as I fall asleep. I don’t care that he’s heavy. I don’t care that he needs to dispose of the condom. I want to feel his warm body cuddled to mine a little longer.

Sleep takes over, and I make a weak argument when he eventually rolls away. I turn to my side and snuggle against him, throwing my arm over his chest and my leg over his.

My last thought before sleep takes over—this is what I’ve been missing.

When I wake in the morning, I know before I even open my eyes that Tristan is gone. I blindly stretch my arm out over the sheets where he’d lain. They’re still warm and not from the sun's heat shining through the window. I open my eyes, ignoring the headache that demands I slam them shut again, thinking he might have gotten up to use the washroom. But when I force my head off the pillow, I see my clothes folded and stacked on the chair next to my closet.

His are gone.

I flop back down, a steep sadness washing over me. I don’t like it. “Don’t be silly, Laurel. Be relieved.” My voice is rusty from sleep. “A one-night stand is just that, one night.”

If I’d followed my normal routine, I’d be stopping for my favorite coffee on my way home right now. Instead, I’m behaving like a love-sick teenager instead of the thirty-eight-year-old professional I am.

Throwing back the covers, I rise and reach for the lavender terry robe I keep at the bottom of my bed. After slipping my arms in and wrapping the tie around my waist, I go into my bathroom to relieve myself.

There’s a note on the counter.

Laurel,

I got called into work and didn’t want to wake you. You looked so beautiful and peaceful lying there. I had a great time last night. I’d love to take you out on an actual date. Text me.

Tristan

I stare at the phone number he scribbled after his name. My friends, sisters, and parents would encourage me to find my phone, so I could enter his information into my contact list.

But I don’t.

Instead, I crumple the note and toss it into the garbage can.

Then I stare at it for a moment.

Changing my mind, I retrieve it from the bottom of the ceramic waste basket, and as I walk out of my room, I rip it up. I jog down the stairs and head straight to the kitchen, tossing the pieces of paper into the trash can under my counter.

I slam the door shut.

Damn it.

I yank open the door and reach in to snatch up each piece of paper. Out in my garage, I open the larger black bin and throw the handful of paper in there, smashing the lid down and jiggling it until it settles into place.

Better. I won’t go digging through this one. Besides, it goes out today.

It takes a mere second before I smack my hand against the garage door opener, and when the door lifts, I roll that puppy to the end of the driveway and then rush back inside before somebody sees me in only my robe.