Page 39 of One Drink
Chapter 15
Jake
The warm tickle ofStephanie’s breath brushed across my skin as she nuzzled her face closer to me. Her soft lips sprinkled light kisses across my chest and into the crook of my neck. I wrapped my arms around the woman I loved and smiled. It was the best morning wake-up call I’d ever experienced.
After a passionate night of love-making, our naked bodies were tangled together in the sheets. I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived at her apartment last night, but it hadn’t been sex. I knew she wouldn’t be happy about my resignation—something we still needed to discuss—and I expected it to turn into another fight.
Instead, it was the awakening we both needed to propel us into each other’s arms. And now that I was there, I planned to fight for us. We belonged together, and I’d do whatever it took to prove that to her time and time again, until my love for her was branded into her soul.
“Good morning.” She kissed the edge of my jaw.
I rolled onto my back, taking her with me, so her body was sprawled on top of mine. I kissed the top of her head and held her tight. “Morning.”
She propped her chin up on my chest and smiled. “I’m glad you came over last night. I know it was hard, but I love the end result.”
“Me too.” She may have smiled, but I saw the worry in her eyes. “We’ll figure all this out. I promise.”
She twirled her fingers around my small patch of chest hair and sighed. “I know. I’m just sorry it took me so long to get here—to see you and truly be with you.”
“None of that. No more looking back.” I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers. “There is only the future.”
She wrapped her hand around my neck and held her eyes on mine. The worry I saw in her eyes a moment ago faded and was replaced with hope—the same hope I felt in my heart. “I like that. Only the future.” She let out a long sigh and rested her head on my chest again. I felt her smile grow against me. “I could get used to this.”
“This is a much better way to wake up than the first time I spent the night with you.” I looked down at her with a teasing grin.
She slapped my chest and laughed. “Not funny.”
“You’re laughing. So it kinda was.”
“Stop it. You said no looking back.” She looked at me with sad eyes and forced frown.
“You’re right. I did say that.” I hugged her tighter and kissed her again. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you last time how much I love those pictures of you. Kate did an amazing job.”
Stephanie turned her head to look at the boudoir pictures hanging on her wall. “Thanks. I was so self-conscious about that shoot, but Kate was amazing at calming me down and making it all feel so natural.”
Kate was the most level-headed and sensible one in our group of friends, and she always managed to diffuse or calm every situation. “I can see that about her.”
“You wanna grab some breakfast?” Stephanie wiggled free from my arms. “I’m starving.”
“I would, but I need to go home and walk my dog. Belle is going to hate me for leaving her all night again.”
“Well then, how about you run home, clean up, and we’ll take Belle to the park. Say, in an hour? There’s a great little pastry shop near 79th and 5th that I love. Meet me outside it?”
“That I can do.” She straddled my body and planted another kiss on my lips before hopping off the bed. I immediately missed her warmth and wanted to pull her back to me. She smiled as she headed into the bathroom and turned the shower on.
I debated following her. I checked the time, and I knew I couldn’t. My poor dog was probably dying to get outside. I hopped out of bed and dressed before I peeked into the bathroom to say goodbye. “See you in an hour, sweetheart.”
She pulled the shower curtain aside and blew me a kiss. That simple act warmed my heart in ways I never imagined possible. It felt good to have our relationship headed down this new path. Last step was to move past the work issues. She didn’t exactly accept my letter of resignation last night, but I needed her to. Hopefully, we’d be able to settle that over breakfast.
***
STEPHANIE WAS STANDINGat the park entrance right where she said she’d be when I turned the corner with Belle. She looked beautiful in a yellow floral dress and cream-colored cardigan, but it was the smile on her face that made her shine. When her eyes landed on me, the happiness I felt resonated throughout my entire body. Her smile—her love—made me feel alive. The grass was greener, and the sun was brighter.
“I hope you don’t mind—I already stopped by the pastry shop.” Smiled and leaned in for a kiss. It felt so good to be open about our affection for one another. “Got you coffee and one of those cheese Danishes you like so much. Is that okay?”
“It’s perfect.” I slipped my arm around her waist, and we headed down a path that led to some tables by the pond. Belle bounced along ahead of us, every now and then leaping forward, trying to catch a bird.
“Does she always do that?” Stephanie asked, laughing as Belle jumped from one side of the path to the other, refusing to give up on the chase.