The Sidewalk Incident

23. The Organic Orgasm Confession

Much to my surprise, James and I both oversleep, with both our alarms rendered obsolete since our phones were forgotten in the car and it was only at the arrival of Jess the dog-walker and Rocco's good morning kisses that force us to regain consciousness.

"Fuck. We're late." James's voice is rough and layered with grogginess. "Charlotte... Rocco leave Charlotte alone."

I giggle as Rocco and I have a cuddle battle on the hearth and I groan when he trots off to James, feeling my body ache as I sit up. "Fuck, my back isn't going to thank me for sleeping on the floor. Whose bright idea was that?"

We smile at each other and surprisingly don't freak out, instead, James cupping my cheek and leans across to kiss my cheek. But there's a second buzz at the door.

"Oh yes, Jess." James groans but I tell him I'd get it instead, prompting him to go shower (low-key hoping that he'd shower quickly and prepare us something for breakfast, because I am starving!)

"Rough night?" Jess smiles politely, her eyes taking in the mess that's the reading room and James's Harvard jumper which I don.

"You can say that." I smile. "Coffee?"

"Oh no, thanks. I don't drink coffee." She answers.

"That's terrible, I'm so sorry." I tease. "I have no idea how you and James do that. Water?"

"No, thanks. I'll just be on my way. I've got to pick up the Jones's new puppy and take her for training. She's a nightmare. Rocco here seems to be the only one she listens to."

"Awww! He's such a good boy." I kiss his ears. "Don't get a big head, and behave."

We say our goodbyes, and, it's weird, but I don't give two thoughts about joining James in the shower. We can save water right? But James is clearly surprised, evident by the eyebrow raise and smirk when I step into his shower.

"Your shower is bigger than mine. And built for two. Seemed fitting." I smile awkwardly and my ears heat up when his gaze rakes down my frame and I focus on avoiding the obvious.

"You're distracting me." He smiles and kind of just washes the same spot on his belly. Over and over again.

"I'm distracting?" I tease, looking at his morning wood. "Morning glory indeed."

"Hmm your body in this light..." his hand rests on my hip as he studies my curves. "Fucking hell, Charlotte!"

"What?" I ask innocently, washing my hair.

"You're torturing me."

"I'm washing my hair, you creep." I shrug.

"You have no fucking idea how incredibly sexy your hair is." He groans. "Please just shower in your designated area of the shower, otherwise we're going to be extremely late for work and I for one am not going to lie about why we're late."

______________

Our drive to work is a mad rush and our mouths are both too busy eating a breakfast burrito which James somehow managed to whip up, and drinking our respective coffee and boba tea, to discuss or dwell on last night's events.

"Shit," he groans and I see him glance at the dashboard. "Meera wants to see us."

"We're not even that late. Crap, she's calling.
Hi Meera. Uhm yep we're on our way. LA Traffic. Everything ok? Yes, he had fun. Well, I would have invited you but Shelby organized the party and I kinda forgot James's birthday, so yeah. Uh huh, it's a touchy subject. You want to join in on our ward rounds, today? This morning?" Fuck, I mouth to James. "No, yeah that's perfect. Sure we're only about 5 minutes away... ok see you in 5."