Betrayal

Chapter 20

Ali

My body feels like it's floating on air. I'm still shaking, but I've cooled down. I can breathe evenly again. My hair feels like a tangled, crazy mess. When I glance over at him, he's staring up at the ceiling with barely open eyes. There's a slight flush to his skin and his always messy hair is even messier than normal.

A phone buzzes. He sighs, sits up with a groan, leans over my body. I sigh and grunt from how heavy he is and a moment later he's on his back again with his phone in his hand.

"What is it?"

"Rebecca is going out for dinner with Donna and the kids," he says quietly. "That means we've got some time."

I can't help but smile. He pulls me against him. We kiss in that way that makes my stomach sink and I hold onto him. I can already feel him growing hard against my stomach and he presses himself closer to me, against me, and grips my ass in his hands.

When he pulls back he's still smiling.

"You're so beautiful, Ali."

I shy away and roll my eyes as my face begins to heat up.

"Don't do that, please. I hate when you do that."

"Do what?"

"Refuse to believe you're beautiful," he murmurs. "I wouldn't be here with you right now if you weren't."

I want to shy away from him further, but slowly rest my face to his chest instead. His cologne is mixed with the slight smell of his sweat. Even that's enticing and I don't understand how. I kiss the hair there, stroke it with my fingertips, and nestle in closer.

He feels like a comfort. Something safe, even though I know he's the least safe person I could be with right now. How can something so bad feel so good, warm, and safe? I tell myself some things don't have to make sense. They just are. There's no need for me to analyze it to death.

I'm letting myself feel.

"What are your plans for tonight?"

I glance up at him and shrug my shoulders.

"I don't have any. I'll probably be with Lola and talk to her about how her date went."

"Her date," he says with a grunt. "Whatever you find out, relay it to me."

I roll my eyes and smile, then punch his chest easily.

"No."

"No?"

"No. I won't do that. She's my best friend."

When I look up at his face again he's smiling. He touches my hair, strokes it, then begins to pull strands between his fingers. He twists them easily, playing with it.

"I suppose you're right. She's an adult now, anyway. Time to let her do whatever she pleases."

I kiss his chest.

"She's lucky to have a dad like you. I would've been lucky to have had what she has with you."

He tugs at my hair until I look up at him again.

"I'm sorry you didn't. It's his loss. Whoever he is."

"I'm better off not knowing."

"Probably right."

We lay in silence for some time. He continues to play with my hair. The gentle tugging on my scalp feels heavenly and relaxing. I could fall asleep.

"Where are you going to be living when you go back to the city?"