Don't Open That Door - GoM 1

28

Tom burned up breakfast's energy walking about, looking for a fitting present for his son. It felt odd, knowing the trouble that had shaped all his adult life was gone. He'd need some time to let it sink in and truly acknowledge it. However, an unexpected weariness seemed to fill his every muscle. As if he hadn't really rested in years. Whish was pretty much true.

So after a generous lunch, he took a long shower and decided it was fine to fine to crash. He lay back in bed with the remote, set an alarm for next morning just in case and decided to channel surf while he waited on sleep to take him over. An engine driving into the motel's parking lot startled him. A truck's engine. Tom sat up on bed and stared at the window, waiting. A red four-by-four drove by to stop past his door. He relaxed and lay back again, eyes up on the TV.

He slept until sunset. He had nothing to do but calling the delivery for dinner, and he wasn't hungry yet. He got up anyway. He wasn't used to having so much dead time and he wondered what he'd do until the morning. For starters, turn off the TV. The local radio was playing some old rock ballads, so he didn't change the station.

He was coming out of the bathroom when he heard a truck engine again. He glanced at the window, just to confirm it was the red truck he'd seen earlier. And halted sharp in the middle of the room when he saw the white Hilux coming to park right outside his door.

He only had time to put on his pants, zipping them up as he hurried to the door. He yanked it open before the knock, an flashed an awkward smile at Alex.

"Hey," she muttered.

Tom saw her hesitation and before he could hold himself back, his feet took the steps between them as his hand came up to grab her face.

Alex closed her eyes when Tom's lips met hers. She didn't even pay attention when he stepped back into the room, dragging her along, not breaking their kiss. She forgot about everything as the warmth of his arms wrapped around her. She dived into pleasure, enjoying every touch, every kiss, no time to register all she was feeling. At that moment, she could only be aware of Tom's body against hers, his mouth, his skin, her anticipation as he took her clothes off in no hurry. Something she hadn't allowed herself to want, but now it seemed she'd never have enough of it. Of him.

Time melted away as she gave in to his every claim, her senses overloaded by this man, this stranger. As quiet as strong. As gentle as reckless. This man who couldn't have enough of her either.

Night had long closed when they paused to catch their breath. Their eyes met yet again in the growing shadows filling the room.

Tom brushed her hair off her face. "I'm so glad you came," he whispered.

Alex could only nod and kiss him. Because there was nothing she could say to him. Not aloud. What was she to say? You make me feel alive? Don't go away? So she stuck to his chest and let him hold her without a word.

* * *

Alex woke up to her phone buzzing on the nightstand. It was past ten pm. Of course Claire would call to check on her, especially after she'd left in the afternoon without telling where she was going. She hurried to pick up and kept her voice a whisper to answer only a couple of Claire's many questions about her locations, situation, plans, company, mood, health, political ideas and expectations about life on Mars. The girl's curiosity was suddenly tamed by Alex's first attempt to end the call—"See you in the morning."

"Sure, sure. Go. Sorry. Bye."

Alex swallowed a scoff and left her phone. She rolled over to find Tom watching her, very still. Her hand came up to caress his face, a chill running down her spine when he closed his eyes and kissed her palm. She could only sought out his lips, wondering why the simplest of his gestures moved her so much. Words came up her throat once more, foolish, rushed. She silenced them against his skin.

* * *

Waking up alone in the morning didn't come as a surprise. What did surprise Alex was finding the paper napkin with a phone number on the nightstand. With a chocolate bar. She chuckled as she sank her teeth on it.

She shouldered her phone to try the number on the napkin while she got dressed. The call skipped straight to voice mail and Tom's curt, "Leave your message."

Alex disconnected. She had no message to leave.