Free Against the Wall by Julie Prestsater Page B

fingers through the back of my hair so tenderly I’m not afraid to ask for what I want.
    “ This. I want to sleep with you, in your arms, in jammies, like this.” I pause. “And that’s it.”
    Holding my chin between his thumb and forefinger, he lifts it so my eyes stare into his. His eyes soften, so sincere, and he says, “I’d love to.” He starts to unravel himself from me and we make our way to my bedroom, hand in hand.
    “ Give me a minute,” I tell him as I go into the bathroom to change my clothes, wash my makeup off, and brush my teeth.
    When I return, he’s sitting on my bed with his shirt and shoes off. His bare chest is enough to send me into fits of hunger. His skin is tan and his muscles are on display even though he’s not trying to flex. His shoulders are strong and broad, narrowing down to his slim waist. He rises to his feet and I sigh as I take in the full sight of him. This isn’t the same body I remember from when we first met at work five years ago. He was so skinny and lanky then. Now, he is a grown man, a gorgeous one at that, and he’s standing right in front of me. I press my palms to his chest, placing them just above his hard nipples. Leaning down, he kisses me on the forehead. He clasps his hands around mine and brings them to his lips, touching them softly to my fingertips. “My turn.” He steps around me and disappears into the bathroom. Blowing hair out of my face, I allow myself to exhale and try to calm down from the obvious tension and attraction between us.
    I’m already in bed when he returns, facing the door so I can see he’s only clothed in black boxer briefs. Calvin Klein from what I can read on the wide band. Oh my! I have my own version of the Mark Wahlberg underwear ads about to get into my bed, and I just told him all I want to do with him is sleep .
    Holy shit. I need to think of something other than this beautiful man before me, or I swear we’ll be naked and doing the nasty in a matter of seconds. Fighting the urge to have sex with him was a lot easier before I saw him in his chonies. Ok, Shel, get your mind out of his pants and think of something unattractive. Hmm. Work. What’s happening at work? Fuck work. Umm. Lord of the Flies. Oh shit. Matty is fucking hot. A bunch of sniveling adolescent boys. Piggy. The conch. Okay, my thoughts are simmering.
    “ You okay?” he asks.
    “ Completely. Now get in my bed, Mr. Fuller, and sleep with me.”
    He smiles, shaking his head at me, pulls the covers back and enters my bed. “I love it when you talk dirty, Ms. Gelson.”
    I chuckle. “It does sound a little kinky. Like we’re getting freaky in detention or something.”
    “ However it sounds, I like being here with you, Shel. “ He reaches for me and reels me in close. I love how he just reached over and slid me across the bed to him. Mmm. I could melt.
    I pour myself into one last kiss before turning around and backing into his body, till we fit together perfectly, spooning like a couple in love. His lips graze my bare shoulder and I’ve never felt so treasured, so loved before in my whole life.
    I slept in this very bed, in this very house with the same man for several years and never did I feel like I do right now. Here, in Matty’s arms, I’m relaxed. I’m comfortable. I’m cozy and warm. And I’m happy. I could sleep like this every night for the rest of my life.
    But then, tomorrow will come. And I will have to …
    Wake up.

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Wake up, I hear a voice in my head. Wake up.
    I roll around, tangled in my sheets, and suddenly, my eyes pop open.
    Last night, I fell asleep in Matty’s arms. I did. I really did. Peeling my covers back from my face, I look over at the empty space next to me and my heart drops like the thud of a bowling ball. He left. He didn’t even stick around to say good morning. It’s not like we did it or anything. We just slept. Oh son of a shiznit. Damn it. That’s even more intimate than screwing for