Just a Number(31)

Sighing contentedly, Amelia’s head flops to the side and she kisses the tip of my nose. “That was awesome,” she pants.

I’m about to agree wholeheartedly, until I remember I wasn’t entirely responsible for her second orgasm, so instead, I apologize. “I’m so sorry.”

Her head pulls back, her eyebrows pulled together, but this time for an entirely different reason than a moment ago. “For what?”

I’m unable to put into words what I’m apologizing for, but I can tell she already knows, and it makes her giggle, my pride taking the hit and beginning to bruise. Before I can get too upset, though, she rolls over and straddles my hips. She’s still wet, and I feel arousal burning through my veins again as she continues. “You were amazing. So I needed a little extra nudge at the end there. That’s hardly something to be sorry about. I came twice, Owen. Because of you. Don’t ever apologize for that.”

And just like that, she’s done what she’s always been able to do: she’s set my mind at ease and reminded me that what we have is more real than anything else in my life. I wrap my arms around her, crushing her body to mine, and I realize that my feelings for her are growing rapidly. And it terrifies me.

But what scares me even more is the prospect of being without her.



The next two days fly by, and Julia calls me Thursday night to tell me she’s finished with the bedroom. She tells me she’ll leave the keys with the doorman and the plans for the rest of the house are sitting on the kitchen counter for me to look over in case I want to change something.

When I originally mentioned the condo remodel to Amelia, she told me I was acting a little crazy, but as soon as I brought up my reasoning, she seemed to understand. She’d only ever been to the condo once shortly after Gretchen and I bought the place and threw a house-warming party, so, when I invited her over for the weekend, she practically jumped at the opportunity.

She had a study session with Liz after her last class, but told me she’d be done by six and would head over then. I asked if Liz would be dropping her off, and she assured me she still hadn’t told anyone, and that she was going to take the bus.

In addition to talking to Julia, I get a call from the clinic, and stop by to talk with the doctor I’d seen earlier in the week and find out—much to my relief—that everything has checked out all right. While it’s not my intention to start having unprotected sex immediately, I’ll admit that it’s nice to know I didn’t contract something from one of Gretchen’s many escapades.

After finishing up at the clinic, I make a quick stop at the florist, where I grab a huge bouquet of red roses, and then I stop at the market after work that afternoon since I have yet to stock my fridge and cupboards. I want to have dinner ready for us when Amelia arrives, and since I have a couple hours, I decide to prepare a rack of lamb with a side of roasted asparagus and butternut squash. While everything cooks, I set the table for two, putting Amelia’s flowers into a vase and lighting a few candles to set a more romantic mood. By the time six-thirty rolls around, the condo has been infused with the delicious smell of our dinner, and I’m just pulling out a bottle of wine for the two of us to share.

At quarter-to-seven, my phone rings, and I pick it up, seeing that it’s the front door. The doorman is off at six on Fridays, meaning that any visitors have to use the buzzer system to gain entry into the building.

“Hey,” I say, knowing it’s Amelia on the other end. “Come on up.”

“Thanks,” she replies before I hit the pound button, granting her access to the main entry, and I head over to the apartment door and unlock it so she can just walk in.

About five minutes pass before there’s a light knock on the door and she steps inside. “Hey, sorry I’m late.” She pauses, and when I turn to her, I see her wide eyes as she takes in the room, from the flowers and wine, right down to the candle-lit dinner I’m just setting out.

“Wow,” she exhales softly. “This is gorgeous…and it smells delicious.” Smiling, she puts her fingertips to her lips. “I’m afraid I might be drooling a little,” she jokes.

I finish putting the lamb on the table before I cross the room to her, taking her bags and jacket and putting them in the hall closet before I whisk her into my arms and kiss her heatedly. When I pull away, a soft sigh falls past her lips, and her eyes flutter open. “Well that was quite the welcome. Had I known that’s what was waiting for me, I’d have hijacked the bus and driven here myself.”

Laughing, I take her hand and lead her to the table, pulling her chair out for her. “Yeah, but had you done that, then I’d have had to bail you out of jail.”