It was late when we finally fell into his big bed. We were both so exhausted that we barely muttered "goodnight" before sleep took over.
*
The next morning, I woke up to the feeling of soft kisses on the back of my neck.
The Colorado trip was fun, but nothing compared to waking up in Travis's warm bed.
Spooning me from behind, Travis slid the strap of my tank top down to move his lips across my shoulder. I could feel his erection against my lower back, and my core pulsed with the need to feel him inside of me again.
I pushed my shorts off and reached behind me to wrap my hand around his hard length.
"Please," I whispered, tilting my head back to look at him.
Without moving from our position, Travis kicked his boxer briefs off then slowly slid into me from behind.
Oh.
This was new. Different than before, but just as good.
Travis groaned as he grasped my hips and pushed himself into me over and over again. His hand slid down to my center and he circled his fingers over my sensitive bud.
I tried to keep my moans quiet because I didn't know if we were alone in the apartment. Travis lifted my leg and hooked it over his, spreading me wider and giving him better access to my clit.
"That feels so good," I breathed out.
As my body started to tingle and shake, I reached my hand behind my head to grip the back of Travis's neck, needing something to hold on to.
When my climax hit, I muffled my sounds into the pillow.
In one swift movement, Travis rolled me onto my stomach and started pumping into me. I gasped because he was going so deep. He brought his hands up to clasp mine by the headboard.
"Fuck, baby. So fucking tight," he whispered by my ear before lightly sinking his teeth into the side of my neck, and I couldn't stop a loud whimper from coming out.
His thrusting sped up until he buried himself so deep it took my breath away. He moaned and panted against my shoulder as I milked him dry.
When he slipped out, I made a sound of protest at the loss. He rolled me over and hovered above me, smiling wide. The expression on his face was pure happiness, and I had a good view of his dimples. I poked each one with my finger.
"Best. Morning. Ever." He punctuated each word with a kiss.
*
Over the next couple of days, Travis and I couldn't keep our hands off each other. He didn't have to work at the shop since he had two long hauls back to back, so it gave us a lot of alone time at the apartment.
We had sex in every position and every location possible. In his bed. Against the wall in the shower. Bent over the kitchen counter. On the couch. Him on top. Me on top.
One of my favorite times was on the bench seat of his pickup truck. We'd gone out for pizza, but ended up pulled over on the side of a country road on the way back. We kept the windows rolled up to make sure no mosquitoes could ruin the moment, which resulted in some very steamed-up glass.
Sometimes it was frantic and desperate, and other times it was slow and sweet.
The only place off limits was Colton's room, for obvious reasons.
In between wearing ourselves out, we talked, watched movies, and even played some board games. I kicked his butt at Monopoly-because I was ruthless-but, to his credit, he always won at Scrabble.
"You know I don't have the money to pay rent on North Carolina Avenue," he sighed, shuffling through the multi-colored bills.
"You can always admit defeat. Again," I smiled. "Or, you can give me Park Place." I held out my hand and did a ‘hand it over' gesture.
"Ruthless." He shook his head, then placed the property in my palm.
Two more turns and the game was over. We may or may not have ended up having sex on the coffee table after I won.
TRAVIS
Wednesday morning, Angel and I woke up naked together. We didn't see the point in wearing clothes to bed anymore. Pressing my lips to her neck, I followed our normal routine where I kissed her body until she was fully awake.
Kissing down the valley between her breasts, I trailed my lips down to her belly button and she giggled.
That's when the realization hit me-this was one of the last mornings we would wake up together this way. Angel wasn't even gone yet and I already missed her. By this time next week, I'd be back in my bed. Alone.
"Stay," I said against the smooth skin above her hipbone, my mouth pausing its descent.
"What?"
She probably couldn't understand me because the word had been muffled against her stomach.
Lifting my head, I looked up at her. "Stay," I begged. "Stay with me." I could clearly hear the desperation in my voice but I didn't care.
Her face looked conflicted and her eyes held so much pain. Immediately, I regretted asking. I hadn't planned on begging her to stay. The plea just bubbled up and burst out.
"I want to," she said quietly. "I really do, but I can't. I have to try things with my mom. If I don't try, I'll never know if we could've had a relationship. I can't go my whole life wondering … "
"I know," I told her.
Because I did know. I knew from the beginning she would be leaving, but that didn't make it any easier. All along, this had been the plan. Nothing had changed.
Except everything changed.
I fell in love with her.
"This was always the plan." She shook her head in frustration.
"I know," I repeated. "I just wish we had more time."
Angel swallowed hard. "I'll try to come back to visit. I promise."
Our conversation was interrupted by a door slamming in the hallway, followed by Tara's voice. "What the hell is wrong with you? You don't think I'm pretty?"
"Shh, Tara. Keep it down. I don't want to wake everyone up," Colton replied much more quietly.
"Oh, right," she scoffed. "Wouldn't want everyone to find out, would we?"
Heavy footsteps stomped by my bedroom door and their voices got quieter as they walked further away. I couldn't hear what else was said, but that was probably a good thing. I had no desire to overhear their private business.
"What was that about?" Angel asked, concerned.
I shrugged. "I don't know."
"Why does he stay with her? He deserves better." A scowl marred her beautiful face, making her look like an angry kitten. Her protectiveness of my best friend was endearing, and I knew I wouldn't be the only one missing her after she was gone.
"He's a big boy. He can take care of himself," I reassured her.
I looked at the clock on my dresser and noticed we'd slept in too late. I gave Angel a quick kiss before reluctantly leaving her naked body.
ANGEL
I wasn't in the best mood as I took a shower and got dressed. Sadness weighed down on me when I thought about the unexpected conversation Travis and I had earlier.
The frustration I felt wasn't because he asked me to stay-it had more to do with the fact that I really wanted it. There was a big part of me that wanted to throw all my plans away and just say YES.
But I had other obligations. Things I'd been looking forward to for years.
The possibilities flashed through my mind-what it would be like to rebuild a relationship with my mom. Movie nights. Shopping days. Mother-daughter manicures. The simple things so many people took for granted.
Travis came up behind me while I waited for the toaster to be done with my waffles.
"I'm sorry." His breath tickled my ear. "I shouldn't have even asked. I know how important this is to you."
I knew I'd been moping all morning, but I just couldn't help it. I turned in his arms and put my hand up to his cheek, scratching my fingers over his two-day stubble.
"I'm not mad." I shook my head and tried to give him a smile. "I wish we had more time, too."
Travis gave my lips a gentle kiss. "I have to run down to the shop for a bit to go over some details for the Sacramento job," he said as he tucked some of my hair behind my ear. "You have lunch at Beverly's, right?"
"Yep," I replied, fighting a heavy feeling in my chest.
I couldn't believe it was the last time I would see her-at least, for a while. I had no idea when I'd be able to come back.
Before I had time to feel too sad about it, Travis stripped me down and spread me out on the rickety kitchen table. It was so small my head hung off the end, and I was afraid it might not be able to hold my weight.
But all worry flew out the window when he buried his face between my thighs until I screamed.
Afterwards, I made him promise me he would never get rid of that table.
*
The walk to Beverly's was bittersweet. I remembered the first time I walked these few blocks, not realizing I was going to find such a good, foul-mouthed friend.
In the grass along the sidewalk, I spotted a fuzzy dandelion. Thinking it would be perfect for a wish, I plucked it up. Except, this time I couldn't decide what I wanted. While I was excited to see my mom, I dreaded leaving. In just three weeks, this place and these people had wormed their way into my heart.