inside.
“Fuck.” He moans when he’s seated fully. “Jesus God, I missed you, Lex.”
I don’t have time to answer when he covers my mouth and begins to move, building us both up toward the ultimate goal, the incredible climax that I know is just beyond my reach.
He shifts to his side, rolling me with him, and with my leg hitched high on his hip, we stare into each other’s eyes. I feel desired. I feel full. Not just physically, but emotionally, as well.
My God, I’ve been telling myself for months that I’m not in love with Shawn O’Callaghan.
I lied.
I’m completely in love with him, and this is a relationship that can never happen for more reasons than I’m capable of even listing right now.
“Look at me,” he growls as he picks up the pace.
I comply and watch those shining green orbs until he can’t hold back any longer and loses himself to his climax.
I’m a coward.
A sneaky coward, but a chicken nonetheless.
I’ve managed to pack my suitcase and sneak out of the hotel room without waking Shawn. It shouldn’t surprise me, given that we had so much sex we finally collapsed in a sweaty heap. He fell asleep right away, and will likely be comatose for at least another few hours.
But I won’t be there when he wakes.
I hurry through the hotel’s lobby with my single small suitcase and see the rideshare I summoned pull up at the doors. I get in the backseat and take a long, slow breath.
Keep it together, Lexi.
The ride to the airport is relatively quick. And given that it’s barely four in the morning, the airport is pretty deserted.
I hurry to the ticket counter and smile at the attendant.
“Checking in?” he asks. I read Scott on his nametag.
“Actually, Scott, I need your help. I have an outgoing ticket to Minneapolis in two days, but I need to get home today.”
“Oh, let’s see what we can do,” he says. I pass him my license, and he starts tapping on the keys, bringing up my name. “I have a ticket in first class available on a flight that leaves in forty-five minutes. Will that do?”
“That might be the most perfect thing you could have said to me.” I need to get out of Seattle.
Scott grins. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to check your bag.”
“Can I carry it on?”
Scott looks at my suitcase. “Yes, it looks like it’ll fit. This is a larger plane. Just make sure you don’t have any prohibited items like liquids over three ounces and the like. Okay, Lexi, let me work a little magic, and we’ll get you on your way.”
It takes the wonderful Scott less than three minutes to get everything switched, and before long, I’m rushing through SeaTac to get to my gate in time.
They’re already boarding when I arrive. Because I’m first class, I am pushed through quickly, and then I’m in my seat.
When they close the boarding door, no one is seated next to me.
I’m all alone.
I manage to hold myself together until we’re in the air, and I watch Seattle disappear through the clouds.
Then, I cover my mouth with my hand and feel the tears well up. I don’t want to go, but I have no choice. Because being in love with Shawn O’Callaghan isn’t an option for me.
He lives in Seattle.
My life is in Minneapolis.
It can never work. Any relationship with him would only lead to heartbreak.
I feel more tears fall on my cheeks.
Too late. We’re already at heartbreak. I can’t do this. I can’t love someone so much, someone so wonderful, knowing that he can never be mine.
It’s not fair to me.
It’s definitely not fair to him, either. I changed the rules. I’m the one who suddenly can’t handle a coworkers-with-benefits situation.
Not him. He didn’t do anything wrong.
But I feel like we’re both being punished.
“Are you okay, Ms. Perry?”
I glance up at the first-class flight attendant.
“No. But I will be.”
Chapter 18
~Shawn~
The sun streams into the room. I can see it, even through closed eyes. I take a deep breath and frown at the unfamiliar scents filling my nostrils.
I roll to my back and open my eyes, and the past several hours flood my mind.
Lexi.
I’m with Lexi.
I grin and roll toward her but find the bed next to me empty. Which isn’t unusual where we’re concerned. During the month we spent together, we regularly woke up and left the bed to work, grab something to eat, or think while letting the other sleep.
I hope she’s either ordering or