Becoming Calder (A Sign of Love Novel)(102)

Right then, if he had asked me to walk another twenty miles, barefoot this time, I would have.
Suddenly, he grunted, a sound somewhere between bliss and pain. He pulled out of me quickly, pressing into my stomach, and falling into me, moaning against my neck. I felt his hot, sticky fluid dripping down my skin.
He pulled back, panting harshly, and put his forehead to mine and we both just breathed that way for a minute. I'd never felt closer to Calder. Being able to make love without being found out only added to the pleasure.
"I'll never, ever forget my first shower," Calder whispered.
I laughed softly. "As far as showers go, that was a pretty good one for me, too."
Calder laughed. We cleaned ourselves quickly and then turned the water off, stepped out, and dried each other tenderly.
Calder used the towel to blot my hair dry until it was just slightly damp. I put on the robe on the back of the door and Calder tied a towel around his waist.
We didn't have toothbrushes, but used a small bottle of mouthwash provided by the hotel. Calder watched me as I swished it in my mouth and then spit it down the drain and then followed my lead. We'd have to get a few necessities tomorrow.
We turned off the light and stepped into the room where the air conditioning was on high, creating a steady hum blocking out any noise. Xander was lying on his stomach on the bed near the window, snoring softly.
It was morning, but the heavy drapes were pulled tight and blocked out almost all light.
Calder and I climbed under the blankets and turned toward each other in the dim room. Calder pushed my hair out of my face. "I love you, Morning Glory," he whispered.
"I love you, too, Butterscotch," I said back, my heavy eyelids closing of their own will. Calder's warmth surrounded me. I was finally sleeping in a bed with him. Joy filled my heart. Minutes later, I was fast asleep.

**********

When I woke late that afternoon, disoriented and heavy with sleep, the smell of Calder still surrounding me, I reached for him, but he wasn't there.
I sat up, bringing the blankets up with me, as my robe had fallen open while sleeping. I immediately spotted the note on the nightstand next to me and picked it up.


Morning Glory,
We went to get some clothes and shoes and other necessities. We'll bring back some food, too.
I love you. C.
P.S. Sleeping on an actual mattress for the first time came in second to sleeping next to you.


I grinned and set the note back down, noticing he'd left a bag of peanuts and the still unopened Coke on the table for me, too. His thoughtfulness caused me to smile. I stretched and got out of bed. After using the bathroom and freshening up, I ate the bag of peanuts and drank a bottle of water the hotel provided.
I flopped back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, feeling happy, feeling safe, and feeling free.




CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO


Calder



I had woken up to the feel of warm skin against my face, the smell of apple blossoms all around me. A dream, I thought, a beautiful dream. But it hadn't been. It had been real. I had wanted to stay wrapped in her warmth all day, her delicate scent lulling me into peaceful dreams. But I had to take care of her. There were things she needed.
So now Xander and I were walking the aisles of a store called "Target" that the hotel clerk had directed us to when we told her what we needed. "Our stuff was stolen," Xander had explained. "We need everything." And then he'd shaken his head and shrugged his shoulders, as if to say, What can you do? The state of the world is such a bummer.
"Good thing you're not just an accomplished thief, but an accomplished liar, too," I said as we walked out the door of the hotel.
"Don't forget nighthawk call expert." He winked. His face sobered. "I'm still pretty disappointed I never got to use that."
I laughed. I was still wearing a large bandage wrapped completely around the foot that had no shoe. Hopefully if people noticed, they just thought I had an injury, not that I was using it to replace a shoe.
We walked across the large parking lot of the store and both jumped back slightly when the double doors in front of us opened before we even touched them. "What the . . .?" Xander said under his breath as we both looked around and up at the top of the doorway. We walked through tentatively and entered the massive, brightly lit store.
We wandered the aisles. When I looked over at Xander, his mouth was open and his eyes were filled with awe. I was sure I had the same look on my face. There was so much of . . . everything. And it was all so . . . colorful. One part of the store had clothes and shoes, and another part had soaps and grooming products, and one huge section even had food, all packaged up with bright pictures on the boxes.