A REASON FOR MARRIAGE

“I’m fine,” Sara replied, her voice low, “Nothing is wrong,”

He nodded, “Alright,”Exclusive content from NôvelDrama.Org.

He was waiting for her to speak. To explain why she’d come, but she couldn’t find the words. Also, he looked distracting, bare chested. She could feel her eyes widening as she took in the bronzed magnificence. Whorls of dark hair dusted his pectorals and then met in a silky line that descended down and into the waist of his low-slung sweat pants which barely clung to lean hips. His hair was wet, indicating that he’d just gotten out of the shower. Sara swallowed.

For a frightening second, she wondered if he already had a woman with him. Her heart began to beat even faster. Knowing how turned on he’d been, and how that blond woman had thrown herself at him, it wouldn’t be very surprising if he’d decided to bring her home with him instead. Like an idiot, she’d rushed over here, without thinking about the possibility that he might have company.

“Ermmm, is this a bad time?” she asked stupidly, “Because if it is, then I can leave,”

Simon stuck his hands in his pockets and stared at her through hooded eyes, “You didn’t seem to be concerned about that when you decided to come over. So why should it matter now?” he asked.

Sara had to admit that he was right about that, and she could see from his countenance that he was still mad at her, and she deserved it. “I was driving home, and then I decided to stop by… And apologize,” she blurted out.

“What for?” he pressed, “For turning down my offer that you come home with me? You don’t have to be sorry. You had every right to say no, and I’m over it,”

But his tone said a different thing. He was still very much upset, and Sara took a step forward, “I know that,” she replied, “but I’m going to apologize anyway. I’m sorry”

He avoided her eye, his voice gruff, “Apology accepted then,”

The silence that followed for the next few seconds was deafening. Wasn’t he going to say anything else? Well, she had to say something, but now she was feeling like she’d made such a huge mistake coming over. What had she expected him to do anyways? Run into her arms and give her a big hug. She wanted him, but she’d never told a man that she wanted a purely sexual relationship with him before. She’d never even asked a guy out before…. And now…

She began to turn around, “Maybe I shouldn’t have come. Goodbye, Simon,” she said.

“You know you don’t have to leave tonight, Sara,” His voice halted her, “I mean, it’s getting really late anyways and you can have my room while I make use of another,”

He was setting boundaries, Sara thought. He was trying to let her know that even though she would spend the night at his place, he wouldn’t make a move on her if she didn’t want him to. But tonight that wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted him to make as many moves as possible.

Sara turned back around to face him, “That would be nice,” she replied, “If it won’t be any trouble. I’m honestly a little bit too tired to drive,”

He shook his head, “Not at all. Would you like something to drink?”

“I think I had enough at the reception,” she replied, acknowledging within herself that alcohol had contributed to their reckless attitude too, but she didn’t mention that, “I’d just take a shower instead,”

“I don’t think a small drink would hurt, Sara,”

She gave his suggestion some thought. “I guess so,”

Sara quietly followed him to the kitchen, where another glass he’d clearly been using sat on the counter. He fished out another glass and poured out a little red wine for her. She knew he was watching her as took sips of the wine, feeling the surface of a smooth Roman bust beneath her fingers.

Every one of Simon’s senses was pulled as taut as a bow string as he watched her hand smooth over the head of the bust, wanting her hand to be smoothing over him. He had to wonder if perhaps her air of vulnerability was all an act, designed to entice, tease, seduce. She’d let her hair down now, and it was slightly tousled from where she’d run her hands through it, but it wasn’t tousled enough for him yet.

She turned then, and Simon could see that her glass of wine was empty. He made as if to get the bottle and top her up, but she shook her head jerkily. She was going to make him wait again; he knew it. She wasn’t ready. His desire, already at boiling point, would have to settle to a simmer for now.

Sara on the other hand, had turned with every intention of asking for some more wine, but she could already feel the effects. Desire hung between them, heavy and potent. Simon stood just feet away, but when he moved as if to give her some more she shook her head. She knew that her courage had faltered, and she could see that he’d already read that in her expression. That disconcerted her. She wasn’t very used to people intuiting her intentions.

“You must be tired.” said Simon.

She forced a smile. She was anything but. “I guess the stress of the wedding got to me. Would you mind if I went to take a shower now?”

‘Alone’ hung between them along with the desire, but it seemed to make it even heavier, denser. Was she doing the right thing? Her body told her no, her head said yes…. Or maybe.

He shook his head, jaw rigid, eyes dark. “Of course not. You can use my shower, and you can borrow one of my shirts when you are done,”

He took the glass from her hand, and Sara had a feeling that he’d taken great care of make sure that his fingers didn’t touch hers.

“Goodnight, Sara,”

____________

When Sara reached his room, she was breathing hard. She went straight into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes over-bright. Her body was too sensitive, and an ache throbbed down low in her belly and between her legs. She dropped her head, hands gripping the edge of the sink.