I’m about to tell her what my real name is when she rolls over. The sheet falls away from her chest, revealing soft skin and heavy breasts.
“Morning.” My hand slides under the sheets and runs up her hips.
“What time is it?”
She frowns at the digital clock, and I wonder if she’s thinking the same thing I am. That we only have two hours left together.
My chest constricts. What if the timing was different? What if I wasn’t about to deploy and she wasn’t just passing through?
But there’s no point in thinking about what ifs. We have this moment, and I don’t want to waste it.
I shuffle closer to Rose and nuzzle into her neck, the way I learned she likes. I’m rewarded with a soft moan, a sound that will forever haunt my dreams.
I pull her warm body toward mine, and it fits against me perfectly, her softness against my hard muscle. Her mouth quirks up as my hand slides over her body, and I wonder if this has to be goodbye.
“I’ve enjoyed my time with you…”
She puts a finger to my lips, stopping whatever I’m about to say.
“It’s not over yet.”
Her hands trail down my chest, and her fingertips catch on every ridge, sending heat skittering over my skin. This woman sets me on fire, and I wonder if this will be the time that I finish sated. If I’ll ever stop wanting more of her.
My hands slowly trace over her stomach to the small of her back and around to her throat, committing every ridge, every hollow, and every curve to memory.
The sadness is gone from her eyes. But I know grief; it will rear up again. I only hope I’ve eased her pain a little.
My mouth trails up her neck and over the peak of her chin. I kiss the corner of her mouth. I kiss her cheeks and her temple, and her closed eyelids.
“You’re beautiful, Rose.”
Her eyelids flutter open, and we stare at each other, our breath heating each other’s cheeks as our heartbeats sync.
Dipping my head, my mouth finds hers. Her lips are tentative, gentle, and I kiss her softly back. There’s no urgency now, and I want to remember every touch, every feeling, every taste.
I shift her below me so her body presses into the bed, and her gaze locks on mine as I reach for the last condom.
Our eyes remain locked as I enter her for the final time. Her head tilts back, and she whimpers, and I wish it was my name on her lips.
We move together, slowly, both wanting to take our time. He legs wrap around my waist, pulling me toward her. Our bodies, slick with perspiration, glide together in a slow dance. The onlysounds are her moans and the intake of breath at each shared sensation.
Her hair falls around her face, and I smooth it with one hand, keeping her cheek cupped in my palm.
I kiss her face, her neck, and her mouth as we move toward the inevitable peak. Her legs tighten around me, and her hands clasp my shoulders.
My gaze finds hers, and our eyes lock as her moans turn to cries. Her eyes widen, and she cries out. “Gray.” A fake name that taints my release with a pang of regret.
Our gaze remains fixed on each other as the pounding of my heart eases, and our bodies relax. Only then does she release her hold on me. I pull her close to me on the bed and kiss her salty lips while my heart pounds to a beat I don’t understand.
I must doze for a while because when I wake up, Rose is sitting on the side of the bed. She’s changed into a baggy t-shirt and leggings and is stuffing clothes into her travel case.
“Checkout is in twenty minutes.”
I reach for her but let my arm drop. We’re out of time, and I don’t want her to get charged extra for the hotel.
“I’m going to grab a quick shower.”
I head to the bathroom and note she’s already cleared her things. I must have been out longer than I thought—the sleep of the satisfied.
