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“Hungry, are we?” He grinned.
Stupid loud gurgling stomach. I ignored his smirk and strode ahead to our room. Number 22. My birthday. It was once my lucky number. Until Abby died on the 22nd as well. I suppose I could take comfort in the fact that at least she didn’t die on my actual birthday.
As Dane fiddled with the key in the door, I took the moment to sneak a look at him. A shadow of stubble was beginning to show across his chin, a consequence of the stress of the last few days. I felt the same tingles I’d felt that first day; in fact, I felt them every time I was near him. He opened the door, stepping back to let me enter first. I walked in, with Dane’s hand resting on the nape of my back.
Oh god that feels good. How the hell was I supposed to sleep in the same room as this guy and not jump him?
The room was nice, in a cheap, small town motel kind of way. The faded checkered bedspreads that covered both beds didn’t match, but they looked clean and crisp. The room had a musty smell to it, like it had been vacant for a while. I found that strangely reassuring, knowing nobody had been murdered or raped in here, at least not recently.
I sat down on a rather creaky chair near the desk. I grabbed the TV remote, turning it on. The picture wasn’t clear, but it was watchable. I doubted they had cable here. I was right.
“Is this okay?” Dane asked me, glancing around the room. My eyes fell on the beds again, which were so close together they may as well have been one. Why did that make my heart race?
“Yes, fine,” I said, managing a small smile. I spied the small bathroom off to the side, “I might have a shower.”
“Sure. I’ll order dinner,” Dane turned away quickly, “Pepperoni alright?”
“Sounds nice,” I called out, grabbing a towel and heading into the bathroom. Well, actually squeezing into the bathroom would be a more appropriate term. It was tiny, with a toilet in one corner, and the shower tucked in behind the door.
I stripped out of my clothes, gingerly stepping into the shower. I angled the nozzle away from me, letting the water run through for a couple of minutes before aiming it at my body. I closed my eyes, trying to pretend I was somewhere nicer.
/> Dane called out dinner was here, I quickly dried myself before putting on the same clothes. I hadn’t anticipated being away overnight. I was glad I was prepared enough with my small bottle of mouthwash I carried around, along with a stick of deodorant. At least I would smell nice.
“Feel better?” Dane sat on the edge of the single bed, a pizza box at his side, and a bottle of coke by his feet. He’d taken his shoes and socks off. I nodded, joining him on the bed.
“Smells nice,” I commented. Though I was so hungry, I think anything would have smelt nice. I reached for the biggest slice then reconsidered, not wanting to look greedy. Dane shook his head, laughing.
“You are a very strange girl, Lil,” He reached for the big piece and handed it to me, “I like a girl who knows how to eat.” He smiled broadly as my cheeks colored.
I downed the first slice, reaching for my second well before Dane had finished his first. This wasn’t the time to be all sweet and girly. I was freaking starving.
“So, how are you?” I asked, covering my mouth so as not to show him the mushed up contents. He shrugged in reply. He was holding it together well, much better than I thought he would. I spied a small splotch of pizza sauce on the top corner of his lip.
“What you said to him…about the girl? Bella?” Dane hesitated, playing with the slice of pizza in his hand, “What was all that about, Lil? He looked terrified.”
I swallowed what was left of my third slice. “Honestly, I don’t know,” I admitted, “Abby told me to say that. I’ve no idea who Bella is. I assumed it was his daughter, but I don’t know what happened to her.” Dane nodded, still fiddling with his food. The spot of sauce, still on his lip, was getting on my nerves. I reached over and gently wiped it off. He looked up, surprised, his eyes searching mine.
“You, uh…” My voice trailed off as my vocabulary deserted me.
He pushed the box aside and moved closer to me, so close I could feel the warmth radiating off his chest. He lifted his hand until it rested around the curve of my neck. His face moved closer to mine. Our lips were almost touching, as he placed his other hand on the other side of my face. As he drew me to his lips, my body jumped, rigid in anticipation, as though it knew exactly what was about to happen.
This was what I wanted. This was what I thought about when we were not together.
His touch, his kiss.
His taste.
I was vaguely aware of the pizza box falling to the floor, its contents spilling out onto the rug that could only be described as baby poo green. Dane looked me and smiled. I shrugged, and positioned myself under him on the bed. Pulling him down on top of me, we kissed, his mouth exploring mine with a sense of urgency. I lifted my singlet over my head; he did the same, until our bare bodies pressed against each other.
“God sexy, I’ve missed you,” He mumbled, fumbling his way out of his jeans.
“Missed me, we were together yesterday,” I laughed softly, as his hands trailed over my bare back. Yesterday felt like years ago.
“I thought maybe I’d ruined it, Lil. Kicking you out like I did,” He rolled off me, sighing as he rain his hands through his tangled hair, “I couldn’t go through that again, Lil.” He reached for my hand, his thumb rubbing over my knuckles.
“Dane, it’s okay. I get it. Really. And your reaction was completely understandable,” I assured him. The doubt in his eyes faded slightly, as my words made some kind of impact. I rolled over, snuggling in against him, his arms wrapping around me. This was my new favorite position.
“What do we do now, Lil?” Dane sounded stressed. He was scared; I could hear that in his voice.
