I nod. “It’s as if the artist is exploring the impermanence of life.”
Harlow blinks at me. “That’s very astute.”
“Thank you…?”
“I don’t mean to sound condescending, Gray, but I didn’t know you were familiar with this artist’s work.”
“There’s a lot about me you don’t know,” I wink.
She nods and smiles mysteriously. “There really is.”
I’m still wrapped around Harlow come morning. We went back to my mansion after the exhibit and she showed her gratitude several times. Harlow’s definitely one of a kind, from her genuine love and appreciation for fine art, to the filthy woman she becomes between the sheets. My feelings have gone from temporary infatuation to a deep-seated need for the curvy girl.
Yet, there was something different about our love-making last night. It started out naughty, and she let me use her body like a rag doll, urging me to fill each and every hole. Yet, in the middle of things, she changed. Her eyes stared into my soul as we came together, and it wasn’t just fun-and-games sex. It was sweet, delicious love.
Shit. What am I doing? I’ve been trying to convince myself that this is just a summer fling. An illicit, naughty one, but nothing more. It’s going to end when she goes back to Colorado State in the fall. She’s just something to keep me busy, and I want to make her summer enjoyable too.
Yet now, I’m not sure I can let her go. The things that Harlow’s willing to do…hell, her blowjob skills alone are fucking amazing. That, and the way she says my name when she comes.
Damnit. The curvy girl makes me feel like a young man and I don’t want to let this feeling go. Hell, I haven’t taken a real vacation in years, but our interlude feels like one big holiday. I need to do more to enjoy my life. I’ve earned it, after all.
Once more, I turn to look at the sleeping girl. She’s gorgeous, but her sweet snores tend to become as loud as a lumberjack when she’s been well and thoroughly fucked. Right now, she’s snoring like a bear in the middle of hibernation, and I grin. I lace my fingers with hers and Harlow snorts a bit, and then makes a happy soft sigh in her sleep. It’s adorable. I want to keep her here forever. I want her to grow round with my baby. I need to make her mine.
But as I squeeze her hand, she comes awake with a start.
“Shit!” she squeals before bolting upright. “I have to go!”
Before I can even say anything, she’s on her feet and looking for her things. Then, I hear her hit something and tumble over. “Son of a bitch!”
“On!” I demand, and the lights come on from my voice-controlled automation system. I’m on my knees beside her in a flash, “Are you alright, Harlow? What’s wrong?”
Her face burns red, and she sighs.
“I’m fine, just a klutz in the dark. Can you help me find my things? I have to get home, or my dad will freak out when I’m not there.”
“He won’t-
She gives me a hard look.
“Gray, I have to get home NOW!”
I laugh, “No, you don’t. Calm down. Gray’s on a trip and it’s 4 a.m. There’s no need to head home right now.”
She blinks, looking stunned.
“Are you sure?”
I point to the clock with its red unblinking numbers.
“No one will be up right now, least of all Brent. You have nothing to worry about. Let me make you breakfast, sweetheart.”
She shakes her head ruefully.
“I swear, I had this dream that my dad found out about us, and he was going to wring my neck, and then wring yours.”
I laugh.
“I’m pretty sure I could take Brent.”
She sighs, and then lets out an exasperated laugh.
“Can we please not see who has the bigger ego right now? But okay, breakfast. Are you sure that wouldn’t put you out? It’s really early still.”
I kiss her and say, “It would be my pleasure, sweetheart. And just so you know, I have a bigger dick than your dad. Come on.” I help her to her feet and take her hand as she snorts. “Follow me.”
Harlow makes a face.
“Please, no more talk about my dad’s anatomy. Eew.” But then the sassy girl smiles and lets me lead her to my kitchen downstairs, sitting at the counter before shooting me a dreamy look.
I ask, “What’s on your mind?”
She laughs nervously, “Oh, um, nothing.”
“You’re pretty when you lie, Harlow,” I smirk and go back to the waffle iron. “Must get you out of a lot of trouble.”
She laughs. “I guess so, although I’ve never really been in trouble.”
“I knew it! You’re such a good girl, sweetcakes.”
She clears her throat and I notice she has a flush on her chest again. She likes hearing me use endearments, so I’ll have to do it more often. But Harlow doesn’t tell me what’s up. Instead, she asks, “So, where did you learn to make waffles? Was your mom much of a cook?”
I shake my head.
“Not really. I did a lot of the cooking when I was a kid because my mom was a single mom. Meredith worked all the time, and she would come home hungry, so I always tried to make sure she had a hot meal when she stepped in the door.”
She smiles softly. “That’s so sweet.”
“Well, it was just the two of us for a really long time, so we had to watch out for each other.”
“Are you still close?”
I shook my head. “My mom passed on, around fifteen years ago.”
She cocks her head.
“I think I remember, but my dad didn’t say much. What happened?”
I grimace.
“Yeah, it’s kind of a sad story, so I’m not surprised Brent didn’t tell you. It was a car accident.
