24 Odd Day

"Thank you, Lance." I whisper after we've sat in silence. His calm and caring demeanor helped me find my own center, effectively calming me down.

"It was nothing. I'm sorry I couldn't wake you up sooner. You were in a deep sleep. I was afraid I was going to hurt you if I shook you any harder to wake you up." He informs me quietly.

"Yeah... that tends to happen sometimes." I mumble thinking of a few other times where someone has tried to wake me from my nightmares.

"Who's Billy?" He inquires and then pauses, "I'm sorry, you don't have to tell me, it's just you were talking in your sleep. That's how I woke up."

I sigh, shaking my head against his chest. "It's fine. Billy, he was.... an ex. The one that caused me to seek out Brian's professional services."

"Oh." Lance says quietly. He hugs me against his chest and whispers softly, "I'm sorry."

I pull back from his chest and look at him, "You don't have to apologize, you didn't do it." I give him a halfhearted smile.

He brushes a lock of hair from my face behind my ear, "I know that, but you are worthy of being loved, Lirael. Regardless of what lies he fed you to make you believe otherwise."

I know I must resemble a deer in the headlights.

I spoke clearly for talking in my sleep then.

"I.." I start but, I don't know what to say. I just sit there looking at him, processing what he just said.

I'm worthy of being loved? By who though? Who would really want to love me when I come with so much baggage?

Lance explores my face, reading my thoughts that must be written all over my face.

He slowly lifts his hand to touch my cheek gently, a caress that's soft and feathery. My breath is frozen in my chest, my mind goes blank, as stares at my cheek where he's touching. I take a short breath through my lips, which causes him to appreciate them as I wet them with my tongue.

He inches forward slowly, his eyes flutter open and closed, as my heart starts to take off like a track horse. He pauses and pulls back, shaking his head.

"Sorry, I .." He starts but is cut short as I pull him toward me, kissing him instead.

I don't know what possessed me. I do not care, at this moment.

I'm just focusing on these sweet, supple lips of his that are driving me wild. I feel like I am in the sea, but instead of overwhelming fear, I'm excited. That Lance is like a surfboard and our kiss is the wave I've been waiting to ride on.

He's kissing me just as passionately back, adjusting his body to hangover my own.

He pulls back from our kiss, searching my eyes and face as we pant and catch our breath. I realize I'm doing the same thing, but when I look at those lips that are starting to swell from our kiss, I stop and focus on just those.

My voice is hoarse as I whisper, "Kiss me... Please?"

I'm answered with action, his lips descending to meet mine, but he moves slower, not rushing the kiss as he runs a hand down my neck to hold me gently. His kiss is soft, searching, questioning, but its a language I'm not familiar with.

I catch my breath as his lips leave a trail down my neck. I sigh, gripping his hair in my hands, letting him place sweet, slow kisses down my body. He comes back up to my lips and kisses me slowly, so slow it's almost painful, for the both of us.

His forehead presses against mine as our lips part, our breathing heavy.

"Let's try to get some more rest, k?"

I nod, rolling over to my side as he lays next to me, loosely spooning my body.

I must have fallen asleep, cause the next thing I know the sun is high in the windows, and my phone ringing. I separate from Lances embrace to roll over and grab it from the table.

"Hello?" My croaky voice sounds horrible, but I hear Kim's voice over the phone.

"Hey, Mr. Henderson said you had a friend pass away. Are you okay?"

I clear my throat, "Um yeah, not really but I will be."

She's quiet for a moment, "Janet and Teresa both send their love."

Lance curls up close behind me, peppering my back with soft kisses.

"Tell them I said thank you." I mumble.

"What would you like me to tell Dr. Patel? He stopped by around lunch asking for you before we knew what had happened." Kim informs me and I sigh, loudly.

"Tell him the truth, I'm sorry and that someone I knew passed away last night. I'm sure I will see him around work again." I shrug to myself, feeling a tinge of disappointment.

"Alright, I will let him know. You want me to give him your number?" Kim asks me, a audible smile in her voice.

"Uh... No, I'll give it to him after I've gotten to know him better first." I yawn and start to stretch.

"Dang girl, did I wake you up? I thought you sounded bad cause you were crying not asleep!" Kim chuckles, making me give her a short, breathy laugh in response.

"Yeah, I was asleep, I didn't get much sleep last night." I groan, starting to stretch.

"Well, I will let you go and get some more sleep. Call me if you need anything, darlin'."

"Thank you, Kim. Bye."

"Bye."

I set the phone on the bedside table and look at the clock. It's two in the afternoon.

"Wow, I can't believe I slept so long." I mutter to myself.

I go to sit up and Lance pulls me back down.

"What are you doing?" I giggle, "I have to use the bathroom!" I chide him, still giggling as he pouts and lets go of me. I shake my head at his antics and go handle my waking up rituals.

With minty breath and a relieved bladder, I enter my bedroom smiling at the gorgeous man on my bed.

I'd never seen him naked with so much natural light, he glowed like a sun god, his toned muscles gave the eyes a feast to look upon. He resembled the embodiment of temptation, making my heated gaze instigate my voracious appetite to grow.

I wiggle my thighs together as I grow excited thinking of all the things he's been doing to me lately. My eyes travel up to his face and lock eyes with him.

Shit. Caught.

"Hey." I mutter with an embarrassed smile. I throw him a quick wink to make it more playful.

"Hey, you enjoying the view?" He stretches and shows off more of his delicious body, making me grin and him laugh.

"You better stop that, or I'll do more then just view." I chuckle, crossing my arms and leaning against the wall.

He rolls out of the bed and struts towards me, "Is that a threat?"

"A promise." I flick an eyebrow at him as he saunters into the bathroom.

I quietly chuckle to myself as I open up my closet for something to wear. I go for a simple, navy blue, A-line dress, pulling it out still on the hanger.

"Now why would you want to cover that beautiful body, when you made such enticing promises just a minute ago?" Lance looks at the dress, shaking his head with a smirk.

"I don't know about you, but I'm starving. It is an odd enough day already with me sleeping in so late. Do you think you can wait on the fulfillment of that promise until after we have enjoyed some sustenance? " I slip the dress on over my head, grabbing a pair of sandals.

"No panties?" Lance chuckles in question at me.

"Nope..." I grin devilishly at him, "let's see how long you can control yourself before I have to fulfill that promise."

He clutches his chest, and takes a breath through his teeth, "You are such a tease."

I laugh, "Yes, but at least I intend to please."