Chapter 6
Jasen
I don’t know if I’m losing my mind or if it’s the fact that it’s been months since I’ve touched my wife, but for some reason she felt way better than before. I must be going crazy. We’ve been together since the eleventh grade, so I should know how my own wife feels. But still, there was something different about her just now that I can’t quite put my finger on.
I lean in and kiss her tenderly. And she lets me. This is the second time today she’s allowed me to do so. Lately, our kisses have been quick and meaningless. They’re not filled with emotion, just a peck here and there in passing or when I leave for work in the morning. Monroe isn’t fond of kissing; it’s too intimate for her. She hates showing any type of emotion or affection, especially during sex. Sex between us involves light touching, no kissing, and no cuddling afterwards. She wasn’t always this way. In the beginning, sex between us was amazing and full of passion. But somewhere along the line it changed; she became distant and cold. But just now, she seemed emotionally connected.
I stare into her eyes as I pull my lips from hers slowly. Her face displays worry. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she answers quickly.
I ease out of her and stand to my feet. “You’re lying.”
“No, I’m not. Everything is fine.”
I grab my boxer briefs off the floor. “I’m not convinced you’re telling me the truth, but I guess that’s your answer and you’re sticking to it.”
She stands to her feet and grabs her clothing off the floor. “Really, I’m okay. I just need a nice, hot shower, that’s all.”
“Okay, want some company?” Fuck, I hope she says yes so we can have a repeat in the shower.
“I think I’d rather be alone,” she replies before leaving the room in a hurry.
I watch her run off with confusion. I don’t understand what just happened, or why she’s acting strange, especially after the moment we just had. We haven’t made love in a long time. What just happened should bring us closer. But it’s caused her to run from me. And I don’t know why.
Morgan
How in the hell could I be so stupid? How could I allow myself to sleep with him? Better yet, how could I allow myself to enjoy sleeping with him? The minute he pulled out of me, I instantly found myself craving him again. I longed for his body to be pressed against mine, for as long as possible. Which is why I need space right now. I need time to process all of this, and time to calm my raging hormones. I lock myself in the master bathroom, run some bathwater, and pour in some bubble bath. I was going to take a shower, but I think a relaxing hot bath is just what I need right now.
I can’t let this happen again.
I find a towel in the closet and place it on a nearby chair. Once the water reaches my desired level, I step inside of the claw-foot tub and turn the faucet off. As I immerse my body in the water, it instantly soothes me. Just as I relax, the doorknob jiggles, and then there is a knock at the door.
“Monroe, are you okay?” Jasen asks.
“I’m fine,” I call out.
“It didn’t look like you were fine. You ran off like something was wrong,” he continues.
“I’m okay. I’ll be out after my bath,” I answer, rushing him away.
After a few seconds of silence, he responds, “Okay.”
I relax my shoulders and inhale the scent of the jasmine-scented bubble bath. Why did I agree to give Monroe a week? I should have just fled back home and allowed her to clean up her own mess. But for some reason I just can’t hurt him. Jasen doesn’t belong to me, but I can’t bring myself to break his heart.
When I finish cleaning myself, I grab the nearby towel to dry off. I use the almond butter body cream located on the bathroom shelf to moisturize my wrinkled skin. I feel fresh. I smell fresh. And I feel more relaxed. I wrap the towel around me and open the bathroom door slowly. Jasen is sitting up scrolling through his cell phone when I enter the bedroom. His eyes sweep over my body slowly.
“I wanted to talk before we go to bed,” he says.
“Okay,” I reply as I walk towards the dresser to find a pair of pajamas.
I open the first drawer. It’s filled with his boxers.
“Why are you in my boxer drawer?” he asks.
Shit!
I quickly close his drawer and open the one next to it. “I want to sleep in something comfortable tonight,” I answer as my eyes land on Monroe’s selection of night clothes.
Her selection is little to nothing, just like she said. It’s a combination of silk nighties and other identified clothing I’ve never seen. I grab a pair of brand-new silk lavender panties, rip the tag off, and slide them on before closing the drawer. I open the third drawer, and bingo—I’ve found what I’m looking for: Jasen’s T-shirt drawer. I pull out a gray T-shirt and slide it over my head, then close the drawer and turn around to face him. He looks puzzled.
“What?” I ask as I walk towards the bed.
“You’re wearing my T-shirt.”
I look down at the shirt. “Is there a problem with me wearing your shirt?”
“No, but you’ve never slept in a T-shirt. You’ve always slept naked or in some type of sexy nightie.”
I’m quiet for a moment as the reality of just how different I am from my sister sets in. I wouldn’t be caught dead sleeping in any of the items I saw in her drawer. They’re for one purpose only, and once they come off, that’s it. I don’t know how she’s able to sleep in any of that stuff comfortably. “That’s the old me, Jasen. The new me plans to switch it up a little. And tonight, I want to sleep in your T-shirt.”
“Okay. And for the record, you look just as sexy wearing a T-shirt. I like you in it.”
I smile before I slide in under the blanket. “Thank you.”
“What happened earlier?”
“I just needed a minute,” I answer.
“A minute for what?”
“A minute to myself. To think about everything going on with us. I got emotional.”
It’s not entirely a lie. I did need a minute to think about everything that’s going on with us. He turns on his side and wraps an arm around me. “I know we’ve been going through a lot. But we haven’t connected like that in a long time. I think it’s a good thing.”
“Me too.”
“So, don’t run from it. Embrace it. If we’re going to fix things, it’s important we build our intimacy back.”
“Okay.” That’s all I’ve got. I’m physically and mentally exhausted. Not to mention the time difference doesn’t help. I place my hand over his and feel him kiss my cheek, right before I fall asleep.
Monroe
I roll over to face Cooper, who is sound asleep and snoring. We were up late last night, and I’m sure it will be a while before he wakes up. We spent the evening at a comedy show before heading to a nearby nightclub for drinks and dancing. Jasen would never have agreed to do either of those things. He hates loud music, and he barely drinks. His idea of fun is watching some boring old movie or hiking. Did he really think that I would sleep in the woods, in a tiny-ass tent, and risk being eaten alive by bugs? Absolutely not! I slide out the bed and grab my cell phone off the nightstand. I tiptoe out the room and head towards the kitchen to start a pot of coffee for when Cooper wakes up. I grab a yogurt out of the fridge and have a seat at the kitchen table to dial Morgan. The phone rings twice before she answers.