Chapter 17: One Whole Day Off
There were only a few days left of the marathon-length trip. Despite everything that had happened with Natalie over the phone, I somehow managed to keep my mind on the job. That was very much a good thing, because we were under a lot of pressure and a lot of scrutiny and now was not the time to get distracted. Just a few more days. Just a few... more... days.
We wrapped things up, and everything came together so well in the end that it was like we'd planned it that way. I mean, we did, but when a plan actually comes off better than anticipated, you gotta celebrate these things.
And celebrate we did. We were still in Dallas, but people were smiling and laughing, even people who weren't on my exhausted team. Our CEO, a short, wide guy with an incongruously magnificent head of long, blond hair halfway down to his butt, was so excited I thought he'd hyperventilate himself into the hospital. We even did the post-trip debrief there in Dallas rather than waiting to do it in the office back home, because we found ourselves finished with hours to spare.
During all this, Natalie and I didn't have time for any more hot and heavy sessions, but we talked and texted plenty and I jacked off more than once to the ridiculously hot picture she had texted me. She even asked for a picture of my cock, which I provided, and I could only imagine what she was doing with it, with great pleasure. She clearly had a thing for cocks, or at least mine in particular, which I found exhilarating.
Finally, the trip reached its end. On the way to the airport, it felt weird. Hotel life had started to become normal, which I found rather distressing. As per usual, the flight was delayed and I got in really late. Natalie still picked me up at the airport, but our plans for the evening were all scrapped. Instead, I dozed while she just drove us straight to her place so I could drop her off and take my car home. But that plan, too, was soon discarded.
She pulled in to her parking spot, her hands on the wheel, and just sat there for a few seconds while I unbuckled. I looked at her to say something, but then I noticed her mood.
"Nat?"
She flexed her jaw and squeezed the steering wheel with both hands, staring straight ahead. "Is every flight with you on it delayed?" she asked tersely. Her tone was flat, like she was trying to keep her emotions out of it.
"What? No... wait... damn. I think you're right."
"You're cursed." She forced a laugh, but I could tell she wasn't feeling it. "It's not fair," she said, finally loosening her grip on the wheel and taking my hand. She rubbed at it for a bit, as if remembering the feel. She looked at me and relaxed a little, the set of her shoulders becoming a little less tense. "I don't want to just get out and watch you drive off. I missed you really bad. Can you at least come inside for a bit?"
"I'd like that," I said. It was almost two in the morning, but we had the whole next day off. I left my suitcase in the trunk and the two of us climbed the stairs to her apartment, where she let us in.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind me, she was in my arms. She clutched at me tightly and didn't say anything, just inhaled deeply. "You smell like... like..."
"The airplane? Sweat?"
She laughed. "Yeah, probably."
We held each other close, her face pressed against my chest, my nose in her hair, taking in the familiar scents. She tilted her head up and we kissed, gently at first, then with increasing heat.
We made out for a bit, but I was exhausted, so as much as my brain wanted to just strip down and fuck, my body was already half-asleep, even standing up.
"I'm totally wiped out," I tried to tell her. "I need to just rest for a bit."
I tried to object to her increasing passion, something that would make the slightest sense to either of us, but somehow we were on her couch, stretched out face-to-face, kissing and holding each other in a way that felt safe and comforting, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in a dark room, confused and disoriented.
I was fully dressed except for my shoes, and there was a blanket on me. I sat up, my eyes adjusting to the darkness, and realized I was in Natalie's bed. How I had gotten here I couldn't remember, but I must have walked here on my own because even though I'm in good shape, I'm still a lot bigger than Nat, and I really don't think she could lift me. Drag me, maybe, but I'm pretty sure I'd remember that. The soft sound of her breathing gradually informed my groggy brain that she was in bed next to me, sound asleep.
I needed to hit the bathroom bad, which is what had woken me, so the mysteries would have to wait. I climbed out of bed, doing my best not to disturb her. I glanced at the time and saw it was half past four. I'd only been asleep for a couple hours.
Bathroom business completed, I carefully crawled back into her bed. She was sleeping on her left side, so I pressed up against her from behind, spooning her. I wrapped my right arm around her middle. She was still wearing her clothes, too, from what I could tell. I lay there for a while, smelling her hair and listening to her breathe in the quiet night, until I fell back asleep.
The next time I woke up, it was light. I felt a hand caressing me. I was sleeping on my back now, having changed position at some point, and Natalie was tracing gentle circles on my chest. I gave no indication I was awake, preferring to just stay still and enjoy.
She worked her hand under my shirt and felt my bare skin. Her hand was cool, but not cold, and I loved her touch. She moved her hand down my body and found the bulge where my morning wood was trying to rip a hole in my pants. She paused for a few seconds, her hand still on me, then she carefully slipped out of bed.
I heard her go into the bathroom, then she came out a couple minutes later. The bed dipped and shifted as she climbed back under the covers and pressed herself up against me.
"Rob," she whispered. I decided to pretend to be asleep to see what would happen.
"Are you awake?"
I carefully gave no reply, concentrating on keeping my breathing deep and even.
"Wake up," she whispered, and then she kissed me on the lips.
It didn't seem like she was going to do anything sexual, so I yawned and stretched, blinking against the light. "Morning," I said, then moved my arm so I could put it around her. I felt bare skin. I moved my hand around. Only bare skin. I pulled up the blanket and had a look; she was naked. My brain quickly crunched through some complex calculations and determined that morning boobs are awesome.
I met her gaze. I don't know what expression I wore, but she giggled and didn't say anything. She bit her lower lip determinedly while her hands found the hem of my shirt and started pulling.
"Hold up. What's going on?" I asked as I helped her take off my shirt.
"What we were going to do last night." Her hands found the button on my jeans.
"What happened? I don't remember."
"We were making out on the couch." She undid the button and the zipper.
"Okay, I kinda remember that."
She started tugging my pants down my hips with my help. "I suggested we move to my bed and have sex."
I turned to her and stared.
She laughed softly. "Then you fell asleep."
"What?! You lie!" I joked. "I would never fall asleep when sex was being freely offered!"
She snorted. "You go ahead and tell yourself that, bub."
