Shadows faded

Chapter 40 | Fault Lines

MORNING AFTER...
9:45 AM. ☀️

Paige stirred in her sleep at the sound of an alarm going off on a phone, though her eyes stayed closed. When it kept repeating, she sighed softly and blinked the blur from her eyes, realizing it was her phone and the alarm set for work.

She lifted herself from the bed and reached over a sleeping Jay. Her phone sat on his side of the nightstand. She remembered plugging it into his charger after her shower since she had forgotten hers at Taj's parent's  house.

Her small body hovered over as she quickly extended her arm, snatching the phone from the nightstand and unplugging from the charger. She shut off the alarm, though the damage was already done.

She was supposed to be at the closet by ten this morning. It was already 9:45 AM. She was definitely going to be late. Paige unlocked her phone and texted one of the managers, asking them to let Selena fill in for her until she arrived.

She shook her head and sat up straight on the bed, glancing over at Jay. Behind the bleak expression he showed the world, he looked peaceful now. Almost angelic as he slept.

His hair was fluffy and ruffled but still shiny, his lips resting in a slight pout as light snores escaped him. Her eyes traveled down his body. The white sheets barely covered his lower half.

The fabric sat dangerously low on his hips, exposing the sharp V line that hinted at what lay beneath. He was naked under the sheets , just as she was. Paige pulled the covers higher over her chest.

Before her thoughts could linger on what she already knew too well, she nearly laughed at herself for being so caught up in him already. She tapped his chest, then shook him gently.

She needed him to drop her off at her parent's house so she could grab her car and head to work. Her shift was supposed to be ten to five, but she already knew she would have to stay an extra hour.

Jay shifted in his sleep but did not wake, so she shook him again. "Jay..." she whispered.

When she reached for his face, he instinctively grabbed her wrist and gently moved her hand away, his eyes still closed.

Paige gasped playfully, pretending to be offended as she stared at his now groggy face. He clearly was not interested in waking up, but she had no choice. It was her first official day as a manager, and being late was not a good look.

She blamed Jay entirely. They had been up all night, tangled together like teenagers discovering pleasure for the first time.

"Jay...I'm late for work, I need you to drop me off at my Parents" she said, her voice barely there after screaming all night. He was absolutely the reason it was gone.

He nodded, throwing his arm over his eyes
As sunlight poured in through the large windows. A soft groan followed.

"Ok, I'm gonna take a shower. If your ass not up by the time I get out I'm letting you have it for real." she said as she kicked her legs off the mattress.

She heard him kiss his teeth as his eyes finally opened while she walked around the bed toward the bathroom connected to his room.

She did not notice that he had gotten up right behind her. Now wearing a pair of lounge shorts sitting now on his hips, he stood close and delivered a gentle smack to her round ass, nearly yanking her back into him.

"Who you talkin to like that?" He mummer against the shell of her ear, sending a wave through her body that she did not want to acknowledge. If she did, she would not make it to work at all.