CHAPTER 24

I drove home, no not home, well not my apartment anyway. I had sub-leased my apartment to Lula when I had gone away.

I drove home to Ric's apartment, which was my home too, he kept on insisting. Not that either of us had spent much time there in the recent months, but the place was really growing on me. I liked the fact that no one knew where it was, the size of the bathroom, more importantly the size of the water heater, I was really getting used to the security levels and the fact that no psycho killer was going to be able to break in here.

The Cuban sex god that lived there wasn't too bad either.

Yeah I think I was starting to love my new home.

Standing in the enormous shower I thought about my new place; super massage jets of endless hot water …oh yeah I was really starting to like it here. I also thought about my new place in life, god I sound like a selfhelp book. But seriously, I was really loving where I was right now. I had a fabulous man who adored me, a challenging and fulfilling job, I had money in the bank and my wardrobe was filled with new designer clothes. What more could a girl ask for.

After a long shower I crawled into bed. I hadn't been alone in the apartment often and I really thought that I would/should take advantage and have a good snoop. Ric says he doesn't have any deep dark secrets that he's hiding from me, but no one is perfect. I am sure he has a Wham CD stashed somewhere or am embarrassing stonewash denim disaster lurking in the back of his closet.

The need to sleep won out over my need to snoop. And I wrapped myself in the silky elegance of the smooth Egyptian cotton sheets. Tonight was the first time in the 41/2 months that Ric and I have been together, that I have gone to sleep alone. After only a short time it still felt strange, like something was missing.

And he was.

But not for long, His flight should be getting in soon and I'll just rest my eyes until then.

Uh huh, yep just resting…

The digital clock was glowing big, bright and annoying. And I was about to smoother it with a pillow when I realised the real reason that I had woken.

Tall dark and drop dead gorgeous

'Hi' I said softly with a sleep heavy voice

'go back to sleep babe' he whispered back

'I wasn't asleep'

'no?'

'resting my eyes' is what I crocked. But my eyes were wide awake now as I watched him remove his clothes

'uh huh'

'so, maybe the jetlag got me' I admitted in defeat

"I think it got me too' He said slipping into bed and snuggling up behind me.

'I didn't want to got to sleep without you on our first night back in Trenton.'

He kissed me softly ' I never want to got to sleep without you'