Kimberly

The sound of Tommy's soft and steady breathing in my ear is one that I will never get tired of. His arms are wrapped around me while my head rests gently on his broad and naked chest, never feeling safer than in this moment right now. I woke up not long ago, ready to sneak out of his bed, but I haven't had the willpower to move an inch. If I'm never going to have him again, then I want to savor every moment of it.

Last night wasn't enough. There can never be enough. My thirst for Tommy Oliver is unquenchable, but the reality is that we live two completely different lives. My life is in Angel Grove with my three kids, his life is wherever he wants, with whomever he wants. I know that I'm just another body to keep him warm, but I've never been more okay with that. He didn't make me feel cheap and used, he made me feel beautiful. My initial assessment of him wasn't wrong, I still stand behind it, but the difference is that I no longer care. He's used to getting what he wants and I underestimated just how accurate that was. He set his eyes on me and then he was destined to have me. I never had a chance and he knew that.

I lift the covers up to reveal his amazing body and I smile like an idiot. I can't believe it. I can't believe I let myself live for once. We didn't have sex. We couldn't. It didn't matter that we both wanted it so bad, as it is, we don't know each other, and I refuse to share that level of intimacy with someone I don't really know. Although there was a moment I seriously contemplated it. But I stepped out of my comfort zone and had as close to a one night stand as possible. I mean, we did everything else that there was.

It's a night that I will remember for the rest of my life. But like all nights, this one must also come to an end. I don't know what time it is, but I do know that it's time for me to get out of here. I can't have anyone catching me leaving his room. I give a quick kiss to his chest and gently pull away, trying my best to not make any sudden movements. Slowly I pull the covers off my body and roll myself away from Tommy.

I move inch by inch, being careful to not make any noise, pausing every once in a while when I feel like I've made too much. Once my feet touch the luxurious carpet, I let out a light breath.

"You have to be quieter than that if you're trying to sneak out of someone's room, freckles," Tommy mumbles.

Huh? I turn to face him. He has one of his arms behind his head as he's watching me. God is he gorgeous. The eighth wonder of the world is in this room.

"I'm usually the one sneaking out of girl's rooms. I've mastered it. I can give you a few pointers if you want." He gives me a sleepy grin.

"I didn't want to wake you," I tell him, still keeping my voice down.

"Well, I'm awake," he pulls the covers open, inviting me back into bed. "It's too early."

I stop and seriously consider his offer and then shake my head, "Sorry. The night's over. I have to head back to my floor with the rest of the peasants."

He gives a casual shrug and then slips out of bed and makes his way towards me. My heart nearly jumps right out of my chest when he bends down and throws me over his shoulder and then down on the bed.

"What are you doing?" I squeal, laughing.

His weight is supported on his forearm as I settle directly below him. My lips are then captured by his soft ones in a tender kiss that feels too intimate for a hotel hookup. What the hell is happening?

"Don't leave me," He murmurs against my lips.

What? I stiffen.

"…yet," he adds after a moment. "Don't leave me yet."

I blink, his words echoing loud in my ear. Where is this coming from? I'm not experienced in the late-night-hotel-hookup department, but I'm certain that it's supposed to be awkward in the morning and it's expected that one or the other has to sneak out. Aren't those the rules of the game? But his words… those are rules for an entirely different game. One that I wasn't ready to play yet.

But maybe he's just like this. I mean, I don't even know him.

"Are you always this needy?" I narrow my eyes at him, playfully.

"Ha," He kisses my neck. "Says the one that had to take a last look at my junk before she got out of bed."

Busted. He wasn't supposed to catch that.

"I-I just wanted to marvel at the scientific phenomenon before it forms an exhibit at the Ripley's museum."

He smiles against my lips, "Did you not get a good enough look when it was down your throat last night?"

Heat rises to my cheeks. I press my lips together, unamused, and push him off of me.

"What?" He laughs and then wraps his arms around me to pull me back to him. "Oh, come on, I'm funny."

I giggle as he peppers kisses across my temple. What are we doing? This isn't how it's supposed to be.

"You have to let me go," I tell him. I grab my phone and look at the time. "It's five. People will start waking up soon. We can't risk them catching us."

"Hey," he tips my chin up, "It's no big deal. It's expected."

I shake my head, "Maybe of you, but not me. I don't want to garner any unwanted attention."

"Five more minutes," he says and I smile at his inability to let me go.

"Sorry," I give him a quick kiss. "I need to make it downstairs."

"Fine," he grumbles, "But I'm walking you to your door."

This man is making me stupidly happy. I would love nothing more than this night to never end, but that can't be. And as much as I would love to have him walk me to my door, I can't risk it either.

"No, you're staying here and I'll be going down alone."

"But…why?" He frowns over at me.

"Because…" I think about it for a moment, "I don't want to hear the whispers from all of the girls that wanted you last night."

I gather my clothes quickly and put them on. My clothes are no longer neatly pressed but rather wrinkled and wet. Why the hell are they wet? Ugh, that's a thought for another time. I run to the mirror quickly, ruffling my hair to somehow tame the mess and I catch Tommy staring at me from the reflection. He's standing at the doorframe, muscles bulging into a V down his abdomen, his hair is gorgeously messed on top of his head from me pulling on it all night, and there are faint scratch marks on his arms.

He's watching me, a smirk on his face while his thumb strokes his chin… I know that look. He's assessing me.

"What is it?" I say, the blood under my skin feeling like electricity.

"You just surprised me."

"I surprised you?" I turn to face him. "How?"

"Well, you actually came up here," he says, "For a second there I thought the night really was over."

"I just decided that I wanted to do something out of the ordinary. When am I ever going to get a chance with Instagram royalty again?"

He gives me a sexy smirk and then slowly walks towards me. "Anytime you want, Hart. I know we're going our separate ways today, but it doesn't have to be like that. I like you."

What is he saying? That he wants to continue this?

"Do you mean that you want to keep seeing me?" I say, almost not believing the words coming out of his mouth.

"Yes," he says matter of factly. "Why do you say that like it's surprising?"

"Because it is," I take a step back, creating some distance. "Tommy, I had a good time last night, but… you do know that it's all we're ever going to have, right?"

His brows come together, "What do you mean?"

"I mean that I told you this day one. I don't date."

"You also said you don't do one night stands," he scoffs.

"I don't!"

"And I'm making sure that tonight isn't that," he says, his nostrils flaring, "We keep seeing each other and then… I don't know, we try things out."

Am I still dreaming? He's actually serious. He wants to keep seeing me. Me. "No. I'm sorry, but I don't want to have a relationship. I'm not ready. My children are not ready."

"You're saying that like you've pledged your life to a fucking nunnery." He narrows his eye at me. "I've fucked nuns, you know."

My face twists in disgust. What the fuck?

With my mouth slightly open, I grab the rest of my things and brush past him. I'm out of here.

His steps grow louder behind me as I make my way through the suite.

"That's it then?" He calls after me.

I spin around and I stare at him. He's in the living room. Naked. Helpless. This is almost ridiculous.

"We are two completely different people, Tommy. If maybe you weren't you and…"

"—Hold the fuck on," He says, cutting me off. "If I weren't me? Isn't that what you liked in the first place? That I was different from everyone you've met?"

He looks at me and I can feel his frustration rise. He's right. The fact that he is completely different is what drew me to him in the first place, but if we're being real here, that's exactly why we can never be. We are too different.

"Tommy, you're not exactly boyfriend material."

"What?" His jaw drops. "Are you completely mad?" He thumps his chest. "I'm excellent boyfriend material, freckles."

"Mmmhmm," I raise a brow at him. "Because sleeping with a different woman every week is a great quality in any boyfriend."

"I call it perfecting my practice!"

"Well call it what you want but it doesn't make it any better," I roll my eyes. "Besides, we're at different points in our lives."

"Meaning?"

I shrug, "You don't have any children—"

"And now I'm being discriminated against because I don't have children?" He takes a step towards me. "Well you know what? You have too many children."

I smirk.

"And I'm too busy for you anyway," he crosses his arms.

I love seeing him throw his little tantrums when he doesn't get his way.

"Good," I nod. "Casual is what works best for you anyway."

"Being tied down will only gray me faster," he clears his throat and I can tell he's just finding any excuse to lessen the rejection. "And although I look great in any color, I'd rather keep my black hair, thank you very much."

"That's great."

"And I'll have you know, I'm an exceptional boyfriend," He looks at me, eyes narrowed, determined, fired up. God he drives me wild. "I'm successful, well-traveled, great with my tongue…"

Not a lie was told.

"If you'd let me, I could make you happy."

I don't doubt that for a moment.

"You on the other hand," he points at me. He opens and closes his mouth a few times as if in search of the right words"…you keep secrets… a-and your kids—well, pshh there's just too many to count… a-and you play mind games."

I stare at him, an amused smile on my face. "All of that is exactly right."

His eyes narrow, "Don't patronize me."

Unfortunately, I can't help it. I love it when he doesn't get his way. I wish things could really be as easy as seeing where things go.

Finding some courage, I walk towards him and wrap my arms around his neck and pull him towards me. His arms go around my waist as his lips drop to mine. As if it were our last, he kisses me. It's gentle, tender, nothing like we've had before and it feels too much like goodbye.

"I have to go," I say as I pull back.

His forehead comes to rest on mine and he nods against it. He doesn't want this to end.

"What time does your flight leave?"

"One."

"I'm taking you."

I pull back, "What?"

"I'm taking you," he says, again.

"Why?"

"Because if this is all we're going to have then I want to spend as much time with you as I can."

He really wants this. But why is there a part of me that thinks this is just a game to him? That maybe he says this to all of the girls. I wasn't crazy about the little black book. Guys like Tommy have backups for their backups. My name is on a long list of revolving girls. He has his choice of the menu and all of the girls fall at his feet. I just happened to be his craving for the weekend. Business will return as usual, and when he goes to his next seminar, I'll be nothing but a distant memory.

"I don't think—"

"This isn't a discussion," His posture goes rigid. "Now go downstairs and get ready for my last lecture."

"Or what?"

"Or I'll walk you back to your room myself… just like this." He looks down at his naked body and then back to me.

I roll my eyes. "You're a pain in my ass."

"I almost was," he grunts, "But you wouldn't let me." He gives me a lop sided grin, "You do know that it also doesn't make a baby, don't you?"

I shake my head, "We are not discussing this." I turn to leave and I can hear him behind me.

"Just wait, freckles. One day you're going to wish you said yes."

"Mmhmm," I say to myself, still not turning back.

"You're going to be begging for it."

In your dreams.

"You're not even going to care about the condom!"

I shake my head. This guy is delusional.

"I have to be leave by ten," I say as I shut the door behind me.

Tommy Oliver is so fun.

My focus is on the man on the stage that has the attention of everyone in the room. The same man that I had just left naked and pouting in his bedroom. He's giving his closing statements, summing up this weekend in a nice little bow for us to take home and remember, but to be honest, the only thing I'm going to remember from this weekend is last night. The sounds he made when he was close, the pain in my scalp from the way he was fisting my hair, the look in his eyes when he emptied himself in my mouth.

Seeing him now, in a deep burgundy suit that is tailored to perfection, his hair tame and pushed back, wayframe glass on his face…well, I mean, can it get any better than that? This man is gorgeous and he knows it. And he was right about one thing earlier, he does look great in any color.

"…So if there is anything that you can take away from this weekend, it's that we have to remember that we are not treating a list of symptoms or disease, we are treating a person. And that person is the most vital member of the healthcare team. We need trust… and trust takes time, we need to communicate… and that takes skill, but above all, we must advocate… and that only takes you. Thank you." Tommy takes a small bow and the lecture hall erupts in cheers.

His gaze falls to the crowd and then for a moment, our eyes are locked, and I feel a pull towards him. He's making me feel things that I shouldn't.

When the room starts to clear, I consider staying back but I decide against it. I need to pack and spending time in here with him won't help. I still have a lot to do before I head back to reality and I'm already running short on time.

Back in my room, I begin to place my items into my luggage. This is it. My weekend is over and it's time for things to go back to normal. I love my kids, but this was a much needed break. I just hope that Tyler and Jeffrey have stayed out of trouble like they promised. I know that I don't have to worry about Maddox, he behaves himself like a little man, but my older two… I'm at the brink of a heart attack every other day.

A soft knock is at my door. I steal a glance at my phone and it reads nine thirty. Did he seriously come to my room? Is he crazy? What part of don't walk me to my room did he not understand? Last night after dinner was one thing, it was late, but right now? There are eyes everywhere.

I run to the door and pull it open. I stick my head out to make sure the coast is clear and then drag him inside by the collar of his shirt and slam the door behind us.

"Are you insane?" I seethe.

"Only for you," he grins and then pulls me into a kiss. "Nice place you have here."

What is it about him that turns me into mush?

I push him away, "Stop."

But also, please don't.

"I told you not to come to my room."

"Ahh," he smirks and then taps his ear, "I have a bit of a hearing problem."

I roll my eyes.

"You have to leave."

He grabs a drink from the mini bar and pops open the bottle of Jack Daniels. Does he have a death wish or something?

When he starts drinking the overpriced bottle of alcohol, I lose it.

"Out!" I yell at him.

"I'm taking you to the airport, remember?" He says, making himself comfortable on my bed. Taking the remote from my nightstand, he turns on the television.

I can't deal with this right now.

"No you're not! Leave!"

He says nothing, continuing to drink his bottle while he surfs the channels on the television. Is this what he does to relax? Drinks alcohol, scans through the channels, and places his dirty twenty-three hundred dollar shoes on my bed?

"Hello?" I say, irritated.

He turns to me, like he hadn't just heard me tell him to get lost. "Sorry. Did you say something?"

My fingers come to the bridge of my nose. I swear I'm going to blow. This man will drive me to the brink.

"Yes," I say, calmly, "I need you to leave. I still need to pack and you are driving me crazy by being here."

He chugs the small bottle and then places it on my night stand. Then he rises to his feet and walks towards me, like I hadn't just told him to pack it up.

"You seem stressed," he grabs my hips with his hands, "Let me relax you." His lips fall to my neck and my knees buckle.

How does he do this every time? Am I just vulnerable to him?

"Tommy," I come to my senses, "I need to finish."

"I got here early so that we can spend more time together."

Really? That's kind of sweet. Who even is this guy? I feel like I know him and then he says and does something so unexpected that I'm quickly reminded that I don't know him. Not at all. Why does he care about spending time with me? Is this how he normally is? Why is he so persistent. Does he think that this is what I expect of him? It's not. I expect the complete opposite. I expect the Tommy Oliver that I met on the airplane, the same one that holds the world record for how many women he can get in his bed in one night… and then it occurs to me.

I am such an idiot. Of course. He doesn't care about me. He cares that he hasn't finished ticking off the box. He didn't sleep with me. That's what makes me different. It's that he has unfinished business. How could I be so stupid?

"You're just here because we didn't get to have sex and now you're trying to reel me in to another hookup. Which is not going to happen, by the way."

"Way to downgrade me to another asshole in New York City," He scoffs "Yes I'm disappointed about that, but that's not what this is. I'm not looking to cross that one line we didn't. Although, I can guarantee it would have been epic!"

Epic? Puh-lease.

"I know what this was, okay?" I say, motioning between the two of us. "I'm not demanding more. I know how you operate things. You don't have to pretend in order to make me feel better. I don't have expectations."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"This," I say again, "All of it. You can cut the act. You don't have to pretend to be interested. In fact, I'd prefer if you didn't. I'm not the girl that you normally go after, you've mentioned it plenty of times. So please stop trying to drag out the inevitable. You won't hurt my feelings."

"Hurt your feelings?" He says, "You think I'm trying to be nice by being interested in you?"

"No, I think you're trying to be nice by pretending to be interested in me."

His beautiful eyes hold mine and I feel that softness once again. "I meant everything that I said. I want more."

"But I can't give it to you. I can't be that person for you and how is that fair? How is that fair for anyone?"

"And how is this fair?" His hands hold my face, "You deserve so much more than you think. I could be that person for you."

This is too much too fast. I can't do it. I don't even know what to think. This isn't how we usually are. There's always an underlying of playfulness between us. Not this time. He's serious. He wants this.

I pull away from him.

"Kim?" He uses my name and then I know… there's nothing more sincere than that. "You want me to walk away? Truly? You want nothing to do with me?"

I stare at his gorgeous face and teenage me is screaming at me. I have never seen a more beautiful man in my life. I have never had such a beautiful man interested in me.

"We're just too different," I sigh.

He lets a few moments go by and then, as if accepting defeat, he lets out a deep exhale.

"I'll pull the car up front."

I shake my head, "You don't have to do that. I can just take a cab."

"No…I'm taking you. I said it so I meant it," he fixes the button on his suit. "I keep my promises."

That felt like a dig. God, now this is so uncomfortable.

"Well, we can just take a cab. You don't have to drive."

He looks at me and then quickly looks away, "I-I don't do that."

"What do you mean you don't do that?" My brow lifts "What? Take a cab?"

"Ride passenger in any car."

"Why?"

"Reasons," he swallows.

"Which are?"

"Not important right now," he kisses my cheek. "I'll be out front in fifteen."

I continue to stare at the door for too long, wondering if I just made a mistake telling him that there's nothing more that can happen between us. I am crazy, right? Surely no one in their right mind would turn down someone like Tommy Oliver.

After finally pulling myself together, I finish throwing my clothes in my luggage and check out and meet Tommy out front just like he said. He was driving a black Mercedes and looked just absolutely perfect behind the wheel.

"Is your flight today?" I say, breaking the silence between us as we drive down to JFK airport.

His eyes continue to hold the road, "I've had to move some things around because I lost my wallet."

"Oh, right," I nod. How could I forget? "I forgot about that."

He says nothing, his gaze still out on the road while we maneuver ourselves through traffic.

"Any idea on what you're going to do to get everything back?"

He shrugs, "A trip back to the fountain, I guess. Doesn't hurt to retrace your steps. Although I seriously doubt anything will be there."

I think about it for a moment and I really hate the thought that he'd be there alone. He told me about how he used to run there every time something bad happened. He shouldn't be alone.

"Losing that kind of ruined our night, didn't it?"

He turns to me quickly. "Nothing could have ruined last night."

He takes one hand off the steering wheel and threads his fingers with mine then places a tender kiss to the back of my hand. He's making rejecting him so difficult. What the hell am I thinking? The level of intimacy between us is one that you don't share with a one night stand.

"Tommy, you do understand why there can be nothing between us, don't you?"

"Honestly… no. I get that I have a reputation but it's not like that."

"But how can I believe you? How do I know this isn't what you do every single time? Promise women the world and then never call them back."

He's quiet for a moment. Did I actually get it right? His silence is very telling.

"I guess you're right," he sighs, "but unlike every one that has come before you, I actually have intentions of calling you."

His words hang heavy between us as we continue the drive in silence and it continued as we pulled up to the airport.

This was it. This was our goodbye and I was dreading every moment of it. He stood before me, still wearing that expensive suit that I was dying to take off of him. When I grabbed my bag out of the trunk, I expected an awkward goodbye, the stark contrast of everyone that was hugging around me.

"I guess this is it," I give him a small smile. "Thank you for bringing me… and for hanging out with me the last couple of days…" God, this is so weird. What the hell do you even say? Thanks, see you never?

His posture is ramrod straight as he stares at me, almost like he's trying to commit to memory my entire being. Still, he says nothing.

My bag hangs over my shoulder as I look around us. This is uncomfortable. I should leave.

"I guess I'll see you…"

But he doesn't let me finish because in the next moment his hands are cradling my face and his lips are on mine. It's deep and slow and everything that we shouldn't be doing. This doesn't feel like goodbye.

He pulls back, his eyes searching mine, "Kim, I think you underestimate my persistence."

I swallow. Do I?

"I'll call you," he says.

What?"

"You don't have to—"

"I'll call you," he says again, his dark eyes holding mine.

All I can do is stare at him, my mouth slightly parted, a million thoughts racing through my head. He leaves the next moment and I stand there staring at the empty spot. Is he serious?

After a moment, a smile forms on my face and I don't even try to hide it.

The flight back home was lonely. The seat beside me sat empty and I wished that it wasn't the case. It only reminded me that flying alone will never be the same again. Whether I'd like to admit it or not, meeting Tommy changed a part of me.

As we took off, the only thing that I could think of were his final words to me.

"I'll call you." his words rang in my ear. "I'll call you." It had never felt more sincere.

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe him so badly.

But he never did.

Author note: More to come soon :) Enjoy!