Read Online Listed: Volume III by Noelle Adams - Free Book Online

her panties, feeling the tension
clench in her body almost immediately.
    She
kept her eye on the door, although she was sure Paul wouldn’t walk in tonight
the way he had while she’d been doing this in Egypt. She still remembered her
shock and embarrassment, although fortunately he'd just thought she had a
fever.
    Her
breathing quickened as her fingers worked and she thought about Paul, about how
he’d been kissing her, holding her, touching her.
    She
came with a muffled groan, panting hotly against the pillow and still rubbing
herself urgently, trying to feel all of the pleasure she could.
    When
her body finally relaxed, she stayed sprawled out on her stomach for a long
time.
    Eventually,
though, she felt basically normal again, and she managed to get up, wash her
hands and face, brush her teeth, and go to the bathroom. It was time for bed,
and she was really tired. But she wasn’t really sleepy.
    She
tried to read some Shakespeare in bed. Then she put Shakespeare away and tried
to watch TV. She just couldn’t focus on anything.
    She
pulled out her list. It was half done now but, once the trial was over, she
would need to start working on the remainder of the items on her list. She
tried to decide what she should do next. Finally, she put the list away too and
just lay on her bed, thinking about Paul.
    Nothing
really had changed. He’d still had an agonizing day. He still needed her, and
he was lying in the dark by himself.
    Emily’s
heart ached for him. Finally, at about midnight, she couldn’t stand it anymore.
    Maybe
she would be rejected again, but she’d passed the point of caring. She only had
two more months. She was going to do what she thought was right while she
could.
    So
she walked barefoot through the hall of the apartment and stood in front of the
door to the master bedroom. Her heart racing wildly, she tapped on it lightly.
    “Yes?”
Paul called out immediately. He obviously hadn’t been asleep.
    She
opened the door and stepped in. The lights were off, and the room was lit only
by the flickering light of the television.
    Paul
had been stretched out on his bed, staring at the television screen. When he
saw her, he sat up with a jerk. “Are you all right?”
    “I’m
fine.” She walked over to stand next to his bed. Swallowed hard. “I just…I
didn’t want to be alone. Is it all right if I stay in here with you tonight?”
    Paul
stared at her. He wore what he always wore to bed—just a pair of soft pajama
pants.
    “Just
to sleep,” she added, in case he’d misunderstood. She wasn't trying to jump
him. She just wanted to share his bed.
    She
shook with anxiety and felt like this person couldn’t really be her. She
couldn’t believe she’d just asked Paul Marino if she could sleep with him
tonight.
    “Of
course,” he said, a little hoarsely. “Of course you can.”
    With
a thick exhale, Emily crawled into the king-sized bed beside him, feeling like
she might collapse with relief. “Thank you,” she murmured, pulling the covers
up over her and rolling onto her side to face him. She really wanted to snuggle
up next to him, but she thought that might be pushing it, after what had
happened between them earlier.
    Paul
rolled onto his side to face her too. He reached out to stroke a few strands of
hair off her face. His touch wasn’t intense and hungry now. Just gentle. “Are
you all right, Emily?”
    She
nodded and smiled at him. “I’m fine. I really am. I just felt kind of…lonely.”
She didn’t say it, but she was pretty sure he’d been feeling lonely too. “Are
you all right?”
    “I
am. I’m fine. It’s just been a really long day.” He smiled at her, almost
poignantly, and then rolled over onto his back. He closed his eyes, as if he
were relaxing at last.
    Then
he murmured one more thing, low words she barely heard, words that caused the
tightness in her chest to release at last. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Eight
     
    “You understand that we
have no direct means of