The Day After Glow

Shane’s POV

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

My hand reaches for my phone on instinct, but I can’t move.

There’s a soft, warm weight pressed against my chest.

I crack one eye open and look down.

Maya.

Still sprawled on top of me, naked, peaceful, completely out of it. Soft snores slipping from her lips like she doesn’t have a care in the world. The alarm keeps going and she doesn’t even flinch.

I smile before I can stop myself.

I slide my hand over her back, slow and gentle, tracing the curve of her spine. I kiss the top of her head, push her hair away from her face.

Nothing.

She’s gone.

And honestly… I get it.

We probably passed out an hour, maybe an hour and a half ago, but before that short sleeping window, we absolutely abused that suite. The bed. The floor. The wall. The shower. The bathroom counter.

Every inch of that room knows our names.

I’ve never fucked anyone like that before in my life.

Sex has never felt like that either.

Something about Maya unlocked something feral in me. Something hungry. Something that didn’t want permission or an apology.

And right now, with her lovely breast laying on my chest, I could go again.

But I don’t.

I let her sleep.

I tap her shoulder lightly, lean down, whisper in her ear while rubbing her back.

“Maya… I gotta go.”

“Mm-hmm,” she murmurs.

“Maya.”

She growls this time. “What?”

“Baby. I gotta go.”

She exhales, yawns, rolls onto her side. “Okay…”

I slide out of the bed and stand there for a second, just breathing.

“I’m gonna take a quick shower,” I tell her. “And I need your number before I leave.”

“Mm-hmm. I’ll give it to you,” she mumbles, and immediately starts snoring again.

I laugh under my breath and head to the bathroom.

I have a quick shower. Use the hotel toothbrush. Run cold water on my face.

I skip the undershirt, I used that thing more times than I care to admit for a cleaning rag. My button up shirt goes on, but I don’t bother buttoning it. Jacket over my arm. Pants on, underwear in pocket, watch on, I have my wallet and phone.

I sit on the edge of the bed and lean down, kiss her lips softly.

She moves them back without opening her eyes.

I chuckle. “I need your number, babe.”

She cracks one eye open, takes my phone from my hand, types it in. Saves herself as M.

She calls her own phone, hangs up, hands mine back, then winks.

“You staying here?” I ask.

“Yeah. I got the late checkout so I’ll leave tonight.”

“When can I call you?”

She stretches, yawns again. “Eight or nine. I’ll be well rested by then… because you definitely worked me out.”

I laugh. “That’s a first.”

“Oh really?” she says, smirking.

“You brought something out of me,” I admit. “So… thank you.”

I kiss her again, slower this time. Deeper and dangerous.

She grabs my face like she’s about to pull me right back in.

I break it. Barely.

“Nope. You need rest. We can meet up tomorrow. After work.”

She tilts her head. “I’ll think about it. I have my daughter.”

“Fair enough.”

One more quick kiss.

“I’m gone.”

“Talk to you later,” she says, already sinking back into the mattress.

I grab my things, leave my tie tangled in her dress, and walk out.

Back to reality.

Back to the domicile of the damned, known as my house.

As I drive, the high starts to fade just enough for the thoughts to creep in.

The kids.

Isla.

And the question I can’t ignore.

Is this what Isla felt with Marco?

That pull. That gravity. That feeling of being wanted so badly you stop thinking straight.

Maybe.

But I still think her situation was different. That meltdown she had when Sade was pregnant, there was hatred there, jealousy, and hurt.

I think Marco was collateral damage.

For me?

This wasn’t revenge.

This was a need.

Release, mental, emotional, and physical.

And yeah, men feel that shit too.

We want to be wanted, desired, and chosen.

That doesn’t make us weak. It makes us human.

I turn onto my block and smile without meaning to.

I had a good time.

A really good time.

Went to a beautiful wedding. Had good energy, met an amazing woman.

And it wasn’t meaningless.

I didn’t even realize how much I’d been missing that part of myself until it showed up and demanded attention.

I park, grab my clothes, and walk inside.

No kids.

So she didn’t pick them up yet.

Her car’s still outside.

Maybe she’s waiting on me because I had the van.

I head to my room, drop everything on the bed, change into clean clothes. Joggers, fresh undershirt, T-shirt, and socks.

That’s when the front door slams.

Heavy footsteps. Moving fast and angry.

She stops in my doorway.

I don’t look up at first.

“Good morning.”

Silence.

I finish tying my shoes and finally look at her.

“So… are you getting the kids, or am I?”

Hands on her hips. Jaw tight.

“I’m not repeating myself,” I add calmly.

“So you stayed out all night?” she snaps.

I smile. “Please don’t ask questions you already know the answer to.”

I toss my clothes in the hampers, one for dry cleaning, one for the wash.

Then I say it.

“If you look on the dresser, my wedding band’s there.”

Her mouth drops.

“You know where I stand. And you know this needs to be worked out, apart.”

I squeeze past her.

“I’m getting the kids. Taking them to breakfast. We’ll talk later.”

“Shane, what the fuck are you talking about?!”

“I’m not talking,” I reply calmly. “You’re assuming.”

I pause at the door.

“Yes, I stayed out. Yes, I enjoyed myself. No, I don’t regret it. And no, I don’t care what you think.”

I turn back.

“You didn’t care what I thought. And now I understand why.”

“Have a good day, Isla.”

She doesn’t move.

I smirk, walk out, and climb into the minivan.

Yeah… I’m trading this thing in.

I’m not a soccer mom. I’m a grown man.

Maybe a truck. Maybe a Defender.

Time to upgrade.

I laugh to myself as I pull away.

Later, at my mom’s house, she opens the door and frowns.

“What are you doing here?”

“Getting my kids.”

“I thought their mother was coming.”

“No.”

She studies me. “You look… good. Bright. Like your aura’s shining.”

I laugh and hug her.

“Mom, I love you.”

She looks at me closely. “I haven’t seen you this happy since you got married.”

I spin her around playfully as the kids run in laughing.

And for the first time in a long time, I think...

Yeah.

Today might actually be a great day.