48: Negotiations

It was dark in her room when Evelyn awakened. Inhaling deeply, she breathed the warm tobacco-y scent surrounding her. Rubbing her cheek over Andrew’s chest, she let the light sprinkling of fine hair there tickle her, then pressed a soft kiss into his warm flesh. It earned her a pleased sigh of relaxation as reward.

Careful not to wake him, she slipped from the circle of his sheltering arms and from underneath the thin blanket he’d thrown over them. She perched on the side of the bed.

Dear God, I’m exhausted. She had no idea what time it was, but over the low drone of the fans even the street noise had diminished enough that she could hear the pitter-patter of light rain. In the dim light from the open window, she could see the trail of their clothes leading out of the bedroom and smiled.

Forcing herself to her feet, she collected their discarded garments. She did her best to brush out the