Waking up this morning was extremely strange.  To start things off, I was naked in my boss’s bed.  Secondly, he was naked and we were spooning.  Third…

We were naked and spooning.

I am all for cuddling, especially after having sex as amazing as that was last night.  But…well…I woke up and was suddenly acutely aware of just how naked we were and I just can’t help but think that this is all a little strange.

Justin and I haven’t talked about what this is.  He hasn’t asked me about what I’m thinking or feeling, and I have no idea where he wants any of this to go.  I mean, he’s still sleeping so that might be a little tough at the moment, but I still wish I knew where we stood and what exactly last night meant. 

Am I thinking about all of this too much?

I can’t help but wonder how many other women have been in this exact spot in Justin’s bed thinking the same things that I’m thinking right now.  And I know that I shouldn’t let these things bother me.  It’s just a little hard because I’m awake and he’s sleeping and I have nothing better to do.  I refuse to do the walk of shame by collecting my clothes and leaving before he’s awake.  Plus, I’m pretty sure that he wouldn’t be very happy with me if I did that.

I like Justin.  I truly enjoy his company and he understands me better than a lot of my friends, mostly because we spend so much time together.  He makes me laugh and I trust him.  Those are huge things, especially for relationship…I just…I have no idea why I feel so conflicted about this.  Perhaps it’s because I jumped into bed with him without much thought, but I think it’s mostly because I’m still scared that he’s going to realize that whatever he thought he felt just isn’t there.

I’m having a little bit of a freak out.

My thoughts are broken by Justin’s hand sliding across the bed and over my stomach.

“Mornin’.”  His voice is muffled by the pillow and I squeak out a reply.  His fingers lightly scratch at my stomach as he stretches, flexing and un-flexing his hand.  “Did you sleep OK?  I slept like a rock.”

His grinning face looks up at me and I can’t help but return his smile.  He is quite adorable with bed head.  And I never thought I would think that.  It must be the sex, it’s fogging my brain.

“I slept all right.”  I fidget with my hands as Justin sits up and props himself against the headboard next to me.

“You look too deep in thought, it’s scaring me.”  He grabs my hands to stop me from picking at my nails.  It’s my bad habit.

“I guess I’m just wondering about where this leaves us.”  I know that I should just be enjoying the memories of the sex we had last night, but I can’t sit here and not know.

“It leaves us in my bed.”  He’s joking and I manage a small smile, but I think he can tell I’m not really in a joking mood.  “I have been fantasizing about being with you for more than a month now.  The sex was just a small part of that.  I don’t know how you feel, but I’m hoping that you still being here this morning is a good sign.”

“Oh, I was just hanging around because I hoped you’d make me breakfast before I look off.”  He pretends to look offended and I genuinely laugh this time.  I guess I should have listened to everyone else and not worried so much.  I don’t really think that Justin would sleep with me just for shits and giggles.

“How do you feel about all this, Jude?”  He throws an arm over my shoulder and I gladly snuggle into his warmth. 

“I think I’m in a little bit of shock, or something.  I never expected to find myself in your bed, to be honest.”  I smile up at him, but he looks to be waiting for me to say more.  “I obviously feel something for you, Boss man,” he cringes a little.

“Don’t call me that while we’re lying in my bed together.  It sounds all wrong.”  I chuckle a little.

“What should I call you then, while we’re lying in bed together?”

“Something rugged and manly.  Something that expresses the size of my--”

“Ego?”  I cut him off mid-sentence and he glances down at me, a strange look on his face.

“Not what I was going to say, Jude.  Not even close.”  He places a kiss on my forehead and pulls me closer to him.  “Maybe you can just stick to calling me Justin.”

I start to answer him, but there’s a series of loud knocks on the door before it busts open and Rachel starts to walk in.  I panic, pulling at the sheets and trying to cover myself.  Justin pulls his blanket up over me and angrily questions his cousin.

“Yo, Rach, ever heard of privacy?  Just because you knocked doesn’t mean you can just barge in.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”  Her apology is halfhearted but I don’t really care about that.  I just care about her seeing me in Justin’s bed.  We will never hear the end of this.

Luckily, she’s got a folder up next to her face, covering her view of Justin’s bed.

“Normally I wouldn’t just barge in but Trace needs you to sign these right now.  They’re some papers for Rast and he’s taking off for the office in a minute.  Throw some boxers on and just sign so I can get out of here.”  She stands there, tapping her foot impatiently and Justin thinks for a second before climbing out of bed and grabbing his shorts from the floor.  I take a deep breath, hoping that she’ll leave without seeing me, but I don’t think I’m wishing hard enough.  “These are really cute shoes.”

She uses her toe to point at my heels and when Justin grabs the papers from her she looks over in my direction, “I really like your—Holy shit, Abbey?”

I look over at Justin for help, but he’s just standing there, scratching the back of his head and trying to avoid looking at either one of us.

“Hey Rach.”  It’s weak and lame, I know, but I have no idea what to say to her right now.  I clutch at the blankets a little tighter and hope that this moment is over soon.

“Are you naked?”  She looks at Justin who tries to hand her the papers but she doesn’t take them.  “You’re naked in Justin’s bed and judging by the state of this room I would easily bet my entire salary that you two slept together last night.”

Justin taps Rachel on the head with the freshly signed papers and pushes her toward the door.  “Time to go, Rach, the papers are signed and I’m sure that Trace is waiting.”  He doesn’t give her any more time to gawk at me, making sure to lock the door once he’s pushed her out into the hallway.  “Sorry.”

I’m still clutching the blanket over my chest, afraid that she’s going to come barging in again.  “Justin!”  I hiss.  I cannot believe that she just caught me in his bed.  Not that I was thinking that we would hide this…thing…between us, but I was hoping for a little more time before everyone else found out.  I just know that this news is going to spread like wild fire and I haven’t even had a chance to sort out how I fell about all of this.

“Relax, Jude, everything will be OK.”  He climbs back in to bed and attempts to pull the blankets from my hands, but I keep my fists tightly clenched around the material.  I’m still afraid that someone else is going to walk in on us.  “You know, you could put some clothes on and it would solve the issue of being naked.”

I stick my tongue out at him.  “You’re funny.”  I’m pouting, but I’m really embarrassed.

“C’mon, Jude, I want to take a shower and I would really like you to take one with me.”  He’s successful in yanking the blanket from my hands this time and I jump up, running to the bathroom as fast as I can.  “Hey!”  His voice stops me and I stand in the doorway of the bathroom, using the towel hanging on the back of the door to cover myself.

“What?”

“I didn’t see that tattoo last night.”  His grin is mischievous as he walks toward me.  “Turn around.”

Hesitantly, I turn, blushing as he tugs the towel off of my back so he can look at the ink on my skin.  It’s small, just the word “faith” tattooed on my right lower back, pretty much on my butt.  I put it there so I can easily cover it up with my pants, which I usually do.  His thumb brushes over it a couple of times before he turns me around and pins me up against the door frame.

“That’s hot.”  I don’t have time to respond because his lips are crushed up against mine and I can’t really think of much else at the moment.

~*~

It only took us about twenty minutes to shower, but by the time we got out I had three new texts from Sadie, a message from Trace, and Justin had quite a few texts from Marty.

“It looks like Rachel’s mouth is a hell of a lot bigger than I thought.”  I quip, not sure how I feel about the ‘you go girl’ text from my PA.  I mean, I guess it’s not a big deal that she knows, but I’ve never been a huge fan of people knowing my business.  You’re probably thinking that I picked the wrong profession, I know.

“Took her longer that I was expecting, though.”  Justin’s got an easy smile on his face and I can’t help but wonder how he can be so calm about it all.  In fact, I ask him just that.  “I don’t know, Jude, I guess I’m just used to having Rachel and Trace know everything about me, and I can’t worry about it too much or I’d constantly be going crazy.”  He pulls me against him as I finish putting my hair up into a messy bun.

“I guess.”  I close my eyes and lean my head against his shoulder.  It’s very comforting to be in his arms.

“Besides, they would’ve found out sooner or later.  At least this way we can get their ‘I-told-you-so’s out of the way now.”

“Good point.”  I turn in his arms and smack a kiss on his lips.  “Don’t get used to that, though, there probably won’t be a lot of time that I tell you you’re right.”  I laugh at the shocked look on his face.

“Woman.  You better run.”

I let out a squeal, darting out of the bedroom and down the stairs.  I can hear his footsteps behind me and I can’t stop the giggling that’s coming out of my mouth.  I turn left, heading into the kitchen where I stop short.  Justin crashes into the back of me, using his arms to stop us from falling over.

“Christ, Jude, why’d you stop like that?”  He looks up to see what’s got me stopping in my tracks and I can hear him swallow hard.  “Hi, Mom.”

Lynn is sitting at his kitchen counter, giving us both a look that’s hard to read.  She’s got the news paper in front of her and I wonder how long she’s been here.  I also wonder if Rachel’s gossip train has stopped at her station.

“Justin, Abbey.”  She gives us a small smile and I want to relax but I’m still afraid.  I slept with her son last night.  I did dirty things to him and I liked it.  In fact, I was thinking I might do more dirty things to him right there on that kitchen table she’s got her elbows resting on. 

That certainly won’t be happening any time soon, anymore.

“How long have you been here?”  Justin pushes me a little and we walking the rest of the way into the kitchen, grabbing a seat across from her at the table.

“Not too long, I hear the shower going so I figured I’d wait for you.”  She takes a sip of water and I feel like everything is happening in slow motion.  I just want her to spit it out, already.  I know she wants to comment.  I can see it on her face.  She’s got that look that mother’s get when they know something’s going on.

“Well it’s good to see you.”  He stands up a bit to give her a kiss on the cheek.  I stay silent.  I have no idea what to say.

“So I talked to Rachel, this morning,” she smiles at me and I squirm in my chair.  “She said that your over seas shows went really well.”  Her focus shifts back to Justin.

“Yeah, it was a lot of fun.”  He grabs an apple out of the fruit basket in front of him and takes a bite, chewing before speaking again.  “I’m really glad to be home though.  It’s nice to have some down time.”

“I’ll bet.”  She smiles at me again and I’m about ready to burst.

“I didn’t know it was going to happen!”  I let out in one puff of air.  Both she and Justin throw me strange looks and I can feel the redness moving up my neck and onto my cheeks.

“Jude,”  He warns.

“Didn’t know what was going to happen, Abbey?”  Lynn questions and I can’t tell if she’s playing dumb or she really doesn’t know.

“Uh…nothing, don’t mind me.”  I grab Justin’s apple and shove it in my mouth, hoping to keep myself from saying anything else.  Hey, at least the apple tastes better than the foot I just shoved in there.

“Justin, what’s got Abigail so flustered.”  She pins him down with a stare and he lets out a long sigh.

“We slept together last night, Mom.  I’ve been in love with her for months now and I kissed her the night the tour ended and last night I brought her back here and made love to her.”

I didn’t think it was possible for my face to get even redder, but I know I am.  I sink down in my chair as her gaze lands on me, and I have to cover my face when I see the knowing grin she sends my way.  And why the hell did Justin have to be so open about it?  Really, now, he could’ve just said we hooked up or something…but… ‘made love’???? 

“Is that right?”  Her eyebrow arches perfectly and I take another huge bite of apple.  “I think Abbey’s a little embarrassed by this.”

“Well, I don’t think she was planning on having her dirty laundry spread so quickly.”  She gives him a question gaze and he explains.  “Rachel came into my room this morning with some papers to sign and she caught Abbey in my bed…naked.”

“Oh, so everyone probably knows by now.”

“You mean she didn’t tell you?”  I’ve found my voice again, but my face is still hot.  “I thought for sure you knew.”

She leans back in her chair and I suddenly know where Justin gets his devilish grin from.

“Rachel did not tell me, but I had an idea when I saw my son chasing you down the stairs.  He’s got the ‘I just got laid for the first time in forever’ look on his face.”

“Gee, thanks Mom.”

I sit back in my chair, willing my face to lessen in color.  I can’t believe that this is happening.  If I’d known that everyone would know what’s going on in my sex life only a short while after it happened, I would’ve thought twice about getting into bed with Justin….

Ah hell, who am I kidding?  I still would’ve done it, I just would’ve locked his door first.