Chapter 289
**Sara**
Tom rolled off me, pulling me against his chest as we caught our breath. His heart thundered under my ear, matching my own racing pulse. I traced lazy patterns on his skin, enjoying how his muscles twitched under my touch.
"You okay?" he murmured, kissing my temple.
"Mmm." I snuggled closer, breathing in his scent. A week. He'd be gone for a whole week in Australia. The thought made my chest tight in a way I wasn't ready to examine too closely.
Sure, we joked about missing each other, but underneath all that teasing... God, when did I become this person? This clingy, needy woman who couldn't handle her boyfriend being away for a few days?
Not that he was really my boyfriend. I mean, yeah, we'd said the word earlier, but in the heat of the moment, it didn't count, right?
"I can hear you thinking." Tom's fingers trailed up and down my spine. "What's going on in that beautiful head of yours?"
"Nothing." I pressed my face into his chest, hoping he couldn't feel the heat in my cheeks.
"Liar." He tickled my side, making me squeal. "Come on, spill."
"Stop!" I squirmed away from his fingers, laughing. "I told you, it's nothing. Just thinking about work stuff."
"Work stuff?" His eyebrows shot up. "Must be some pretty intense spreadsheets to make you blush like that."
"Shut up." I smacked his chest. "Maybe I'm thinking about all the wild parties I'm going to throw while you're gone."
Tom pulled me closer, his chest rumbling with laughter. "You're such a terrible liar. That nose scrunch gives you away every time."
"For the last time, I do not-" I caught myself mid-scrunch and buried my face in his chest. "I hate you."
"No, you don't." His fingers traced patterns on my back. "So what are you really planning while I'm suffering through meetings in Australia?"
I propped my chin on his chest, looking up at him. "Well, unlike some people who get to gallivant across continents, I have actual responsibilities. I already told you Mom's been nagging me to visit, so I'll probably spend Sunday at their place."
"Thrilling."
"Hey, my mom's cooking is worth it. And I promised Claire we'd catch up - she's dying to hear about the new job." I shifted to get more comfortable against him. "Between the mountain of work at the office and trying to learn everyone's names, I've barely had time to breathe."
Tom's fingers traced lazy circles on my shoulder. "Sounds like you forgot one very important thing in that busy schedule of yours."
"Did I?" I frowned, mentally running through my to-do list. "I'm pretty sure I covered everything."
"Not even close." He tugged at a strand of my hair. "You forgot about missing your devastatingly handsome professor."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. Your ego's big enough without me feeding it."
"So you won't miss me at all?" His lower lip jutted out in an exaggerated pout. "Not even a tiny bit?"
"Nope." I popped the 'p', fighting back a smile. "I'll be too busy enjoying having the whole bed to myself."
Tom's eyebrows shot up. "Alright then. Have the whole bed to yourself and forget all about me." He clutched his chest dramatically. "I'll just suffer alone in my hotel room, thousands of miles away, thinking about how you're sprawled across my Egyptian cotton sheets without a care in the world."
"That's the plan." I stretched out like a cat, taking up as much space as possible. "Finally, no one stealing all the blankets or waking me up at ungodly hours."
"I do not steal blankets." He looked genuinely offended. "And those 'ungodly hours' are called making the most of our mornings."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, blanket thief."
Tom shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. "Want some wine? Might help you cope with all this newfound freedom you're so excited about."
"Mm, wine sounds perfect."
He rolled out of bed, grabbing his robe from the hook on the door. I definitely didn't stare at his ass as he walked out.
A few minutes later, he returned with a bottle of red and two glasses, looking unfairly good in that black silk robe.
He poured generously, handed me a glass, and settled back on the bed beside me.
"To having the whole bed to yourself," he toasted, clinking his glass against mine.
I took a sip, savoring the rich flavor. "This is good."
"Of course it is. I have excellent taste." He winked at me. "In wine and women."
"Smooth talker." I nudged him with my foot. "But flattery won't make me miss you anymore while you're gone."
Tom took a slow sip of his wine, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, we'll see about that."
I raised an eyebrow, pulling the sheets up higher. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing." He stretched out beside me, looking far too pleased with himself. "Just that I might have arranged for flowers to be delivered to your office. Every day, I'm gone."
"You didn't."
"I did." He grinned. "With increasingly ridiculous cards attached."
"Tom!" I smacked his arm. "Everyone's going to think-"
"That you have an incredibly thoughtful almost-boyfriend who misses you?" He caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. "The horror."
I tried to glare at him but failed miserably. "You're impossible."
He swirled his wine, suddenly looking contemplative. "This business event in Australia is going to be huge. People flying in from all over - Japan, Europe, America. Lots of networking opportunities."
"That's good, right?"
"Mm." He took another sip. "Who knows? Might even meet a nice Australian woman. Or maybe a French heiress. Dad would love that."
I choked on my wine. "What?"
"Or maybe a Russian oligarch's daughter. Though that might be complicated with current politics-"
"Thomas Blackwood!" I sat up straight, wine sloshing dangerously in my glass. "Are you seriously sitting here, in your bed, with me naked next to you, talking about meeting other women?"
His lips twitched. "Well, you did say you wouldn't miss me..."
I narrowed my eyes. "You're messing with me."
"Am I?" He widened his eyes innocently. "I mean, you'll be too busy enjoying your space and not missing me at all, so-"
I set my wine glass down with deliberate care. "Keep talking. See what happens."
"Is that a threat, Miss Parker?"
"That's a promise, Professor."
Tom's grin widened. "You know, jealousy looks good on you."
"I am not jealous!" I grabbed a pillow and whacked him with it. "I'm just concerned about your terrible life choices."
He caught the pillow, laughing. "My terrible life choices led me to you, didn't they?"
"Oh, so now I'm a terrible life choice?"
"The best terrible decision I've ever made." He pulled me close, his lips brushing my ear. "And for the record? The only woman I'm interested in meeting in Australia is the barista who'll keep me caffeinated enough to survive endless meetings while I count down the days until I can come home to you."
My heart did a little flip at the word 'home.' "Smooth talker," I mumbled against his chest.
"Always." He kissed the top of my head. "Though I might need you to give me a reason to hurry back."
I pulled back to look at him. "What happened to all those exciting international women?"
"Please." He rolled his eyes. "Like anyone could compare to my brilliant, beautiful, definitely-not-jealous Sara."
"Still not jealous."
"No?" His hand slid down my back. "So if I told you about this Swedish model who's attending the conference-"
I silenced him with a kiss. "Shut up."
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