by Jodie Larson
“Cheers,” I say.
“Cheers.”
We clink glasses and again I find myself staring at him over the rim of my glass. I study his face as he takes a sip of his wine, watching him savor the flavor in obvious appreciation.
My senses go on overload again as I smell the delicious food he’s made for me. Garlic and basil are the most prominent notes and as if on cue my stomach rumbles loudly. Why does it always do that in front of him? My hands cover my reddening face, trying to hide my embarrassment yet again.
He pulls my hands down from my face, letting his fingers linger just a touch longer. “No hiding from me, ever. You’re hungry. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Part of my job is to take care of you and that’s what I’m doing. Now let me do it.”
I nod because I don’t know what else to do. His smile calms the fear away again and I begin to dig into my food, surprised by how hungry I actually am. And he was right. He’s a wiz in the kitchen. I’ve never had a home cooked meal that tasted this good. Or at least one that was made for me by my date. Before I even blink my plate is picked clean. He laughs as I watch him wipe his mouth off with a napkin.
“Good?” he asks.
“Good? Andrew, it was incredible. I’ve never had a better meal than that. At least one of us knows how to cook. Otherwise, we would be living off of cereal and Macaroni and Cheese.”
He laughs, filling my ears with that sound I love. Then I realize what I just said. Did I just imply that we’ll be living together? Again, a filter would be nice.
The laughter dies down, filling the area with comfortable silence and the hum of expectation. His hand reaches up, freeing a few strands of hair that got caught in my lip, tucking them safely behind my ear. The soft pad of his finger trails down my cheek, down the column of my neck before resting on the space right above my heart.
I nervously swallow, my eyes darting to his. He’s silently pleading with me and I know what he’s going to say before he even says it.
“Stay with me tonight.” His voice is just a whisper as he pulls me closer to him, pulling me onto his lap. His hands run over my body, tracing every line and curve as my own hands rest on his shoulders, keeping me balanced because I fear that I may fall over.
“But I still need to pack.” Why is that the first thing that pops into my brain? An utterly sexy, handsome man who is way out of my league has just asked me to spend the night with him and all I can think about is leaving? There has to be something wrong with me.
“I promise to get you back to your hotel in plenty of time. Besides, I’ll be driving you to Heathrow, remember?”
I nod, a smile forming on my lips. “I remember.”
Andrew’s forehead falls forward, pressing against mine. His lips are inches away from my own. One little shift in our bodies and we’d be kissing.
“Just say that you’ll stay here with me tonight.”
“Yes,” I breathe.
I feel his smile rather than see it because his lips are instantly on mine, kissing me slowly and passionately, giving and not taking. A chill runs across my skin, making it pebble immediately as realization hits. I’m staying here. Tonight. With him. In his bed.
This is it. It’s really going to happen. I’m going to freely give myself to Andrew tonight, something that I’ve never done before. It excites yet scares me, but I know Andrew. He would never do anything to hurt me.
“I’ve imagined you in my bed for the past few days. I’m so glad my dreams will be a reality tonight,” he says in his sexy, low voice.
I squirm on his lap because the low, dull ache that is always present when I’m around him has turned into a full on pulsing throb between my legs. He groans slightly as he places me back on the chair, fishing out his cell phone in the process. It vibrates in his hand and his eyes nervously flick to mine.
“Sorry, I need to take this. It will only be a minute,” he says, accepting the call and then walking away.
Not that I mind him walking away. I could watch him do that all day. Well, not the walking away part. I just want to see his ass flex as he walks because let’s face it, he has a magnificent ass.
I decide to not be a lump this time and start clearing the table, washing the dishes by hand and putting them away. My head lifts and I see him still pacing in the living room, talking in a hushed voice into the phone. My eyes flick to the clock on the stove and wonder who could be calling him at this hour of the night? It’s well after business hours. I shake it off, reminding myself that it’s none of my business.
Andrew walks back into the kitchen as I’m rinsing out the bubbles from the sink. “You didn’t have to do that. I would have done it,” he says, pressing his lips against my neck.
I turn in his arms, wrapping my own around his neck. “I wanted to do it. I wanted to help.”
His lips brush mine before he releases me, a smirk playing across his face. I watch him walk over to his stereo, scrolling through some sort of playlist before tapping the screen and walking back to me. The flat is filled with the sultry sounds of a guitar strumming, followed by the raspy voice of Bryan Adams. Andrew stands in front of me and bows slightly.
“My dearest Tessa, would you do me the honor of this dance?” he asks, holding his hand out to me. My lip disappears between my teeth, suppressing the grin I want to show. My hand falls into his and he pulls me close, our chests touching and faces just inches apart. We sway in small circles around the kitchen to the melody that’s floating in the air.
Once again, I’m thrown by his romantic gestures. Andrew leans forward, pressing our cheeks together. I sigh and wrap my arms around him tighter. His breath is warm against my ear as he sings the lyrics back to me. I always knew his voice was sexy but when he sings, it puts it on a whole other level. If it were possible to lose myself even more in him, I would do it right now, at this moment.
We dance to several more slow songs, each of them having a man declaring his love for a woman. And I’m trying really hard not to read into it but I can’t help it. He said he wants a future with me, that there will be many more tomorrows ahead of us, that I am his. How can I not read it as anything but a declaration of love? He doesn’t have to say it because I know it’s there.
A few more songs pass and he pulls me to the couch. He turns off the stereo and is now crouching in front of his DVD collection.
“Fancy a movie?” he asks, looking at me over his shoulder.
“Sure, I’m game for a movie. What did you have in mind?” I ask, tilting my head slightly.
His fingers run over the movies before pulling two out. He holds them behind his back as he stands in front of me.
“Comedy or action?”
As if that’s a real question for me. “Comedy. Always a comedy.”
He laughs and walks over to the player, placing the disc inside without letting me see which title he’s chosen.
“Do you have any popcorn? We can’t watch a movie without popcorn.”
He turns to me and his eyes are dancing with delight and something else. Something mischievous.
“You are correct. We cannot have a movie without popcorn. Would you like anything to drink, love? More wine?”
He walks over to the kitchen and starts making a bag of microwave popcorn. The buttery aroma fills the air as I think about my drink options.
“Actually do you have a Diet Coke?”
He nods his head and pulls out a diet and regular Coke from the refrigerator. Grabbing the bag out of the microwave, he dumps the contents into a bowl and walks back over to the couch, handing me my soda before placing the bowl on the table in front of us.
“Thank you,” I say, popping the top and taking that coveted first sip. He drapes his arm over my shoulder, pulling me into his side as he turns on the TV, but not before he hit play. Apparently I need to be surprised at his choice.
“So what are we watching?”
He winks at me. “Just some good old fashioned British comedy.”
Part of
me wants to groan because I’m afraid of what that could be however the other part of me lights up immediately as the opening credits roll across the screen.
“Oh my God I love this movie! It’s one of my all time favorites,” I say, practically bouncing on top of him. His lips find my temple and he smiles.
“You seemed like a Monty girl so I figured this would be a good choice.”
There’s no way that he could have known how much I adore this movie. I snuggle in close to his side, linking my hand with the one that’s draped over my shoulder. And, of course, we’re instantly in stitches just from the opening credits. It kills me every time I read the part about the llamas. Just sheer comedy gold.
We recite almost every line in the movie, throwing popcorn at each other’s mouths, missing the vast majority of the time. It’s fun and easy, just sitting here and watching a movie while eating popcorn. I’ve never done this with someone before, outside of Kara and our chick flick marathons that we have. But this is different. And it’s because of Andrew.
When the movie ends, we’re both clutching our stomachs, still laughing at each other and at the movie.
“The rabbit part at the end kills me every time,” I say, wiping another tear from my eye.
“Do you want to watch another movie or do you wish to do something else?”
His fingers brush away the hair from my face and his touch stirs something deep inside me again. He’s still cupping my jaw while his thumb brushes a lazy pattern against my cheek. My breath quickens and my palms feel clammy. And then everything south of my navel contracts as something flares in his eyes.
I crawl onto his lap, placing my knees on either side of his hips. He steadies me over him and I reach up to thread my fingers through his hair. My face dips down and I kiss him, softly, just like he does to me. His hands travel up my back before linking around my neck, anchoring me to him. I open my mouth, allowing his tongue to find mine, taking long deep licks inside my mouth.
I arch my back toward him, pressing my breasts into the hard muscles of his chest. Another groan escapes him, allowing me to swallow it with my own. Heat flashes through my veins as I gently rock against him, seeking him out and gasping when I make my connection.
He wants me.
He pulls back, panting slightly as he looks deep into my eyes, searching for an answer to a question he doesn’t need to ask. It’s already been decided.
“I want you, Tessa. Are you sure about this?”
My eyes dart back and forth, burning his face into my memory because I want to remember every little detail of this moment for the rest of my life. The way he looks with his hair all mussed up after my fingers have been pulling at it. The way his eyes are dilated with need and desire for me. The way his mouth is slightly gapped open as he drags precious air back into his lungs. The way his chest rises and falls as he pulls in that precious air, causing my breasts to move with him. His hands have a firm grip on my hips before they slowly run over and cup my behind, pulling me toward him again to elicit another moan from the both of us.
“Take me to bed, Andrew,” I whisper.
He slants his lips over mine once more before standing up with me still wrapped around him. He walks us down the hall to his room, carrying me with ease. My heart beats wildly inside my chest only I’m not scared anymore. No, scared is definitely not in my vocabulary right now. Desire, lust, want, need. Those are all I’m feeling right now. And as he kicks the door closed behind him I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I’m exactly where I need to be.
ANDREW LAYS ME DOWN ON his massive bed, gently crawling over me, resting his weight on his forearms as he hovers above me. He brushes away a few stray tendrils of hair from my face before his lips brush mine again.
“I have dreamt of this moment ever since I first saw your beautiful face. But I need to know, are you sure about this? You know we don’t have to.”
I reach up, gently laying my index finger across his lips to silence him. “Now who’s talking too much. I know you’re concerned about my past and how it may affect me now. Please don’t let that get between us. I want you. I’ve never wanted anybody or anything as much as I do right now.”
My hands frame his beautiful face. I need to reassure him that this is what I want, what I need. Andrew is my future. He’s who I choose. He is who I want to give myself to in every way. Tonight, tomorrow, and every day after.
The smile he gives me has me melting into a puddle again as his lips seek out mine, taking his time to savor me as my body molds into his. His hand travels down my side and his touch sends another round of tingles throughout my body. A soft moan escapes my lips as he moves to my neck, biting and sucking a trail down the column of my throat, stopping to twirl his tongue at the dip in the base. My hands don’t know where to go so I just roam over every inch of him I can. I grab his hair, claw at his shoulders, then trail my fingers down to his biceps and holding on to them tightly.
Andrew drags his finger between my breasts, trailing them around each one, causing my nipples to tighten into hard little buds. “So beautiful,” he whispers, kissing my neck. “The most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”
“Andrew.”
He drags my shirt over my head, tossing it to the side. His eyes roam over the newly exposed flesh, followed by his fingers at a leisurely pace. They trace over the slope of my breast where it meets my bra before dipping inside, brushing up against my hardened nipple. I close my eyes tight and unabashedly moan at the contact. My body is wound up so tight I feel like it could snap at any moment. I don’t think I’ve ever been this turned on in my life and yet I know it’s because of Andrew and what he does to me. It’s how he makes me feel and how I feel about him in return.
With shaky fingers, I reach up and start unbuttoning his shirt, concentrating hard on threading each one through the hole. He stills my hand, covering it with his.
“Love, are you alright? You’re shaking.”
He sits up, dragging me with him. My eyes stay cast downward, embarrassed that I can’t pull myself together to get even this one thing right. I’m not nervous, but I can’t stop shaking. I wish I could control my body a little more because I want this so much.
Andrew cups my cheek, gently raising my face to look at him. His bright blue eyes are almost completely hidden by his now dilated pupils. The fire I usually see within them is burning so bright that it calms my shaking hand. He traces my face with his eyes as if he’s attempting to memorize it. But I crave his eyes upon me. It’s like an aphrodisiac that I cannot resist. He looks at me with such admiration that I’m almost addicted to it like a junkie needing their next hit.
I blow out a soft breath and will my body to settle down. “I know. It’s just, I want this so bad and I’m afraid that I’m not going to be any good at it. I don’t want to disappoint you. I mean, I have zero experience in this department. Plus I’m damaged and broken. I just . . .” is all I can make out before his mouth comes crashing down upon mine. My hands rest against his hard chest as he pulls me closer to him.
“You’re talking too much again,” he whispers against my lips. “You are perfect to me and there is nothing that you could do that would disappoint me.” He grabs a lock of my hair, running it through his fingers before tucking it behind my ear. My eyes close and I hum with pleasure as his skin makes contact with the shell of my ear. “We’ll go slowly, at your pace. We have all night, love. This is about you and letting me take care of you, whatever your needs may be.”
His words give me a renewed confidence in myself that I’m in control of what happens to us, something that was taken from me in my previous encounters. He wants to please me and I want nothing more than to please him.
I lean forward, closing the small gap between us and press my lips softly against his. My fingers move back to the buttons on his shirt, easily threading them through the holes this time. Once the last button is undone, I gently push it off his shoulders, giving me my first real glimpse of his body. I
break away from his mouth so I can admire it fully as I trace over each line of toned muscle. A groan erupts out of his throat as my fingers play along his torso.
His eyes meet mine as he cups my face, pulling my attention back to him. “Tessa,” he growls out. I love the way he says my name, how it rolls off his tongue, dripping with desire, causing my own wetness to increase between my legs.
Andrew lays me back down on the bed, his body half on mine, half on the mattress. His hand brushes my stomach and my muscles clench with need. I want more of his touch. I want more of everything he has to give me. My hands do their own wandering on his stomach, tracing that delicious six pack of his, skirting around the waistband of his jeans. With a roll of his hips, his erection presses into my side, showing me just how much he wants me.
He pops open the button of my jeans, slowly pushing them over my hips. His lips leave mine, dragging them slowly down the center of my body. He pulls my jeans off my legs, throwing them next to my discarded shirt. My fingers move to his belt, unbuckling it with ease and dexterity that I didn’t know I possessed. I free him from his jeans, sliding them down his legs, using my feet to pull them completely off his body. He gives a slight chuckle and smiles against the skin at my stomach.
“You’re better at this than you think, love.”
I flush at his compliment, letting my own giggle fill the room. He silences it quickly as his lips move to the waistband of my panties, running his tongue along the edge. My fingers twist in his hair as my legs fall to the side, opening myself up for him.
His warm breath hits the small cotton panel separating me from him, causing my hips to move involuntarily. He runs his nose down the center and my breath hitches in my chest.
“You smell so good Tessa. I could spend days just inhaling your sweet scent.”
Oh. My. God.
He loops his thumbs into the waistband, dragging the scrap of material down my legs, setting me completely free. His eyes light up the room with a passion so hot that it burns into my very soul as he looks up from between my legs. He climbs back up my body, reaching around behind me to unclasp my bra, setting my breasts free.
