Looking down at the shirt, “Thanks.” I said smiling as I crawled up under the covers giving him a view of my rear. I would thank myself for small miracles in the morning that I still had my panties on.
“I should get going.” He said picking his jacket up off the floor, putting it on and covering up his drool worthy six pack.
“No. Don’t go. I don’t want to be alone tonight. I haven’t slept more than a couple of hours in days.” I complained looking at his over 6 foot stature towering above my bed.
“Okay. Well I’ll just be outside of the door.”
Sitting up in a panic, “No. Here. “ I said smiling and patting the bed beside me. Giving me a tortured look he peeled back off his jacket and kicked his boots off. Crawling into the bed beside me I cuddled up close to his side. His body was tense and I couldn’t understand why. Although at this stage of intoxication I could understand very little. Slinging my arm across his warm, solid wash board abs I relished the moment. I imagined not to many lucky women got to have the amazement of Ian in their bed. That lonely feeling started to wash over me again and I didn’t know what I was doing until my lips went to his neck kissing him softly.
His head tilted back and his eyes squeezed closed like he was in pain, “Lizzy you are drunk.” Trying desperately not to take advantage of this stunning woman laying beside him. Trying desperately to remember his resolve about not wanting to be the rebound guy. Or the second pick to his brother, or even a hazy drunken night of regret for her. He wanted the first time with her to be perfection. To leave her wanting more, to reach out to him again and again. He knew one taste of her would never be enough for him and he wanted her to feel the same way.
Pulling away and looking into his face, “I want you. Don’t you want me?” I asked with a pout on my face.
His hand coming up to my cheek, “Oh angel you have no idea.”
Crawling up onto his solid body, it was all I could do to keep my balance as I sprawled out on top of him pressing firmly against him. This wasn’t like me, I never initiated anything and at the moment I had no idea what was giving me such bravery. Pressing my lips down to his, they were stiff at first, not opening until I wound my fingers into his hair gripping him tightly. His restraint cracking his arms circled around me slowly, inching up under his t-shirt that I now wore onto my bare back. His tongue dipping into my mouth, I didn’t need much encouragement in the state I was in. Lifting his baggy t-shirt up over my head I smashed my lips back down on his as my chest came down onto his. Bare skin against bare skin. His whimper resounded into my mouth in which only succeeded in making me want more. His hands were hot on my skin and I didn’t know if it was the alcohol making me start to sweat or his body laying against mine. Drunk or not, I didn’t want this moment to end. I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to take it to the next level but I knew I didn’t want it to stop either.
His phone going off in his pants pocket he pulled himself away from my lips, “I should get this.” He said trying to calm himself down as he fished it out of his pocket. As soon as he pulled it out of his jeans I grabbed it out of his hands and threw it across the room, thumping against the wall and falling onto the carpet.
Looking at me with shock in his eyes, my mouth went hungry back down onto his and at that moment I felt his control snap. His arms winding around me tightly he rolled me over coming down on top of me. Forcing my eyes open, I wanted to see his stunning blue eyes as he looked down upon me. His hands working up to my chest he pulled away and looked down at me breathing heavily.
“Who am I Lizzy? I want to know that you’re not so drunk that you don’t know who you’re kissing.”
Smiling up at him, I couldn’t figure out in my clouded mind why he was being so ridiculous. Placing his hands back on me I reached up for him again trying to place a kiss on his neck.
“Lizzy. My name.” Flopping back down onto the bed in confusion.
“Ian.” I whispered softly looking into his blazing blue eyes. His lips crushing back down on mine I must have said the magic word. The passion was back in his kiss and his hands were all over my body in a frenzy. If it wasn’t for the air he was breathing back into me I was sure I would suffocate at that moment. His phone started to ring again and this time he didn’t falter as it continued to ring to his voice mail. I knew we were about to reach that next level, the one you could never come back from. My heart growing scared of getting hurt again, a moment of clarity worked it’s way through the drunken haze and I started shaking with fear. This man could hurt me so much more than Craig ever could. I knew at that moment I was falling deeply and hopelessly in love with him. Feeling my body start to shake he pulled away from me, his blue eyes hooded, trying to maintain control of himself.
“Whats wrong?” He whispered a breath away from my face, holding his body weight up onto his arms.
“I’m scared.” I whispered back not wanting to give him any more of an explanation than that.
Giving me a soft kiss on the nose he smiled at me, “No need to be scared Lizzy. I won’t hurt you.”
His definition of hurt and mine I was sure was quite different. I was more worried about the emotional hurt, not the physical. I knew Ian would never physically hurt me or any woman.
Smiling back up at him, “I know.” His lips came back down on mine and this time it was softer and more careful. His hands no longer moved across my body and I was worried in two words I ruined the heat that was between us. Pulling away from him again, “Ian I didn’t mean that kind of scared. You’re hands and kisses don’t scare me.” I said looking up into his confused face.
“What did you mean then Lizzy?”
Shaking my head, “I don’t know.” I lied looking off towards the window. I had forgotten to draw the shade and if anyone was up high enough they were getting quite a show.
He knew she was lying but he wasn’t about to take her in this capacity. His resolve trickling back into his body it took all the strength he had to roll of f her perfect curves onto his back beside her. Reaching for his t-shirt discarded on the floor, he draped it over her bare chest and tried to banish the images from his head. He swore under his breath because he had never been so worked up in his life. Who is this girl? If he believed in witch craft he could swear she put a spell over him. Never before has a woman made him lose so much grip even over his own body. Her breathing evening out next to him, she was fighting to keep her eyes open. “When was the last time you slept all night?” He asked adjusting his jeans painfully.
“I don’t remember.” I said groggy, turning my body into his holding his shirt tight against my breasts. Turning to his side, he wrapped his arms around me putting his arm under my neck. I rested my head close to his shoulder still unsatisfied. Breathing in his scent, I curled in tighter my face now touching his hard chest. Now fully content, I still fought closing my eyes.
Kissing the top of my head, “Sleep now honey. Just sleep. I won’t let anyone get to you. No one will hurt you.” Closing my eyes, those were the last words I heard before falling into the deepest sleep I had been in for weeks. Sleeping even better than I did with Craig, understandably. Ian made me feel safe, unlike anyone I had ever met before.
He laid awake for a few more hours, insomnia always getting the best of him he rarely was able to sleep without medication in his body. Since he hated taking any medication, he rarely slept. He was used to it and this night he revealed in appreciation over his insomnia instead. If ever there was a time it came in handy, it was this time. He knew this moment would end when she woke up and came to her complete senses. She would probably be embarrassed and he knew she would probably hide from him until he sought her out again. So as for now he was holding her tight, staring down into her beautiful face, her cleavage just popping up from under his t-shirt still pressed tightly in between their bodies. How he wished he could fast forward into the future to see if there would be more nights like this, or if she would choose someone else. The very thought of picturing her with his brother or a
nyone else for that matter sent anger shooting through his body. He no longer wanted to stand back idle and let her make her decision. His mind and his heart fighting that war. He knew however, if he never wanted those doubts he had to stand back and see who she gravitated to. Who she would choose to be with. He knew his brother. His brother wasn’t going to wait around to find out. That was just as well, if she fell for his sweet talk and advances, then that wasn’t the woman for him.
He was pretty sure he dozed off for a couple of hours, opening his eyes the clock read 5 a.m. and she had not moved an inch from the last time he was coherent. His side was absolutely killing him from not moving, but he wasn’t about to move away. Not yet. He would lay here until her eyes opened up and deal with the awkwardness that was sure to ensue. No longer kids in high school he was falling for the woman lying next to him. That fact making him shiver with apprehension. It was scary enough falling for another person, but to be in this situation made it that much worse. He continued to hold her tight until her eyes fluttered open at eight, looking at me confused at first he could see the the realization of the nights events dawn upon her. Her face flushing red, she sat up to fast and squealed when the shirt fell from her chest. Unlucky for me the only thing I could see was her back. It didn’t matter I got quite the view last night.
Putting my hand to my forehead I held his shirt over myself tightly, “Owe, my head is killing me.” I said embarrassment rolling from every pore of my body. Looking back at Ian, he was now propped up on his elbows looking at me with a slight smirk on his face. “How badly did I embarrass myself Ian?”
“You didn’t.” Shaking his head and saying nothing more.
Looking down at my mostly naked self, the memory of his lips on mine, his body against mine came back to me in a flash of images. One being of his tanned, toned body against mine. Heat flushing my cheeks once again. “I just stripped down right in front of you last night didn’t I?” I wasn’t sure why I was asking. I guess I was just begging for more punishment.
“Yes you did.” He said still laying behind me. The smirk replaced with hunger in his eyes as they swung to my bare back.
“Is this what all hangovers feel like?” I asked staring forward again at the wall.
“Depends. How do you feel?”
“Like death warmed over. A pounding headache, the room spinning a bit. Nausea nipping at my insides.”
Chuckling, his lips curved up into a smile, “Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.”
Falling back beside him I threw the pillow over my head, “I’m never getting drunk ever again.” I muffled out through the pillow.
“Say again?” Ian asked removing the pillow from her face. Even now, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.
“Never getting drunk again. Shit!” I said sitting up again way to fast again. “Craig. He was at the bar last night.” The realization striking me in the gut.
“Yes he was.”
“You showed up. How did you know?” Asking in amazement that he was able to come to my rescue, yet again.
“George swiped your phone and called the last number that called you. Which happened to be me.” He said with a note of a question to the statement.
Shaking my head and regretting it instantly, “I’m so sorry Ian. I’m sorry I haven’t called.” Trying to think of any reason to tell him other than the truth.
“It’s fine. I was worried however. Looks like I had good reason to be.”
Hanging my head in shame, “Yeah I guess you had good reason to be.” Remembering Craig pawing at me, eventually throwing me over his shoulder. Who knows where I would be right now if Ian hadn’t showed up stop him again. “I just want to say…”
“No, don’t thank me or apologize. You mean more to me now than a mere encounter.” He said unable to say more.
Turning and looking at him as he stared back at me I wanted so badly to lay back down on top of this man and kiss him again. Show him that last night my true desires came to the surface, that it had nothing to do with being drunk. Biting my tongue instead I turned again and nicely asked him to get my robe out of the closet.
“Sure.”
He said taking long strides across the room, coming into my vision. Wanting desperately to give him his t-shirt back for the simple fact that I couldn’t control myself much longer with a shirtless Ian laying in my bed. Handing me my robe he slowly walked over to the wall and picked up his cell phone. I didn’t think I could take much more embarrassment, I was wrong. Now the images of me tossing his phone against the wall coming back hazy into my head. Turning and looking up at me as he walked back I still held the robe in my lap.
“What’s wrong?” He asked walking back up to me confused.
“I did that didn’t I? I hope I didn’t break it.” I said now literally dying of embarrassment.
For the first time this morning his lips went up into a genuine smile, “No. You didn’t break it. You have a pretty good arm though.” He said flipping it on. Now laughing at the look of terror on my face. “Relax Lizzy. I don’t remember you playing ball in school, maybe you should have.” He said poking fun at me again. This time he got a smile out of me and his face lit up again as he looked in mine.
“This may not be an appropriate time to mention this, seeing that I’m still half-naked.” Still clutching his t-shirt tightly to my chest I continued on. “I may not look like I’m on steady ground, but I would really like that dinner you talked about Ian. Not right this second of course but soon.” I said looking up at him, mustering all the courage I had.
This was the last thing he expected. He was waiting to get kicked out immediately, not being questioned about a date. His heart beating back to life. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
“I mean yeah. It’s dinner. I’m not going to pretend that I’m ready for anything more because I just don’t know. But I do know that I want to have dinner. With you.” Looking up at him expectantly, he just stood staring at me. “I mean we already got the first kiss out of the way so we don’t have to worry about that.” Now fidgeting with the robe in my lap.
Laughing he sat down beside me on the bed, “How about tonight?”
Smiling, “Sure. How long does a hangover last again?”
Standing and putting on his jacket, “I recommend a couple Tylenol and some rest.”
“Hold on and I’ll give you your shirt.” I said grabbing for my robe.
Leaning down and kissing me on the cheek and leaning into my ear, “It looks better on you.” Zipping up his jacket to over his bare chest you could barely hear pans clanking around in the kitchen. “I’ll pick you up at six tonight?”
Shaking my head, “Yes. Sounds great.”
Leaning down and slipping on his boots he laced them up quickly and I enjoyed the view from the back. Leaning in and giving me another kiss on the cheek, “See you tonight beautiful.”
Chapter Eight
Watching him walk out of the bedroom door I didn’t drop the shirt until I heard my apartment door open and shut. I don’t know why all of a sudden I was so shy, it was painfully obvious that he got an eyeful of the girls. I vaguely remember him getting a handful also. Mortified at the thought but excited all at the same time. Putting my robe on I brought the shirt up to my face smelling the scent of Ian taking me back to last night all over again.
Ian thought he could make it out of the back door in the kitchen without being seen, he was wrong.
“Ian honey. How are you?” Mrs. Taylor said walking quickly in his direction.
“Always good to see you. I’m fine and you?” Now standing in front of me she looked up at me with a knowing smile.
“Oh I’m just fine. I see you and Lizzy are getting along good. That makes me so happy, she’s such a special girl. One of a kind she is.”
“You don’t have to tell me that.” He said no longer having to fake a smile.
Patting me on the arm, “And we all know how one of a kind Ian Walker is. You turned out to be such a
handsome, polite young man. You really do need to stop by for lunch more often.”
Smiling in agreement, “I will Mrs. Taylor.” Making me feel like that ten year old boy again. “I’ll be picking up Lizzy tonight. Do you mind if I come in through the back door?”
“Oh dear, I don’t mind at all. You are one of the few young men that I trust. I will just let my cooks know that you may be coming and going from time to time.” She said with a hopeful look on her face.
“Thank you ma’am. I should get going I have a lot of work to get caught up on today.” Turning to walk away.
“Oh sure dear. Here have a couple of donuts.” She said boxing them up and placing them in my hands.
“Thank you.” Grabbing them and walking out before she could pump me for any more information. She was a nice lady but she did help fuel the gossip mill around town and this was going to get around rather quickly.
Laying back into the bed I waited and watched until I saw Ian walk out onto the sidewalk and down the street climbing into his truck. I could see the women stop and stare when he walked by and I hardly blamed them. It still made the jealousy boil up into my stomach and I knew I had no right. Leaning back onto my pillow dread crushed me next. How was I going to tell Grant that I went out on a date with his brother? He was expecting me to think about giving him a chance and instead I got out with his brother? I guess I really wasn’t thinking of him when Ian’s lips are pressed against mine. It was hard to think about much of anything when his lips were pressed against mine.
I laid around the rest of the day and eventually decided on the outfit I was going to wear on my first date with Ian. I wanted to look sexy but not over dress either. Not having any clue where he was going to take me, it made picking the perfect outfit difficult. It was now pushing five and I ran into the shower to get ready. Curling my long hair into waves, I slipped on my form fitting white dress that went to my mid thigh. Pairing it with white sky high heels and simple jewelery, my ensemble was complete. Looking into the mirror I had to admit this was the best I have looked in weeks. Dabbing a little make-up on my face I had just finished as there was a knock on the door. Nervous butterflies rushing through my stomach, I gave my strapless dress a pull up but it was no use. This dress was made to show cleavage and I had quite a bit to show. I don’t know why it mattered, he’s seen them anyhow. I thought still embarrassed to myself. Running out of the bedroom, “I’m coming.” I yelled, stumbling and almost breaking an ankle. Taking a deep breath I swung open the door and was face to face with the most stunning man I have ever seen. Standing in a nice black button down shirt and black slacks Ian still towered over me even in my heels. Any woman loves a man that is still taller than them, even in heels. He looked amazing.
On Steady Ground (The Walker Brother's Series) Page 10
