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I laid out the black square plates and silver salad bowls, then the forks and knives, and scrounged up some linen napkins. The salad was pre tossed, but I turned it a couple of times so I could put my mark on it. I finished the spread by carefully setting out the lasagna and servingware.
“Wow,” I mused, suddenly feeling the urge to snap a picture. Even though I hadn't cooked a noodle myself, I still felt a sense of pride. It was something very similar to what I'm sure cavemen felt when they went out and slayed buffalo for their women.
Since the table was set, I started on ambiance. I'd briefly debated scented candles, something light and decadent like vanilla sunrise or whatever the candle store was hawking, but decided to go with unscented ones instead. The only thing I wanted to smell was that gentle, fruity fragrance that orbited around Penny like that sun rotated around the earth. It was a fragrance that I wanted to immerse myself in...and made me instantly hard as a rock as I tried to pinpoint the different notes of fragrance in it. It was a dangerous game to play because once I started thinking about her scent, I remembered that she tasted even more delicious than she smelled.
The growl of hunger didn't come from my stomach. It was a lust that only she could satisfy. I had to have her. From head to toe, in the bedroom and out.
Just when I started to pace like this was my first freaking date, the doorbell sounded a second time.
I dusted off the front of my gray sweater, pretending I wasn't quaking in my stonewashed jeans. This woman was making me rethink plans that I thought were non-negotiable and ironclad. I didn't do relationships, but here I was, inviting her to my place. Inviting her into my life.
I opened the door and was rendered utterly speechless. I wasn't sure where to start, what I wanted to delight in first. She wore an ebony colored dress that skimmed the floor, the dark fabric clinging to her like it was painted on. The scoop neckline dipped right above the swell of her breasts, and the cropped leather jacket gave her the edge she'd had the night we met when she first took my breath away. Her face was even more striking without makeup, scrubbed clean so I could see the dusting of freckles on her cheeks and the curves of her thick lips. Her hair hung loose and free, the chocolate and honey strands beckoning me to grip great fistfuls as I pulled her to me.
So I did.
I didn't even let her walk through the door. I held her tight, plundering her mouth with my tongue. She let out a sound of elation that practically unzipped my fly and wrapped its fingers around my cock. She pressed her body into mine and boldly did more than just stroke me with her moans. She cupped my erection through my pants, taking my bottom lip between her teeth and tugging.
She was the first to come up for air, eyes sparkling with a mischief that made me want to do bad, bad things with her. “Hi.”
High off her and ready to skip right to dessert, I stole one last kiss. I brushed my lips softly against hers, losing myself in her caramel eyes. “Hi yourself.”
She nuzzled against me and if there was any doubt whatsoever, it evaporated. I wanted to protect this girl from any possibility of pain, and if I couldn't, I wanted to help her through it. I wanted to see the world with her, and curl up on the couch and do nothing at all. I wanted a life with her.
I was in love with her.
“So, you gonna invite me in or are you having second thoughts?” she murmured, still pressed against me.
I pecked the top of her head, almost not wanting to move at all and just stay locked in our lusty embrace, but I was also excited to show her the place and feed her. “I guess we should get on with the dinner part of our evening.” I held open the door. “Welcome!” She stepped over the threshold and I couldn't resist pinching her ass when she strutted past.
“Xander!” she hissed, but a smile was on her lips.
I kicked the door shut, my cock already shouting louder than my belly. Suddenly, I was itching to christian every surface in my place with her skin and my skin and the sweat of our sex.
There will be plenty of time for sex. Talk first, sex later.
She threw a naughty look at me over her shoulder, like she could read my mind and wholeheartedly agreed with my plans.
Lots of sex.
“This place is amazing, Xander!” She scanned the kitchen, her nails skating across the countertop. “Everything is so shiny and spotless.” She cringed. “Just wait until you see my place. You'll probably want to take a Purell bath five seconds in.”
My heart drop kicked my ribcage. It was just a casual invite, but I felt the distance between us closing in the best possible way. I felt like we were moving forward. “I'm sure your place is lovely.”
“My studio would fit in your living room,” she said gingerly.
“It's your place, filled with pieces of you, honey.” The word just dropped from my lips. The panic was fleeting. Pet names? What if she hated pet names? I decided to just run with it. “Anything Penny related is amazing.”
“When you say things like that...” The look she threw my way was so vulnerable that I almost said those three words, just so she could know that she was safe with me. “It just feels like I'm dreaming.”
I stepped up beside her, my fingertips skimming up and down her spine. “It's not a dream, Penny.”
She tilted her head in my direction and sighed, like she was finally believing it. Finally letting go. “I don't want to wake up if it is.”
I wanted to steer her in my direction so she could see the truth, but she rocked into motion, pointed toward the dining room.
“You made dinner?”
“Not quite,” I answered peevishly. “I find ways to burn water so god only knows what you'd be ingesting if I tried to play chef.” I puffed out my chest. “I did plate everything and set the table though.”
