He broke the kiss to inhale deeply and cupped her face in his.With a deep, sexy rasp, he broke the silence.“Damn, Christa, how are you doing this to me?”
“Doing what?”she whispered back.
His eyes pleaded with her, but she didn’t know what he was asking of her.She stroked his face with her fingers, reveling in his stubble and how good it had felt rubbing against her skin.She urged him with her eyes to tell her what he meant.
“How can you walk right through every wall I’ve ever built like they were never even there?”
That moment had instantly become Christa’s all-time favorite memory.Aaron proved his sincerity in his every thoughtful deed throughout the whole day.He’d planned every detail of their excursion and left nothing out.True to his word, he was spoiling her, and she loved every minute of it.No one had ever gone to such great lengths just for her, to impress her, and to make her day so special.
That was exactly why she was so nervous to approach her apartment door with him in tow.This would be the defining moment—when he realized all his efforts today would not culminate in a night full of every sort of debauchery known to man…and woman.She couldn’t deny she also wanted that—the connection, the intimacy, the promise of more nights together.
But she wasn’t ready.
Will he storm out on me?Will he leave me brokenhearted?
These were the real questions at the root of her nervousness.She was afraid to find out the answer—no matter what the answer actually turned out to be.On one hand, if he stayed and they continued seeing each other, it meant she had to let him into her carefully constructed world.She’d have to trust him and put herself in a precarious position where she could possibly get her heart broken.On the other hand, if he stormed out, she had no doubt she’d be heartbroken anyway.
There’s really no way to win, Christa thought as she nervously pulled her keys out, having run out of time and excuses to avoid opening her door.
She looked up at Aaron shyly, meeting his intense gaze through her eyelashes.She again called upon her courage and asked the dreaded question.
“Would you like to come in for a drink?”
Aaron immediately recognized the trepidation in her face and her voice.His protective instincts were already in overdrive for this petite, beautiful lady who had stolen his ability to think rationally.He wanted to alleviate her anxiety, not add to it.It occurred to him that this was the first date he’d been on where he didn’t expect a roll between the sheets at the end of it.He didn’t want the night to end, but mainly because he truly enjoyed her company.Determined to put her fears at ease, he responded thoughtfully.
“I would love to, Christa.But I should warn you…” He paused to emphasize his point with a deep breath.“You’re not having your wicked way with me tonight.I’d like to enjoy your company without the pressure of you undressing me with your eyes.If you think you can manage that, I’ll come in for a little while.”He kept a straight face and waited for her to process what he’d said.
The moment of levity worked like a charm.Christa burst out laughing and placed one hand on his chest.Aaron’s gorgeous smile splayed across his face.She knew he understood completely and was giving her the out she needed without putting her on the spot.And she felt her heart melt for him even more.
“I will try, Aaron.I’m not making any promises, though,” she laughingly replied before opening her door.“To even the odds, that means you can’t stare at my nice ass anymore tonight.”
“I never made that promise, and you didn’t make that stipulation with your invitation.So, I reject your evening of the odds.”
Much more relaxed now after he’d expertly diffused the tension, she was able to enjoy spending more alone time with him.
“Can I get you something to drink?Beer?Coke?”she asked as they walked in.
“No, I’m good, thanks,” he replied as he took a seat in the middle of the love seat.
She looked around her small apartment living room for a moment, considering where she should sit.He was smack in the middle of the love seat, so it would be awkward to try to sit beside him.But then she would also feel awkward sitting on the couch away from him.
Why does dating have to be so hard?she wondered.
Finally deciding on the couch, she took a step past Aaron, and he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his lap.“I have your seat right here,” he teased with a sexy smile.“I can’t stare at it, but I can feel your sexy ass on me.”
Taking her seat, Christa found she fit perfectly in his lap.She nestled into the crook of his arm and laid her head on his shoulder.Aaron’s arms closed around her, holding her in his safe embrace.He lowered his mouth to her ear and whispered, “Mmm…I could get used to this.”
“To what?”she whispered back.
“You in my arms,” he replied, his warm breath feathering across her cheek just before his lips made contact with her skin.
As she raised her head, her lips met his and she became lost in him.Her hands found his hair, and her fingers twisted the silky smoothness around her fingers.Pulling him closer, unable to resist and feeling her body on fire, Christa drew herself up until she was fully facing and straddling him.He splayed his hands out across her back, holding her so close to him that she felt the taut buds of her nipples scraping across his shirt through her clothing.The warmth of his hands on her skin, underneath her shirt, scalded her in the most erotic way.
Aaron’s hands followed the line of her bra, lightly grazing her skin and causing her nerve endings to fire uncontrollably.His thumbs found her hard nipples and brushed across them, causing her to moan audibly into his mouth.He increased his pressure with the second pass, and she was certain she’d go up in flames at any moment.Since she had completely given up her rational sense, it took her a few seconds to realize she was actively grinding against his growing erection.
Aaron slowed their fevered kiss, moved his hands to her face and held her there, forehead to forehead, while he took a minute to get himself back under control.
“That was so fucking hot,” he finally said.“That was the best damn kiss ever.”
