Page 33 of Restored Dreams

“Okay, enough first date stuff,” I say, letting myself in her room and crawling into her bed. I spoon behind her, and her body jiggles with her chuckle. After I link my arm over her waist, her fingers come to my forearm and gently stroke. She’s right; it is a soothing sensation.

“Would you have sex on the first date?” I ask, nuzzling my nose into her nape while holding my breath for her answer.

“I don’t think so.”

“Not even with me?” I nibble at her neck, sucking her warm skin.

“Especially not you,” her voice jests.

“Why not?” I kiss the hollow spot at the base of her skull as my hand skims over her hip.

“I don’t want you to think I’m easy.” Her tone sounds serious, but then she giggles.

“Nothing with you was ever easy, Lily. You were so hard to resist.”

“You did a good job back then.” We’ve subtly hinted at the past here and there with casual references. As much as I don’t want us to go back, I’m afraid it will always be there between us. Still on the upswing of our date, I’m not swinging backward tonight.

“Lily,” I warn.

“Okay.” She sighs. “If you want to do it right, it shouldn’t be until date three for sex.”

“It sounds like you know a bit about this?” I realize I haven’t asked her if she’s dating anyone, but I don’t think I want to know the answer. I don’t even want to consider her cheating on someone, but that would be the pot calling the kettle black.

“Not really. I read a lot of romance, though.”

“Romance, huh?” I nip at her again where her shoulder meets her neck. “Okay, so sex on the third date? Shit, I messed this up.” I wouldn’t trade the sex we’ve had, though, and I’m running out of days. It’s already Wednesday night. I only have two evenings left before we leave.

Lily squirms before me, causing her ass to rub against the front of my shorts.

“Maybe it’s the third time you have sex should be on the night of the first date?” she suggests, hesitantly, but a light purr as she curls into my hard-on tells me she has no question as to what she wants.

“I like that rule better,” I say, gripping her hip tighter, holding her firmly against me as I deepen the bites on her skin before attending to the rest of her body.

+ + +

I wake alone again.

“I give up,” I huff aloud. I don’t understand this woman. She’s an early riser, for one thing. I envision her jumping out of bed ready to start the day at a sprint instead of a jog, but I wish she’d linger next to me. To my surprise, I find her downstairs curled up in the oversized chair in the living room, wearing one of my T-shirts. She’s staring out the window even though a book rests on her lap.

“Mornin’, Lily pad,” I say, crossing the room and kneeling before her.

“Hey,” she says quietly. I slip my arms around her legs, and she rakes her fingers through my hair. A soft grin that doesn’t reach her eyes greets me.

“How long have you been awake?”

“Just a little while,” she offers without more explanation.

“You’re breaking the rules,” I tease, hoping to lighten whatever is on her mind. “You keep leaving the bed when the rule is not to let me wake alone.”

Her smile deepens only a little.

“What’s in that pretty head of yours, sugar?” I ask, lifting a finger to brush back her hair. Her eyes lower, but I’m not letting this question slide, no matter how good she is at redirecting. To my surprise, she answers with something I didn’t expect.

“It just seems like too much. If I stay, it makes it seem so…so official.” Her eyes squint at me before looking away. “That’s not the right word. I don’t know how to explain it. It just seems lying in bed makes a statement, and you said—”

My thumb has been stroking her cheek, but I move it to her lips to stop her.

“Forget what I said. I don’t want to request anything that makes you uncomfortable.”