AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I love this one. How much? These all say ‘price upon request.’”
He unhooks the canvas from its hanging on the wall. “For you, it’s free.”
“Why?”
“Because it won you over. I wouldn’t have believed that possible if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.” He flips a switch, turning off the lights illuminating the artwork as well at the large overhead fixtures. “Where’s your car?”
“Didn’t bring it. I walked over. I don’t live far.”
“Let me drive you.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I beg to differ.”
I lean over to whisper in his ear, which, since he’s shorter, is right there. “Ooh, I love it when you beg.” I hiccup, which makes me giggle.
I never giggle. I’m not the giggling sort. Yet here we are.
His already dark eyes darken further, but all he says is, “You don’t want to mess up that painting, do you?”
Since I don’t, I hop in his Ford SUV. I know what people say about getting into a stranger’s vehicle, but technically, after tonight, I can call him an acquaintance. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.
With my directions, he motors me down the three blocks to my place, conveniently located catty-corner to the high school where I teach P.E.
“Thanks for bringing me home. Oh, and for this.” I indicate the painting.
“Stay put,” is his response, and I don’t know why until he appears at my door to open it. He offers me a hand to help me out, and when my gait is less than stable, he escorts me like a gentleman to my front porch.
“You’re being awfully kind to me,” I point out, and he grins.
“Just showing you some of that Southern hospitality Georgia’s known for.”
Even though there are only two steps up, I miss one and nearly take a header. My speedy reflexes allow me to catch myself, but instead of clamping onto the railing, I end up clamping onto his collar. We’re standing there awkwardly, legs split between the two heights of the stairs, his shirt in my fist and our faces inches apart. I don’t know why he does it, but once he plants us on the main stoop, he closes the distance and kisses me.
It’s just a fleeting peck of lips to lips, but he backs up as if appalled. I’m not, though.
In fact, I want more.
So, I yank onto his collar and press my face to his. Electricity arcs between us, sizzling through the air like lightning, and I open my mouth, seeking out his tongue. He opens up too, letting me in, and we tangle for dominion as my hands wrap around his neck to lace into his hair and his skitter up my waist to rub with blissful pressure along my entire torso.
The sensation of his thumbs grazing the sides of my breasts makes me ache and I delve my tongue in farther, tasting the hazelnut of the petit fours he must’ve had earlier. I shiver, even though it’s not even cold, and my nipples constrict into rocky little pebbles. But it’s him hardening against my hip that has me feeling much more alert. If I don’t stop this now, we won’t stop at all, so I break apart from him, analyzing his lust-wild expression, his hair mussed from my ministrations.
Breathing like Olympic sprinters, we stare at each other in the oblong pool of my porch light.
Did we really just make out like a pair of horny teenagers on prom night?
“I’ve gotta…” I point to my door and turn, digging in my pockets for my keys. It takes me a minute to locate them, then three tries to unlock the door. I twist back around to peek at him.
“Yeah. Uh, take care of yourself. I’ll see you around,” he states vaguely. Then he strides through my yard, climbs into his SUV, and vanishes down the street.
Four
Amanda
On Monday, I’m past the hangover that dogged me the day before. I’m ironically a lightweight when it comes to alcohol, and those three—okay,four—glasses of champagne did me in.
Never again.
