Page 82 of The Very First Night

THIRTY-NINE

KAT

The moment I reach my bedroom, I pull off my sweaty shorts. I don’t care that it’s October; I’m sweating like a roast hog.

Shucking off the rest of my clothes, I pull an oversized T-shirt from Taylor Swift’s Red tour over my head, a bit thankful that they were out of all the smaller sizes by the time my mom was able to order it online for my Christmas present that year.

It was nice going out with everyone—without Elijah. It was nice to get a glimpse of how things could be if he just wasn’t around.

Surprisingly, Elijah isn’t the one occupying my thoughts this evening. Instead, I found myself constantly drawn to Tanner’s gaze. It could be wishful thinking, but it seemed as though he was looking at me frequently throughout the night. Every time I turned in his direction, his eyes were already locked on me. His intense gaze made me feel simultaneously seen and vulnerable, like there was a spotlight shining on my every move.

Or it could simply have been the fact that the dance floor tends to be where most people look in a line dancing bar and I am simply reading into it; it’s hard to say.

As I enter the kitchen, the chilly air from the refrigerator hits me. I see Tanner leaning against the counter, his bare chest and tanned skin on display. He takes a spoonful of rocky road ice cream and brings it to his lips, closing his eyes in enjoyment. The dim light casts shadows on his face, making him look even more alluring.

“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” I joke as I walk over to the cracked refrigerator and grab a bottle of water before closing it tight.

Tanner’s lips curl into a playful grin as his eyes roam down my exposed legs, taking in every inch of skin before traveling back up to meet my gaze. “I have to admit,” he states, “I quite enjoy it, actually.” His voice is low and husky, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Oh, and why is that?” I take a deep breath and feel a surge of unfamiliar confidence coursing through me. I’m not the usual anxious mess I’ve become around him lately, fearing rejection, but rather stride toward him with determination, his eyes seeming to fuel my forward movement.

He just shrugs, his smirk never leaving his lips. “Well, for starters…”

My stomach jumps in anticipation of what he’s going to say. I try but can’t will myself to pry my eyes away from those lips—those lips that have proven to be everything but “just a friend” when pressed against my skin.

“Ah, never mind.” He shrugs again.

Despite his nonchalant response, I can’t ignore the prickle that rises on the back of my neck as his eyes rake down my body once more, this time lingering on my chest.

“No, tell me,” I say breathily. “What makes you enjoy it?”

Tanner considers for a few seconds before setting his bowl of ice cream on the counter. He doesn’t move closer to me, just crosses his arms over his bare chest as he leans against the counter. His intense gaze roams over my body, causing a shiver to run down my spine. My nipples harden under the soft cotton of my shirt, betraying my growing arousal as he takes his time to fully appreciate me.

“I enjoy seeing you like this.”

I can’t shake the feeling that my skin is completely engulfed in flames. “Like what?” I whisper.

“Like no one is going to see you. Like…I get a glimpse of the you that has no plans of being perceived.” He clears his throat before slowly appraising my body once more. “It’s…intoxicating.”

“Oh.”

“Oh.” A faint grin curves his lips. He reaches for his ice cream and raises the spoon to his lips as though he really is completely unaffected. However, before I can descend too far into spiraling over the perceived rejection, he opens his beautiful mouth. “Would you like some ice cream?”

I furrow my brows, my mind racing to understand his question. “Ice cream?”

Tanner chuckles as he says, “Yes, ice cream…” He studies my expression for a short moment before his voice shifts, the sound of his words causing goosebumps to erupt across every exposed expanse of skin. “Come here.”

I do as I’m told without a second thought of protest until I’m inches in front of Tanner. All my confusion melts away as he dips the spoon into the bowl, scooping out a small amount of sugary goodness.

“Open.”

When I again obey, he gently pushes the spoonful of ice cream between my lips. The rich chocolate and marshmallow flavors flood my taste buds, momentarily distracting me from the intense arousal plaguing my body. I savor the sweetness as we stand in silence, each lost in our thoughts.

He doesn’t allow my focus to slip for long, though, because as soon as I move to lick the remaining ice cream from my mouth, Tanner is there, grazing his tongue over the cold, pillowy flesh of my bottom lip, causing my breath to hitch as he takes every last remnant of chocolate for his own.

“Yum,” he grumbles as he reaches for the bowl again, but he doesn’t offer me a bite. This time, he presses the cold spoon to the pressure point below my left ear. The sudden chill sends shivers down my spine and I can’t help but let out a small yelp. Within seconds, the cold sensation subsides as he licks and swirls his tongue over the sensitive spot, making my skin tingle with pleasure. He sucks lightly on the tender flesh, the ice cream long since gone.

Instinctively, my head lolls backward, giving him more access. He doesn’t take advantage, though. He just…stops. He ceases kissing my neck and steps back to lean against the counter once more, moving to take another bite of ice cream.

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