Page 11 of Until

"If I'm being honest when you said you wanted to go somewhere private I got a little nervous. I mean here I am alone at this fancy party, and I just met you, I know nothing about you. You’re a stranger. But I still go to an empty room with you. So first of all, I'm probably stupid." She laughs. “Second, I thought maybe you would try to get me drunk and have your way with me. Isn’t that what happens at these kinds of parties? I mean we did just walk down that hall on the way here. And then you fed me that special line. I’ve seen movies, I know what happens next.”

“And what’s that?" I can’t help but grin while we speak.

“You don’t know? You might need to read more, or maybe see more movies. It’s a classic trope. The handsome older man meets a beautiful young woman and sweeps her off her feet. The next thing you know they're having sex."

"Well if that’s what happens next, I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.” I take our water glasses and set them down on a nearby table, then turn back to her. “You are stunning. And no, that’s not a line, it’s the truth.” I run the backs of my fingers from her bare shoulder down to her hand then lift her hand to my lips. “Have I swept you off your feet yet?”

She bites her bottom lip as she nods, her eyes wide and innocent.

“What’s your name?” I ask as I unbutton my suit jacket and neatly toss it onto the couch.

She shakes her head. “I… I can’t say.”

“It’s alright, I won’t tell. I know it’s the rules, but I made them. You can tell me. And then I’ll tell you mine.”

“No,” she whispers. “I can’t.”

I unbutton the cuffs of my shirt and roll up my sleeves. With her big doe eyes, I feel like a wolf ready for his meal.

“I wish I knew your name,” I say as my hands slide from her shoulders, down her arms to her hands. I take her hands and place them behind my neck.

With my hands on her hips, we begin swaying to the music. Her fingers play with my hair. I kiss behind her ear, and down her neck to her collarbone. Her breath catches, and her body trembles.

I want her, but I’m going to take my time.

My hand follows her curves over her dress up from her hip, then over her breasts. Her skin feels cool to my touch. My mouth lowers to her cleavage, and a shock spreads over her body.

“Wait,” she says. “I... I think I should tell you something.”

“Do you want to stop? I can stop, just say the word.”

I lift her covered bosom to my lips and bite into her soft flesh, before sucking gently. She moans.

“Don’t stop. I want to…” Her voice is breathless. “I want to, but I think you should know that I’m… I’m a virgin.”

I look at her in disbelief, then remember her blushing earlier. “But how? Why haven’t you…”

“I never really dated. It wasn’t important to me. I mostly just take care of my grandma.” She sighs. “I just ruined it, didn’t I? I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“No, don’t feel bad. You didn’t ruin anything, not at all. But are you sure this is what you want? I’ll say what I said earlier—I don’t want to disappoint you. And I know I won’t. But you never forget your first time.”

“Then what a first time this will be,” she said. “At a ball, a princess with her prince. Just look at all of that.” She motions to the party below. “But this is my first time. I don’t want it to be awful for you, stuck with some virgin.”

“Clearly you need to see more movies if you think that’s a problem.” I laughed. “I can think of worse things to do than having sex with you. And I want you. I’ve wanted you as soon as I first set eyes on you.”

“But how do you know? Maybe having sex with me will be awful."

“It won’t be. I’ll go slow. I’m going to savor every lick, touch, and taste of you.” I press her against the glass wall and lift her hands over her head as my lips crush hers. My hands slide down her arms and over her body. She trembles and her breath catches. “But first, I’m going to make you come.”

CHAPTER 5

Carina

His voice sends shivers of excitement down my spine and gives me goosebumps. Everything about this night has been surreal, dreamlike. Now isn’t any different.

Our lips touch and then he pulls back to look into my eyes. I think I hear him ask for my name again, but I’m so consumed by his presence that I couldn’t even say my name if I wanted to.

The music from the ballroom plays another slow song, and he takes my hand and pulls me close to him. He places my hand on his heart and holds my hand there. I can feel the strong thud through his chest and I wonder if his always feels like that, or if like mine, his heart is pounding.

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