Page 73 of Cups of You

TWENTY-EIGHT

Rough hands slid up her body alighting her nerves and coaxing soft moans to tumble from her lips. Amber wanted to keep going cycling higher and higher until they burst through the clouds of pleasure, but instead she found herself pulling back and away. Those hands that had been tracing wicked paths of lightning up and down her spine fell away slowly, and she shivered as the fabric of her blouse brushed over sweat-dampened skin. Making out with the windows down was probably not the smartest plan when the temperature was burning, and the humidity was molasses levels of sticky.

“We should stop.” Amber sighed after the words left her lips. Dating Benjamin had been one of the most wonderful and frustrating experiences. The past three months of keeping things rated PG-13 had done nothing to dull the passion that seemed to simmer just underneath their interactions.

She always stopped by in the mornings on her way to work at the library and Benjamin never failed to brush her fingers as he passed her the coffee he still refused to let her pay for.

“Consider it perks of dating the owner.”

The wide smile that always accompanied that sentence was enough to give her butterflies and she was never quite sure how she made it to work without being hit by a car since she was so busy replaying the moment. It was fucking annoying and absolutely wonderful. Amber was a mess of contradictions these days.

“I’m starting to regret instituting this rule of going slow,” Benjamin said roughly. He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve had to start wearing looser jeans to our dates to keep from strangling myself below the belt.”

Amber laughed and shook her head. “This was your rule buddy. I’m just following your lead.” She shifted over to sit beside him on the back seat instead of straddling him like she had been. “Jesus, I am too old to make out in the back of a car. My knees are going to be sore for days.”

He chuckled and covered her left knee with his hand. The heat of it was searing and she knew she would be feeling his phantom touch for days after.

“Sorry. Olivia invited her friends to the house for a study night and I didn’t want to disturb them.”

Amber waved him off. “It’s okay. Jackie’s church friends are over tonight too otherwise I would’ve brought you to the house after dinner. I don’t think either of us wanted to be subjected to their comments or gossip.”

Benjamin winced. “Yeah, no. I deal with the gossip enough at the café. Plus, last time I swear one of them pinched my ass when I walked by.”

“Oh?” She raised an eyebrow and made a note to talk to Jackie about which friend Amber needed to have a conversation with. “When they mentioned liking your muffins, did you really think they were talking about food?”

“Good point.”

They sat in comfortable silence. Amber let herself relax as she leaned into him. His shoulder provided a warm pillow and his hand continued to squeeze her knee. Stopping things had been difficult, but these moments that came after were something she was quickly growing addicted to. Never before had she been able to just exist in silence with someone. The only sounds were their breathing and the waxing and waning songs of crickets as the sun slowly dropped below the horizon.

“Can we do this again tomorrow night?”

“What? Make out in the back of your car?”

Benjamin’s shoulder shifted as he chuckled the sound wrapping around her like the softest of blankets. “Maybe. But I was thinking more of another date.”

Amber smiled. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

“I thought maybe I could make you something special at the café.” The hand on her knee drifted slowly until it was cupped around her thigh. Benjamin’s thumb rubbed circles against the inside of her thigh and Amber had to fight to keep from spreading her legs wider. If not for the fabric of jeans between them, she might have lost that battle.

“That sounds nice. Should I bring anything?”

“No. I’ll take care of everything. Just come hungry.”

Not a problem. I’ve been hungry since the first time we touched.

Amber turned and brushed her lips over his shoulder. She smirked when she felt him shiver slightly delighting in the fact that she wasn’t the only one in a seemingly constant state of arousal.

“Ready to head back?” Benjamin asked voice pitched low.

She shook her head turning again to place it back on his shoulder. “Not yet.” The kiss that was placed on the top of her head had her sighing in contentment.

Amber hadn’t been sure what to expect when she turned up at the café after closing, but it certainly wasn’t to see a table covered with roses and candles. Benjamin looked as sinful as ever in a tight maroon shirt that clung to his shoulders and those jeans that always made Amber fantasize about unzipping them with her teeth. The way his gaze slid over her body left her skin tingling.

“Wow. You look amazing.”

Amber preened as she let him lead her to the table. Benjamin pulled out the chair for her before taking his seat across the table. The warm light of the candles set the tone and their voices were hushed as they ate and talked.

“So, you never wanted to work in finance?”

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