Page 100 of Rage

I take another deep, grounding breath. "I was bullied pretty badly. It escalated to the point that I was actually assaulted my senior year. He never got caught, or punished, even though I gave his name to my father." I roll my eyes, and my lips turn up in a scowl.

"When I started at Paramount, I was still physically healing. I joined a gym and signed up for some self defense classes. That's when I fell in love with working out. Especially weight lifting. By sophomore year, I'd lost a lot of weight, gotten contacts, grown out my hair, and started coloring it darker. I learned to lovemyself. But I've also been focused on my studies, and thanks to my father's huge donation to the school, I'm in the only private room in an all female residence hall.”

"That doesn't explain the lack of sex in your life, though."

"You're right. The first couple years of university, I was still that socially awkward girl who was terrified of being alone with a guy. It came across as me being frigid. Which earned me a reputation for being stuck up. I tried to fight it, but eventually gave up. It just proved to me that guys my age are ridiculous."

Erich smirks and reaches across the table to tuck a stray hair behind my ear. "Perhaps you should try an older man, then?"

My own smirk matches his. "I do believe you are correct, sir," I purr, making him shift in his seat.

For a while, we're both quiet as we focus on our food, and I manage to eat my seafood stew without making any more sexual sounds. I feel my phone vibrate in my clutch, but I don't care to pull it out. I'm enjoying my time with Erich far too much.

When we've both finished our meals, he looks at me nervously. "I've enjoyed my evening with you, Calista. I fear I don't want the night to end yet. Would you mind joining me on a walk?"

I nod immediately. "I'd like that very much." And he signals for the server to bring the check. Once it's placed on the table in front of him, I try to speak up, but he shushes me with a look, and a quick shake of his head. I lean back in my chair to finish off my wine, while he pulls out his wallet and tucks his card into the black leather book. The server disappears with it, returning only a moment later. Erich uses the server's pen to sign the slip of paper, before sliding his card back into his wallet, and stands as he tucks it into one of his front trouser pockets. He moves behind my chair, and gently pulls me backwards before holding out his hand for me.

I place a hand into his, and he helps me stand, kissing the back of my hand again before releasing it. I remove my clutch from the tabletop, and together we head to the front of the restaurant. When we step outside, we're greeted with cool night air. The sun has gone down, and the sky is a gorgeous mix of purple and blue. A few stars are already out and twinkling. I tuck my hands into Erich's arm, and we walk away from the restaurant.

We enjoy a comfortable silence, and my head finds its way onto his shoulder. Without needing to discuss it, we manage to walk to the park several blocks away. When we come to the center of the park, we stand in front of a large fountain. The stone fixture features a couple, holding one another in the center of the shallow water. The woman's hands are on the man's granite chest, and her head is tilted up so that she's looking at his face. His arms are wrapped around her back, just above her ass, and you can see the look of love in his stony eyes. Whoever sculpted this piece is insanely talented.

The statue brings a tear to my eye, and while I'm trying to stave off more, I see Erich turn towards me. His hand reaches for my face, and he gently wipes away the rogue tear, smiling softly at me. "What's wrong, beautiful?"

I give him a wry smile. "I'm jealous of the statue. Look at the way he loves her. The look of absolute devotion on his face is everything I've ever wanted, yet never had. It's unfair that an inanimate woman is loved so fiercely. Meanwhile, I'm a flesh and blood woman, and I've been single my entire life."

Erich wraps a single arm around me, pulling me into his body, and his other hand lifts my chin so that I'm looking at him. "Maybe you just hadn't met the right man yet. Maybe he's older and has been working himself half to death for the last twenty years. Maybe he's just been too busy to look for you. Until now,that is." His eyes bounce between my eyes and lips, making me want to feel his neat beard against my face as he kisses me.

I reach up and cup his cheek, biting my lip lightly. "Kiss me?" He doesn't answer. Instead, his hands cup my face and he pulls me towards him. His lips meet mine, hesitant at first, but pillowy soft. My eyes fall closed as his tongue traces the seam of my lips, and I open for him. My heart speeds up as his tongue slides into my mouth and his fingers lightly dig into my cheeks, holding me in place. My own hands fist his turtleneck. Our tongues tangle with one another, and the rest of the world falls away. I no longer hear the soft sounds of the fountain. In this moment, only Erich and I exist. I never want it to end.

When we finally break apart, we're both breathless, our chests heaving. Mine feels heavy with desire, and my panties are soaked to the point it's becoming uncomfortable. But I can't find it in me to care. I want him to kiss me again. His hands leave my face, and instead, they wrap around my lower back. When I open my eyes, Erich is staring at me, his eyes full of wonder and lust.

When he speaks, his voice is huskier than normal. "That was..."

I interrupt him. "A far better first kiss than I ever imagined. I'd like to do it again. And again."

Erich chuckles, and pulls me more tightly against his body, his erection pressing against my lower stomach. I barely manage to suppress a moan at the feeling. "I'm going to be blunt with you, beautiful. I'd love nothing more than to kiss you senseless. I want to hear all the little sounds you'll make for me. I want to feel you lose control against me. But, I also want to see you again, to get to know you. Date you. Not just bed you."

I'm taken aback at his honesty, and I respond in kind. "I'd like that. All of that. I think I've been waiting my entire life for you, Erich. I can't find it in me to care if I sound like a needy bitch, but I need to feel you. One single kiss has me wound up fartoo tightly, and I need you to loosen me up. I want to get to know you too, but right now I need you."

Erich takes my lips with his again. This kiss isn't as soft, or slow as our first. This one is full of need and desire. I can feel how desperately he wants me, and I hope he can feel the same from me as our bodies press even closer together. His hands shift to my hips, and he grips them tightly, my dress bunching up between his fingers. My own hands move to the back of his head, fingers teasing his short hair and scratching his scalp.

His fingers dig into my hips hard enough to leave bruises, and I whimper at the feeling. My knees start to buckle, but he's holding onto me tightly enough that I don't fall anywhere except into him. His lips attack mine over and over, our tongues fighting for dominance.

When we pull apart, he rests his forehead against mine and whispers, "Come home with me?"

"Always."

He places one last kiss on my lips and takes a step back. He doesn't bother to turn away, or hide as he adjusts his tented trousers, and I bite my lip at the sight. Once he's more comfortable, he holds out his hand for mine. I place it in his much larger hand, admiring his long, thin fingers. His hands have a few calluses that I hadn't noticed earlier, and his rough skin feels good against the smoothness of my own. I want to feel his rough hands on every inch of my body. We intertwine our fingers as we walk away from the fountain.

The walk to his car only takes us a few minutes. I tell him that I'd like to have his number so that, after tonight, we can continue talking to and seeing each other. He just laughs, handing me his phone. I look at the screen, then up at him in confusion.

"I don't have a lock code. Just swipe up and you'll be in."

I nod, then do as he says. Adding my name to his phone one-handed isn't easy, but I refuse to let go of his strong hand. Oncemy name and number have been added, I send myself a text. I hit the side button, and hold his phone back up for him. He takes it with a smile, tucking it back into his pocket just as we approach a sleek, gray SUV. It beeps once, and the lights flash as he steps up to the passenger door.

Erich holds the door open for me, and helps me step up into the spacious vehicle. Once I'm seated in the plush leather seat, he leans over me to buckle my seatbelt. His hand lingers on my hip, and we lose ourselves in each other's eyes briefly. After a moment, he drops a quick kiss on my lips, then steps back, closing my door. He walks around the front of the SUV and opens his own door, hopping into his seat before starting the car and buckling his seatbelt. Soft music fills the air around us and I realize that it's a violin player I recognize, and actually enjoy.

"I love her music. Especially her original pieces. Her electric violin is mind-blowing."

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