Page 9 of Drunk on Love

And God, she was aware of his body. At the bar, they’d been too deep in conversation for her to get a chance to look at him more than shoulders up. But after that kiss, after the way he’d touched her, after the way she’d touched him, she couldn’t stop looking at him—at his broad shoulders, long legs, firm chest. When they were at the bar, she’d noticed a little hair peeking out from under his shirt.

She wanted to see more.

“I’m this way,” he finally said. Thank God she’d asked him where he lived—she didn’t think she could have made it the four blocks to her place if these two blocks had felt so endless.

She followed him into a newish apartment building, and down the hall. Oh good, he was on the first floor. An elevator would have been too much for her.

He unlocked his door and she followed him inside. And then, before she could take another step, his arms trapped her against the door.

He smiled down at her. His eyes roamed over her body, and she felt herself flush under his gaze. She was glad he hadn’tlooked at her like this at the bar. She wouldn’t have liked it then. She liked it now.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi,” she said. Despite how fast they’d walked here, she was in no rush now, and she could tell he wasn’t, either. They’d both hurried to be here, to be alone together. They’d both known that once they’d made the decision to do this, they needed to get here as fast as possible. But now that they were here, they could slow down.

“I like this jacket.” He traced a finger down her zipper, and moved it slowly up and down.

“Thank you.” She watched his face as he stared down at her. “I like it, too.”

He put his hand on her waist, and she couldn’t prevent her sharp, inward breath at the touch of his fingers, their warmth through her thin dress. He smiled when she did that, and she smiled, too. She needed this tonight. Right now.

His hand crept slowly, so slowly, up her body, until his thumb circled her nipple. She sighed and closed her eyes and let her head rest back against the door.

“I also like this dress,” he said in her ear. “I like the way you look in it. Even though it was all I could do at the bar to not stare at you in it.”

She opened her eyes to see the look on his face.

“You can stare all you want now,” she said.

He moved his hand up again to her chin, her cheek, her hair.

“Oh, I intend to,” he said. “In just a moment.”

And then, finally, he bent down to kiss her. She slid her arms around his waist and pulled him close as their lips danced together. It was everything it had been outside the bar, but more,because they were alone, because they were both sure of each other, because now they both knew where this kiss was going.

They kept kissing as they explored each other. He pushed her jacket off her shoulders, she tugged his shirt up and put her hands against his bare skin, he moved his fingers back down to her breast and rubbed her hard nipples until she cried out.

They pulled back and looked at each other, both breathing hard, both smiling. He rested his forehead against hers, then pressed his lips against her cheek.

“I’ve got to get this dress off of you,” he said. He took a step back and reached for her hand. “Maybe we could even get all the way into my apartment.”

She put her hand in his.

“What an idea.” She kicked her shoes off and left them by the door with her—nowverylucky—leather jacket, and followed him through the apartment. His tiny hallway opened up into a small kitchen and spacious living room, both minimally furnished. He pushed open the bedroom door and gave her a self-deprecating grin.

“I did tell you I just moved in,” he said.

She glanced around the big bedroom, with boxes stacked all against one wall. There was a bed, thank God, a real one, with a headboard and sheets and everything, or she might have had to call this off.

Okay, she wouldn’t have—obviously she wouldn’t have—but she was still grateful.

“I meant to finish unpacking today,” he said.

He looked sweetly apologetic. She smiled at him.

“You got the most important thing taken care of,” she said, gesturing to the bed.

He grinned at her.

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