Page 56 of Damien
Blinking, I force myself to use words. “Damn, Van. You look amazing. Are you sure you just want to hang out here looking that good? Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to keep you to myself, but you look like you’re ready for a night on the town, not hangin’ with my sorry ass.”
“Crap. I knew I put too much effort into this,” she mumbles to herself as she looks to her feet.
“Stop,” comes out more forceful than I intend, and her eyes dart to mine. “You’re one of the most beautiful people I know. This outfit… well, it makes you basically drool worthy. Trust me. That was just my dumb-ass way of asking if you’d like to actually go out for dinner rather than order in.”
“I… uh…” she stammers.
Needing to stop her self-doubt, I step closer and pull her to me, slanting my lips over hers. “I’m more than happy staying in. The choice is yours, Van. I just need to know if I should go change or not.”
Without giving her the opportunity to answer, my lips are on hers. Goddamn. I’ve missed this woman. I know we saw each other yesterday, but my lips haven’t touched hers since Monday.
Vanessa’s hands reach up to cup my face and pull me closer, and I happily oblige as I deepen our kiss. When her tongue tangles with mine, she tastes of mint and something entirely her. When I hear the sexiest sound imaginable come out of her, I’m hard as granite instantly. It’s a cross between a moan and a sigh as she presses her body closer to mine. I need more. When a car alarm blasts through the air, we jump apart in a panic. Spinning to see where it’s coming from, Vanessa shouts, “Oh shit! Where are my keys?”
She frantically pats down her pants until she practically rips them out of her pocket. If she weren’t so worried, I’d almost laugh. Pressing the button over and over, it finally disengages about the fourth try.
Her cheeks are flaming red as she turns to face me. “Ohmigod! Let’s go inside. I can’t even…” She points to her car and then the neighborhood.
Wanting to put her at ease, I quickly pull her through the door and slam it shut in my haste.
With wide eyes, she looks from me to the keys in her hand. “I blame you… this is all your fault…”
“Me… what did I do? You’re the one looking hot as sin, setting off alarms and all.”
Her mouth opens wide, then shuts immediately. Then she sets her keys on the table by the door. “You think I’m hot as sin, do you? Well, I’ll show you just how hot I can be.” Wrapping her arms around my neck, she pushes her body against mine and kisses the fuck out of me.
Holy Fucking Hell. This woman is perfect for me.
When she uses her teeth against my lower lip, I’m fucking done for.
My mouth fuses to hers, and I use my hands to lift her ass, so that she’s closer to my height. As if we’ve been practicing this for years, her legs wrap around my torso without breaking our kiss. With her holding most of her weight by hanging on to me, I slide one hand up her back to the base of her neck to control the kiss further.
Suddenly, the fucking doorbell rings, and we pull apart, startled once again.
Fuck. I’d forgotten about the pizza I’d ordered.
Setting her on her feet, I look down at the effect she has on me. I’m not even sure I can walk the five steps to the door in this state. Seeing my hesitation, she asks, “Want me to get that?” as she points at the door.
When the offending bell rings again, I slowly nod and pull out my wallet. Handing her more than enough cash to pay for the pizza, I say. “Yes, please.”
Taking a moment to straighten her hair and glance in the mirror hanging by the door, she shakes her head and smiles. “At least I’m not as obvious as to what we’ve been up to.”
Her swollen lips and tousled hair make her look as if she’s been thoroughly fucked, but she doesn’t have a raging hard-on that’s practically bulging out of her pants. So, yeah… she’s the less obvious between the two of us.
Opening the door, she greets the delivery person as if she hadn’t just climbed me like a tree and kissed the ever-loving fuck out of me. She hands the money over and pulls the large box through the door before shutting it.
With wide eyes, she looks at the extra-large box and bag of breadsticks and says, “Uh, is this just for us?”
Shrugging, I nod. “I can always put it in the fridge for leftovers.”
Giggling, she walks past me to the living room and sets it on the coffee table. Then she turns and walks back to me. Using her thumb, she runs it along my lips. “Lipstick,” she says as explanation. “I’m pretty sure all that I had on is now transferred to you.”
“If that’s the sacrifice I have to make to be kissed like that, I don’t even care if it’s not my shade.”
“Very funny. Are you ready to eat…” she trails off, and her innocent expression transforms to mischievous. “Or… if you have something better in mind, I’m game for that, too.”
“Van,” comes out as both a plea and a warning, “I’m trying to do the right thing here.” From our conversations on the phone, I’ve gathered that she hasn’t dated much since Julia was born. But this bolder side of her isn’t only a major fucking turn-on but completely uncharted territory for her. I don’t want to rush things if she isn’t ready to take things beyond the level we’re at now.
“I know you are, Dame—and I appreciate that. But I’m not done with you yet.” When she reaches out her hand and those confident hazel eyes meet mine, I know in this instant, I’ll do anything to make her happy.
