Page 28 of Wine & Whiskey
“I’m working toward outstanding.” He tosses his cone in the trash and wraps his jacket around her shoulders, gently tugging on the lapels, pressing her against him. “Where to now? There’s a cupcake place down the street if you need another fix.”
The playfulness of his voice gives her the courage to reveal her real desire. His eyes darken when she tells him, “Your house.”
Nick helps her out of the limo, and they walk hand in hand into the quiet foyer. Not sure if she’s happy or relieved no one else is home.
“Would you like a drink?”
“Yes, please.”
After rummaging through the wet bar, he pours wine for her and a whiskey for himself. Her hand shakes as she brings the glass to her mouth. He takes the flute from her and sits it on the table. Concern etched in his face, he rubs his palms up and down her arms. “Are you cold?”
“No.” Shivers of desire surge through her body. All night he’s been the perfect gentleman, never implying he wants anything other than a romantic dinner. Which makes her want him even more. Without giving herself time to change her mind, she leans forward and presses her mouth to his.
After the slightest pause, he kisses her back, parting her lips with his tongue. He delves inside, deepening the intensity as he cups her face. She moans and curls his shirt under her fingers, breathless with the need to pull him closer. Running his hands up her back and into her hair, he gently tips back her head, scorching her skin with urgent kisses under her ear and down her throat. Her fingers fumble with his shirt buttons, aching to feel his bare skin against her.
He stills. “Are you sure?”
She smiles at his whisper, and nods her head. In one quick movement, he stands up and pulls her against him, searching her face before they walk upstairs.
In the darkened bedroom, lit by a single lamp, he stops next to the bed. Stripping off his shirt, he throws it on the chair. His eyes never leave hers as he reaches behind her and slowly unzips her dress. She trembles as it drops to the floor, and she steps out of the pooled fabric. He reaches for her again, caressing the back of her head while he holds her. “Thank you for coming into my life.”
Overwhelmed by the reality of being in his bedroom, wearing only her bra and panties, she lets out a shaky breath, unable to find the right words to respond. He kisses the top of her head before stepping back. “Don’t move. I need to get something for you.”
Her heart pounds as he walks over to the dresser and picks up a t-shirt before coming back. “It’s kind of big, but why don’t you put this on?”
After pulling it over her head, she wraps her arms around herself. Humiliation heats her cheeks. He no longer wants her. “I don’t understand.”
Caressing her cheek, he smiles at her. “I think we should wait. I don’t want you to be scared. I want you to be excited. It’ll happen when the time is right.” He tugs the fabric between his fingers. “But will you still stay with me tonight?”
Even with her unintentional indecisiveness, his tenderness never wavers. After she nods, he draws back the white comforter on the platform bed. He climbs in next to her, wrapping his arm around her waist and laying his head on her shoulder.
“I don’t want to embarrass you, but you’re so nervous I need to know. Are you a virgin?”
She puts her arm on top of his, almost hugging herself more than him, comforting herself from being so wounded she can’t hide her fear. “No. I had a boyfriend in college. We were each other’s firsts.”
“What happened to him? Why did you break up?”
What can she say about the man who loved her, but her mother hated? Who wanted to give her a nice, quiet life as a doctor’s wife when she tired of the frantic pace of the music industry. Who her mom swore would leave her for some gold-digging nurse at the hospital. “Evan’s very sweet. A really good guy. The kind of man you could marry and be happy with for the rest of your life. But he and my mom didn’t get along.”
His body stiffens next to her, his arm tightening around her waist. “Why not?”
All three of them guilty. All of them making irrational decisions that hurt themselves and each other. Not realizing the effect on her until she met Nick. “She didn’t trust him, even though he never gave either of us any reason not to. She said he was just like every other man—if you gave him your heart, he would break it. I never could convince her he wasn’t like that.” She takes a deep breath, seeking to release her tension from the memories. “I tried to make it work. Eventually, I had to choose between them.”
“So, you would be with him now if it wasn’t for your mom?”
“I hadn’t thought about it like that, but yes, I guess so.” No more questions come. Unable to see his face in the darkness, she entwines her fingers in his, trying to make a connection with him again. “What about you? You’re a cute guy. You’ve probably had lots of women in your life.”
He laughs softly, his breath warming her shoulder through the thin fabric of the borrowed t-shirt. “Not as many as you seem to think.”
“What’s not too many?”
“I dated a few women in college. Nothing serious. There was a woman I was seeing a few years ago, but it wasn’t good. I seem to have a bad habit of dating women who have a lot of drama in their lives.” His hand grazes her cheek as he nuzzles her hair. “I think I’ve made a better choice this time.”
She smiles at the humor in his voice, responding to his returned playfulness. “Oh? I didn’t realize you were seeing someone.”
His fingers move to her ribs, making her squeal with laughter. “Always trying to be funny, aren’t you?”
They’re quiet for a few minutes. She traces his arm with her fingertips, wondering why he settles for cuddling with her when both of them want so much more, questioning how he can accept being with her like this when there are so many women willing to give him what he needs.
