Page 12 of Dreaming

“Why did you marry?”

“I turned thirty and was suddenly terrified I’d die alone. It was a mistake I recognized before we were done saying our vows but I was too embarrassed to call it off.”

“Trapped in a web of your own making.”

“Sounds like you can relate.” She sipped her wine. “Have you ever been married?”

“I have not. I have a son going into his third year of college. I was sixteen and very, very stupid when he was conceived. Not my finest hour but…certainly not my worst.”

The implication hung between them.

She remarked softly, “Nicki had you pretty fucking crazy if you left your house in the middle of the night at thirty-six.”

“It was the novelty and not just with her. I turned thirty-five and realized I was middle-aged. Acting like some twenty-something doing hookups felt like turning back the clock.” Looking at the table, he inhaled carefully. “I did go a little crazy and there’s no doubt I got stupid.”

“Early mid-life crisis. Now you have that out of the way.” She understood ego, fear, and loneliness.

Lifting his eyes, he met hers. “It could have gone badly for me in ways I never would have imagined…just to feel like some young swinging dick again. That’s nothing compared to how it could have affected you. It was a horrible mistake. I’m deeply sorry for causing you even a moment of stress or fear, Nia.”

“Apology accepted. I apologize for not speaking up before things escalated.” Nia held up her glass. “To lessons learned.”

Dennis tapped the rim of his glass to hers. “How refreshing to speak with a grown woman who conducts herself with dignity and class.” Arching one brow, he added, “And who doesn’t use the word turnt.”

Laughing, relieved to be past the awkward discussion, Nia watched in shock as plate after plate was placed on the table.

Meeting his eyes, he winked at her. “Indulge yourself, Nia. That’s our theme for the evening. Take everything you want and allow me to offer more.”

Nia had always been a person who knew every step of every scenario several moves ahead. She wasn’t impulsive in word or deed. In fact, according to most people other than her mother, she was a bit boring.

The man made her body tremble with need.

Chapter Five

After a dinner that was the very definition of decadent, Dennis took Nia dancing at a jazz club. He held her snugly, as close to him as possible, as they moved around the floor.

There was not one time in her life that she’d ever felt petite in a man’s arms. She’d always been curvy, more than was popular, and more than most men seemed inclined to go after. According to every fashion magazine, she was fat.

She could always tell when a man thought to himself, “She’d be pretty if she lost some weight.”

Just as those thoughts were never hard to interpret, neither were the thoughts Dennis had as he stared into her eyes.

His palms gripped her hips, her ass, massaged over her back, and explored her body more in a public place than any man who’d ever touched her behind closed doors.

They didn’t talk. They didn’t flirt. They simply danced and maintained eye contact for an hour.

It was unbelievably erotic.

Considering their first interaction, it said a lot about the sexual chemistry that flared easily between them.

As a song ended, Dennis gathered Nia even closer and dropped his mouth over hers. The tips of her shoes barely touched the floor as he shredded her with his kiss.

Full lips and a dexterous tongue reminded her about his oral skill. She wasn’t certain it was his intention but that’s where her mind went.

One arm around his back, the fingers of her other hand gripped his wrist as he held the nape of her neck.

Her soft moan was met by a sound that was closest to a growl. It made her nipples furl tightly and she didn’t know that she’d ever been so turned on.

Breaking the kiss, he murmured at her ear, “Are you wet for me, Nia?”

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