Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Charity
We curl up on the couch after decorating Rhett’s tree. The place that sold us the tree also had lights for sale and some shiny Christmas balls that we’d arranged on the branches with our popcorn and cranberry garland. We’ve gone through the first Christmas movie and are on our second. Sometime after the lights went on Rhett asked me if I wanted something to drink and I’m on my second glass of wine.
I wasn’t sure I was going to like it but it’s actually very nice. That wine along with the warmth of his apartment, the movie and his arms wrapped around me have my eyelids turning heavy and relaxed as we watch.
Rhett moves under me, and I realize I might have been dozing off. I should go home but I still don’t want this night to end.
“Merry Christmas, Charity.”
I look up at him and notice his phone in his hands. “It’s Christmas?”
“It is.”
Wow. I can’t believe it’s finally Christmas. I give him a smile before he surprises me by dipping his head and taking my mouth with his. It’s not an advance as much as a celebration that we are ringing in Christmas together and not alone. When he pulls back, it’s my turn to press my lips to his as a way to celebrate too. Then it’s his turn and back to mine.
Sometime over the course of our celebrating the kiss turns more intense, more frantic. I can’t help but wonder if he can tell I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. If he can, he doesn’t let on or pull his mouth from mine to tell me how sucky my kisses are. In fact, he is the one who tips my head to the side for a better angle. It’s like he’s trying to teach me how to do it right. When we take some time to catch our breath, I whisper an apology.
“Sorry. I’m sorry.”
“For what, angel?”
“Not having any idea what I’m doing.”
“What?” He pulls even further back so he can stare down into my upturned face.
“I…well…it’s…I don’t really know how to do this…stuff.”
“Kissing?” I nod and try to pull out of his arms trying to hide. “You don’t have a lot of practice kissing, angel?”
“I never…have.”
“Your first kiss?” I nod and prepare myself for him to tell me to leave. “Was it alright I did that, angel? Alright that I took your first kiss?”
I nod my head so hard I’m pretty sure I get vertigo from it.
“Good, because I really want to do it again.”
“Kiss me?”
This time he nods but it’s not like mine. His is slow and determined and…sexy as hell.
“Can I do that, angel? Can I kiss you? Will you give me Christmas kisses, Charity?”
“Yes,” I say it so low and soft I’m worried he didn’t hear it at first but a smile spreads across his full pillow lips that tells me he definitely heard me.
If you had told me this morning I would be spending my Christmas morning kissing a hot guy I just met the night before I would have laughed in your face and told you how crazy that is. Now, I’m sitting in the hot guy’s home practicing my kissing skills. It’s like something out of a holiday romance from Hallmark. Only I wouldn’t mind if it was a little spicier like the books I read instead of strictly PG.
Rhett cups my cheek in his hand and tilts my head perfectly. He brings his lips to mine and softly plays. “Open your mouth for me, angel.”
“Like this?”
I open just a little and he gives me a grunt that might be an affirmation or might be frustration with how little I gave him. He licks my bottom lip and slips the tip of his tongue into the space. A gasp has my mouth opening more and his tongue surges in. He runs his tongue over the roof of my mouth and my tongue, exploring. He speaks without pulling away from my mouth.
“You taste good.”
“Like the wine.”
“Like you with a hint of wine. And you’re doing great. All kissing is about is exploration. Exploring what you taste like. Mm, exploring what you like, what makes you moan when I do it, what makes your heart race.” His hand that was cupping my jaw slips down until it encircles my neck loosely as he goes back to kissing me.
I can answer all those questions with one word…him. He is what I like, what causes me to moan, and what makes my heart race. Just Rhett. Just him.