Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
“ T he Aquarium?” Audra exclaimed, eyes wide as the chauffeur pulled up to the building.
When Damon had told her to dress casually and wear comfortable shoes, she had silently worried about what that meant but was open to new adventures. Anticipating an outdoor activity, she wore black jeans, a floral, loose-fitting top, and wedge heels.
This, however, was a surprise.
The Georgia Aquarium was an animal sanctuary of more than 600,000 square feet and contained more than eleven million gallons of water. She hadn’t visited in two years, when she had been a chaperone for her daughter’s preschool class trip.
“This ain’t no regular schmegular trip to the Aquarium. You’re about to get the VIP access tour.” Standing outside the car, Damon extended a hand and helped her out.
“Oooh, VIP? I can’t wait.”
They had stayed in touch the entire week and talked almost every day on the phone—even when he was out of town. She loved hearing his voice and discussing everything under the sun, which made her feel closer to him, as if they’d known each other for years.
She had also sent him suggestions on how to improve his home, and he liked the ideas, promising he would order the items right away.
Hand in hand, they walked to a side door, which was opened from the inside by a uniformed guide. The young man—who looked a few years younger than Audra—greeted them with a cheery “Welcome!” and ushered them inside.
Deliciously overwhelmed, she felt like a princess walking through the empty aquarium after hours. The interior was dimly lit, the large tanks filled with water and emitting soothing light in shades of blue and green.
The guide led them to a table covered with a crisp white tablecloth.
“This is nice,” Audra breathed, taking in the shimmering light from the tank beside them and the colorful fish darting through the water.
Damon picked up the bouquet of flowers from the table and presented them to her. He was comfortably dressed in high-end black deerskin sneakers, a short-sleeved navy Henley, and khaki slacks.
Audra pressed her nose to the flower petals and inhaled their perfumed scent. “What is all this for?” she whispered.
“I want tonight to be unforgettable, so the next time I ask you out, you don’t hesitate.”
“I didn’t hesitate when you asked me out.”
“Yeah, you did. You took way too long to respond to my text.”
“Because I wasn’t by my phone when you texted,” Audra explained. She couldn’t remember anyone ever going to this much trouble for her before. Even more impressive was that he’d planned the entire night without her input. “I don’t know what to say. Who raised you, Casanova and Cupid?”
Damon chuckled and pulled out her chair. “I’m going to assume that means I’m doing a good job.”
“You are. I feel very special.” She settled into the seat and placed the flowers on the table. “I don’t know a single person who can say they had dinner with sharks and fish watching.”
“Now you’ll be the one to tell that story.” His brown eyes sparkled across the table at her. He appeared as excited to unveil the evening as she was to experience it.
The guide left and was replaced by a server, a woman with short blond hair wearing a starched white shirt and black slacks. After she greeted them, she explained the two options for dinner.
They both ordered the caprese salad to start and the herb-roasted chicken breast as an entrée. Audra was happy for the poultry option because she didn’t feel right eating fish in front of the fish. While she had the grilled vegetables, Damon opted for the mashed potatoes.
Throughout dinner, conversation flowed easily between them. At the end of the meal, Audra dabbed her lips and placed her napkin on the table. “That was delicious.”
“It was,” Damon agreed.
She studied him across the table. “Do I talk too much about my family?”
“Nah, you don’t. It’s nice. Sounds like you have a lot of fun.”
“We do. I just don’t want you to get bored.”
“I’m not. I promise. Ready to walk off all this food?”
“I am. Should we wait for the server?” Audra looked around for the woman who had waited on them all night.
Damon stood. “No, we’re good. Everything’s taken care of. Come on.”
Audra cradled the flowers in the crook of her arm and took Damon’s hand. The same young man from earlier was waiting nearby, and he led the way through the halls. He explained about the animals they were seeing in the various exhibits and shared interesting facts, making the occasional joke along the way.
The last time Audra had been there, she had been preoccupied with keeping track of the children and making sure they all enjoyed themselves. This time, she felt like the kids must have felt. She oohed and aahed over the manta rays and stepped closer to the glass to examine the sharks and other sea creatures.
“This is amazing,” she whispered. “I’ve been here before, but it’s so different with no distractions and being able to leisurely walk through and check out the exhibits.”
Damon nodded. “It’s different for sure. I wish everybody could experience it like this.”
“Me too.”
The beluga whales were her favorite. They were playful, and one of them swam up to the glass, examining the couple in the same way they were examining him.
When he waved a flipper, Audra laughed. “Did you see that? He must know you’re famous and wants an autograph.”
Damon grinned. “Or he’s trying to steal you away from me. Not gonna happen though.” He slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.
Audra wrapped her arm around his waist and nestled against his side. He was solid and warm, and she was completely at ease being close to him.
After the next round of explanations, the guide left them to explore on their own.
“How old is your daughter?” Damon asked as they strolled along.
“She’ll turn six this summer.”
He looked down at her with surprise.
“Yes, I had her young,” Audra said. “I was nineteen. Having her put me on the straight and narrow path.”
“You gave your parents hell, huh?”
“You could say that.”
He tsked and shook his head. “It’s always the quiet ones.”
“I’m not bad… I don’t know, I had a rebellious stage, I guess, and I stressed out my parents from time to time.”
“It’s a rite of passage for some people.”
“Did you have a bad period?”
“Let’s just say my parents were glad when I got really involved with baseball.”
Audra chuckled softly to herself. “So, you don’t have any kids?”
“Nope.”
“Do you want kids?”
“One day. I can see myself as a dad.”
Audra didn’t know him well at that moment, but for some reason, she could see him as a father too. He was the strong, silent type, and she imagined he’d be the kind of father who didn’t yell much, but with one stern word, his kids would straighten up. But there was a playfulness about him that would make him a fun dad, as well.
The evening ended too soon, and then they were on their way back to her house. The drive home passed quickly, and Audra longed for more time to talk and laugh with him.
At the doorway of her house, she clutched the flowers to her side and turned to face him while the driver waited. “I had a wonderful night.”
“So did I.” Damon stepped closer. “So next time I call or text, can I expect a quicker response?”
“Yes, Damon, if I see your text right away.”
“Good.”
Slowly, the smiles faded from their faces as they gazed into each other’s eyes. Audra held her breath, her heart knocking against her ribs in a nervous rhythm.
Kiss me, she silently pleaded.
As if he heard her, Damon’s eyes dropped to her lips, and without saying a word, he slowly bent his head and brushed his mouth against hers. In response to the fleeting touch, she inhaled deeply and curled her fingers into his shirt.
His hand slid under her hair to the back of her neck, and he pulled her against him. Audra parted her lips and invited him in, allowing his tongue to touch hers. God, she had been waiting for this—anticipating it the entire night from the moment he picked her up. She dipped her head back, savoring the deepening kiss, sliding one arm around to his broad back and pressing her aching nipples into his firm chest.
The need to be closer roared through her as their mouths devoured each other. One hand remained fastened around her neck while the other smoothed up and down her back and sent chills along her spine. His lips were hot and demanding, and when he gripped her ass cheek, a moan and violent shudder traveled through her.
Damon pressed her against the door and shoved his knee between her legs. Every inch of his hard length pressed into her lower belly, making her panties wet with want. She arched her hips and ground her core against him, silently pleading for more. Like a man staking his claim, Damon dragged a possessive hand over the swell of her breasts, and she gasped as desire thudded throughout her groin.
Suddenly, he lifted his head, and she released a soft whimper of disapproval. She wanted more. Her body ached with need, and between her thighs throbbed with hunger.
Damon looked down at her with dark eyes, his labored breathing matching hers. “I better go now,” he whispered huskily.
Audra bit her bottom lip. “Okay,” she said, trying hard not to pout. What she really wanted was to sneak him upstairs and let him pound her through the mattress.
He dropped a quick kiss to her mouth, and she pressed her forehead against his. She couldn’t remember ever feeling like this, or having this… ache , this need , to be close to a man. It was consuming her.
“Have a good night, beautiful.” He whispered the words, his warm breath brushing her swollen lips.
Don’t leave , she wanted to beg. Instead, she said, “You too.”
He waited until she went inside before descending the stairs to the car. Audra watched through the window as the vehicle disappeared down the drive.
Touching her throbbing mouth, she relived the scrape of his beard on her skin and the intensity of the kiss.
Oh boy.
She was falling for him—completely and undeniably, without a shred of resistance.