6. Savanna #3
“No,” I whisper, and I swear he looks gutted by my answer before I quickly say, “I think you having to be so close to your computer at all times is cute and very adorably you, but I don’t think you’re cute, Niki.
Cute is for puppies and your friend’s younger brother. That word will never do you justice.”
“What do you think I am then?”
His voice is whisper-soft between us. He’s turned to face me so we’re only inches apart, and his bedroom suddenly feels much smaller than it actually is.
I run my eyes up his chest, over the neck tattoos, the sculpted jaw and slightly quirked mouth, the nose ring that I’m still dying to kiss, and then finally to the pair of grey eyes that will always knock me on my ass every time they’re directed at me.
Too many things are running through my mind right now for me to be able to lie or downplay what I’m feeling, so instead I open my mouth and tell him the truth.
“Sexy,” is the first word that pops out, and when he hears it, his smile starts to grow.
“So unbelievably sexy it makes me a little nervous to even be around you.” He laughs at that, but now that I’ve started, I can’t seem to stop.
“You’re gorgeous and sweet and so very smart, and your intelligence is just as hot as the rest of you.
I can’t stop thinking about you, and I can’t tell what you think about me and it’s driving me crazy. ”
His thumb caresses my hand, and when I squeeze his finger, he gives me the sweet smile I love so much. He slowly brings his other hand up and then gently runs it through my hair.
“I’ve been dying to do that,” he admits. “It’s just as soft as I thought it would be.” Bringing his eyes back to mine, he asks, “You really can’t tell how I feel about you?”
“I thought maybe you liked me, but you never asked Cindy for my number. You never tried to get in touch with me or anything, so I thought you weren’t interested, or that you were seeing someone else.”
“I’m not seeing anyone else,” he says, quickly dissolving that particular fear. “I didn’t ask for your number because I already had it. I looked it up after the night I first met you.”
“You did? Why didn’t you call me?”
Dragging his finger along my jaw, he brushes back my hair and then gently tucks it behind my ear. “Because I thought there was no way in hell someone as beautiful as you would ever be interested in me. You could have anyone, Van.”
“You don’t have the faintest idea how gorgeous you are, do you?” I ask, because it’s obvious he’s not just being humble. He truly believes I’m out of his league, which is so crazy I actually laugh.
“You’re laughing at me now?” A grin is still playing at his lips as he drags his knuckle over my dimple.
When my laughter dies and I suck in a quick breath at his touch, he says, “I really want to kiss you, Van, but before I do that I want you to know something. I’ve wanted you since the first second I laid eyes on you, and you’ve been all I can think about since that moment.
It may not have been obvious to you, but it has been to everyone in my family.
I’m shy. I’ll try to get over that for you, but just so you know, I’ve never done the things that I’ve done for you for anyone else. ”
“You haven’t?”
“I haven’t.” He gives me one of his shy smiles and says, “I’ve never dated anyone.
I’ve never had a girlfriend. My work has always been my life, ever since I was young.
” He lets out an embarrassed groan. “God, that’s really humiliating to admit that to you, but I want to see you, I want to spend time with you, and I want you to know the truth. ”
“I’ve never had a serious relationship either,” I tell him. “I had a few boyfriends in high school, and I’ve gone on a couple of dates since starting college, but I wasn’t interested in any of them, so I never did any second dates, and then I just stopped altogether.”
“I think you’re misunderstanding me,” he says. “I’ve never done anything, Van. I’m not saying I’ve just done casual hookups. I’m saying I’ve never done anything.”
I try not to look as stunned as I feel, but he must see it on my face because his cheeks turn a little red, and when he tries to pull his hand away from mine, I grab onto his finger and squeeze it tightly, refusing to let him go.
“I’ve never done anything either,” I tell him, and then it’s his turn to look surprised. “I mean, I did make out with my high school boyfriend, but it was awful and very tame, like PG-level tame.”
“I’m jealous,” he admits with a grin, “and I’m also very glad he set the bar so low for me.”
I laugh and nod. “He did. It’s super low. You’ve got nothing to worry about. You’ve already surpassed him and you haven’t even kissed me yet.”
“Well, that does take the pressure off.”
Instead of just leaning in and closing the distance, he threads his fingers into my hair, cupping the back of my head as he lowers his face close to mine.
I squeeze his finger tighter. Nerves and excitement race through me, both fighting for dominance, but when I feel the heat of his breath against my lips, all that disappears, leaving me with a desire for this man that threatens to consume me.
Bringing my free hand up, I lightly brush my fingers along his smooth jaw.
Aside from me taking full advantage of the motorcycle rides, this is my first time freely touching him, and when he leans into my touch, I know he’s giving me the green light to keep going.
I graze his cheek before running my fingertips along the curve of his ear, and when I start to run my fingers through his hair, he lets out a soft groan, closing his eyes at my touch.
The dark strands are silky soft, and when I give them a gentle tug, his eyes open in surprise.
His grey eyes search mine, prolonging the moment until I feel like I can’t wait a second longer.
With one hand cupping the back of his neck and the other still squeezing his finger, I pull him closer and whisper, “Kiss me.”