Chapter 30
We stroll down the walkway toward our building, the moon casting a gentle glow on our path. I do my best to present a cool, calm, and collected version of myself, but the truth is, I’m a raging bundle of frazzled nerves.
As we walk, Daniel’s pinky brushes against mine, barely grazing my skin. Each gentle caress sends a wave of excitement through my veins.
Catching me off guard, he grasps my hand, intertwining our fingers together. My mouth twitches with a secret smile as I steal a glance at our joined hands.
Silently, we stroll toward our building. Hand in hand. Coupled. Two imperfect beings. One perfect unit.
Daniel lifts our entangled hands to his lips, planting a sweet kiss on my knuckles, igniting a surge of warmth within me. “What are you thinking about?” he asks, breaking the silence.
“Nothing in particular. Just living in the moment.”
“Must be a good moment. You have a smile plastered across your face.”
“I do?” I press my lips together, suppressing the smile that wasn’t as secret as I thought.
“You do.”
Do I look overly eager? Desperate? Like a sure thing?
I don’t want him to get the wrong idea. I don’t know what’s going to happen when we reach my door. Parts of my body have already decided, but my brain hasn’t put the final stamp of approval on it.
Yet.
It’s been a long time since I’ve done this. Dating. Desire. Decisions. Will we? Won’t we? Does he want more? Do I?
I inhale a deep breath to help quash my overthinking and catch a whiff of the sexual voodoo that’s wafting through our shared airspace—his enticing scent that drives me wild.
“What’s the name of the cologne you wear?” I ask.
“I don’t wear cologne.”
“Oh.”
How is this possible? My body reacts in the lewdest ways whenever I’m near him. Parts below my waist are unapologetically shameless, and the other parts are unabashedly indecent. His pheromones cast some kind of erotic spell over me.
This man is seriously dangerous.
We arrive at my door and come to a halt. My insides twist and my nerves unravel like a tightly stretched wire on the verge of snapping as I tap my keycard to unlock the door.
Please don’t throw up on his shoes.
“Here we are.” With a gentle touch, he tilts my chin up and our eyes meet.
“Here we are,” I repeat, because articulating thoughts can be difficult when your brain is in the midst of a complete and total shutdown.
Leaning in, he softly presses his lips against mine, and everything around us disappears. It’s a soft, sweet kiss that transports me to a place of sheer bliss.
“Thank you for tonight,” I tell him. “Everything was perfect.”
“Everything?” he asks, a playful glint in his eyes.
“Everything.” Heat rises to my cheeks as I think back to our romantic kiss on the beach.
The best first kiss. The best last kiss. The best any kiss.
I know he’s waiting for a sign from me. That’s one thing I adore about him. There are no assumptions. No obligations. No expectations. And not an ounce of entitlement.
Since we’ve dabbled in this relationship, for lack of a better word, he and I have always been we. What he wants. What I want. What we want. Together.
Truth is, this days-long flirtatious affair is the healthiest relationship I’ve ever had. I don’t know if that’s pathetic or progress, but that’s what it is.
I lick my bottom lip as I drink in this beautiful man. He’s gorgeous… inside and out. My longing for his touch, his body, intensifies with each passing moment.
With a subtle nod, I send a signal, silently conveying my answer. The tension between us crackles with electricity, making the air charged. Desire blazes in his eyes. I know if he could take me here, naked against the door, he would.
And I’d probably let him.
Forcefully, he wraps one arm around my waist and yanks me to him like I’m his for the taking. All his. Only his. For a split-second, I entertain the thought of breaking free…so he can do that again.
Because that move was the gold standard of sexy as fuck.
There’s no distance between us. We haven’t done a thing and I’m already tingling on the inside.
He lowers his head, gently brushing his lips against mine. Each sweeping brush becomes softer, more seductive. I close my eyes, savoring this exquisite pleasure. The delicate touch of the tip of his tongue teases the edge of my lips, igniting an explosion of sensations.
Is Sexplosion a word? If it’s not, it should be.
With a gentle persuasion, I part my mouth, inviting him closer. Our tongues entwine, creating a seductive and intoxicating dance that fuels my yearning for pleasure.
Unhurried, Sensual.
Warm. Wet.
Velvety smooth.
I run my hands up his back, feeling the heat radiating through his shirt. I grasp the back of his head, tangling my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer, craving more.
I want him. I want his body, his mind. All of him. I want the raw, primal connection of sex. Sheet-clawing, naked, raw passion that leaves us both breathless.
We break our kiss, and his forehead gently presses against mine as our thoughts catch up to our breaths.
“Would you like to come in?” I murmur, my voice laced with longing.
“Are you sure?”
I nod and open the door, pulling him into my room.