7. Nash
I sit across from Leni at the small, intimate table, my plate of food largely forgotten as I watch her dive into her pasta. The way she twirls the strands around her fork is hypnotic, and it’s driving me absolutely crazy. There’s something about the way she bites her lip, her eyes lighting up with each delicious mouthful, that sends my mind spiraling into an abyss of untamed desire.
The rich aroma of the food fades into the background as all I can focus on is her. Each little laugh escaping her lips, the way she brushes her hair back from her face, all of it captivates me. Hell, I can hardly remember what I ordered; my entire universe has shrunk down to the mesmerizing sight of her enjoying dinner. Just watching her has my cock rock-hard and ready.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, desperate to recalibrate my thoughts. Each inhale is supposed to bring sanity, but all it brings is the echo of her laughter painted across my mind. The scent of her shampoo still lingers on my skin from earlier, and now I’m drowning in a sea of temptation. I want her, need her, more than I want my next breath. And right now, every instinct in my body is screaming at me to throw caution to the wind.
I open my eyes again just in time to see her smack her lips together, a satisfied look on her face. Damn. The way she savors the food, it’s like she’s teasing me. “How…” I start, voice thick with need that I can’t hide, “how is the pasta?”
She laughs, raising her glass of wine and leaning forward, oblivious to the havoc she’s wreaking on my composure. “It’s amazing! Would you like a bite?”
“ Of you,” flashes through my mind and nearly slips out before I can stop it. “Thank you,” I say on a breath, fighting to keep the tone light, but the air between us is charged as hell. I’m wrestling with my impatience, wanting to reach across the table and yank her toward me.
When she holds her fork out to me, I force myself to open my mouth. I’m betting the seafood pasta is delicious, but I can’t taste a thing. “It’s great, isn’t it?”
“Delicious,” I mutter as temptation coils within me like a spring, and I’m tempted to hoist her over my shoulder and rush out of this restaurant, damn the consequences. But I fight it. I need to keep my cool. Now isn’t the time to scare her off after this incredible night. So, I force myself to breathe steadily and deeply.
But it doesn’t help. The more I watch her, the less control I have. My mind automatically wanders to thoughts I shouldn’t indulge in here in the busy restaurant. The scene in my head shifts to what I’d really rather be doing to her curvy body.
“I doubt anyone’s ever gotten half as excited about a plate of pasta as you do,” I say casually, but inside, I know it’s just a cover for how wound up I am. The chaos of my thoughts is relentless, battling against the cool facade I’m trying to maintain.
As Leni giggles and takes another bite, I can barely keep my hands from clenching into fists on the table. Everything about this moment feels like it’s on the precipice of something explosive, and I want in. I want her, but I can wait. I have to. But God help me, patience isn’t exactly my strong suit.
The way Leni leans across the table to catch my gaze with her lips curving in a wicked smile drives me wild. “Would you like to come back to my place to watch a movie?” she asks, her voice dipping low and full of mischief.
My cock hardens as pure adrenaline pulses through me. I don’t think twice. “Hell yes,” I reply, practically bouncing in my seat like a kid in a candy store. This night just keeps getting better, and I’m more than ready to seize the chance.
On the drive back to her place, I grip the steering wheel a little tighter than necessary, feeling the nerves hum beneath my skin. The prospect of spending the evening alone with Leni soothes something deep in my soul. “What're we watching?” I ask as I drive, trying to keep my voice steady and casual.
“Whatever you want,” she replies, laughing lightly. “I saw a new horror movie advertised on Netflix.” There’s that glimmer of teasing in her eyes again, and all I can think about is how good she looks framed in the glow of the streetlights. “I’ve been dying to watch it.”
“Horror movies?” This part of her surprises me a little bit. But honestly? I’d watch just about anything if it meant spending time alone with her.
After a short drive, we pull up to her apartment complex and I park near her door. Adrenaline flows through me as I step out and round the car to help her out. She walks hand in hand with me, and the confident sway of hers makes my pulse quicken.
When we enter her apartment, I’m struck by how cozy it feels. It’s a warm space, brimming with her unique, sassy personality. The color palette features bold pinks, rich purples, and soft pastels. She’s lined the walls with a mix of art, including everything from funky prints to vintage posters.
She’s got a dark purple velvet sofa paired with quirky orange and pink accent chairs. Throw pillows in various textures and patterns add layers of comfort and flair.
Before we get too far, Boo saunters into the room, her tail flicking disdainfully.
“Hey, Boo,” I greet the cat, but she merely glares at me before marching off without a second glance.
“I think the love affair is over,” I mutter as the hefty black cat hops up on the velvet sofa.
Leni giggles, shaking her head. “Don’t take it personally. Boo holds grudges like a pro. Just give her time and a few pets and she’ll get over it soon enough.”
“Or she’ll plot my demise,” I quip back, shooting her an exaggerated look of horror.
“She’s always plotting something.” Leni laughs and walks over to give the cat a scratch. “Just don’t forget her can of tuna the next time you come over,” she adds, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“I’ll buy a case of it,” I say with a grin as Leni walks over to the kitchen.
“Would you like something to drink?” My girl fidgets a little while clicking her nails on the countertop.
All I want is her. “No, thank you. I’m good,” I reply.
“Alright, just take a seat,” she says, and I catch the playful twinkle in her eye before she rushes off to her bedroom. “I’ll be right back. These shoes are killing me. I’m going to change into my Netflix and chill outfit.”
I settle on the couch and Boo saunters over, eyeing me with suspicion before finally deciding I’m not a total threat and jumping into my lap. I scratch behind her ears absently, but my mind is buzzing with thoughts of Leni.
A moment later, she reappears, and my breath catches. She’s switched to snug black yoga pants that hug her luscious curves just right and a faded concert sweatshirt. Damn, this woman is something else. She radiates a casual allure that ignites a primal hunger inside me.
“Ready for a scary movie?” she asks, plopping down next to me, the cushion shifting under her weight. She’s relaxed, confident, and the way she fits next to me makes the heat flicker between us even stronger.
I smirk at her choice of movie genre. “I can’t believe you like horror movies.”
She laughs, sweet and unfiltered, and a wave of possessive hunger courses through my veins, igniting something primal deep within me. “I’ve been addicted since I was ten years old,” she says, snuggling closer, the warmth of her body a delicious distraction. The way she leans into me sends my mind spiraling, homing in on the scent of her shampoo mixed with the underlying sweet scent of Leni. “My mom went out of town and left me and my dad at home,” she continues, her voice almost dreamy as she reminisces. “Needless to say, he’s the weakest link of the two. I begged and begged, and he finally caved and let me watch Friday the 13th .”
A smile spreads across my face as I picture the mischievous little girl she must have been. There’s a rebellious spark in her, the fire that lights up her gaze even now as she shares this story. “That’s the start of your horror addiction, huh?” I tease, nudging her gently with my shoulder, feeling that spark between us surge again.
She grins, a fierce light in her eyes. “Absolutely! It was glorious. I had nightmares for weeks, but I loved every second of it.”
The thought of her as a fearless little girl, curled up on the couch with her dad, heart racing with excitement and fear, only makes her more alluring to me. “You were a tiny badass, huh?” I smirk, unable to suppress the warmth swelling in my chest. “So, what do you think your dad thought, letting his daughter loose on a classic slasher flick at ten?”
“Oh, he definitely regretted it.” She laughs again, leaning against me with a comfort that sends a rush of warmth through my chest. There’s a playful intensity in her gaze now that makes my blood hum with undeniable attraction. “I ended up sleeping on the floor at the foot of their bed for several weeks after that.”
“But that didn’t stop you from loving horror movies.” The strong desire to know more about this fierce woman beside me overwhelms me.
For a moment, she locks her eyes on mine, and the playful banter fades out into charged silence, thick with possibilities. Just like that, I realize that as much as she’s shared with me, peeling back layers of her past, I want to peel back even more. I want to explore every facet of her. This confident, passionate woman has me completely captivated. Each laugh, each word she shares draws me in deeper, igniting a possessive urge to claim her forever.
“I freaking love them.” She reaches over and gives the snoozing cat a quick scratch on the back. “Poor Boo has to deal with sleeping with the light on after we watch them.”
I admire that fearless attitude, the way she owns her space and her choices. As she grabs the remote, I’m struck by how fucking sexy she is, the way her confidence holds me spellbound.
“Maybe you could stay tonight so we can sleep with the light off,” she fires back, and the glint in her eye tells me she’s feeling the pull between us, too. She hops up and turns off all the lights before returning to sit next to me.
“I’ll do anything for you.” I hug her close to my side as the movie flickers to life. The tension in the room thickens with every heartbeat. I can feel her pulse racing next to me as the adrenaline of jump scares blasts through the air and simmers between us. Each time something unexpected happens on-screen, I sneak a glance at her, seeing the way she reacts, caught between excitement and fear.
But I lost all interest in the movie the moment Leni settled beside me. I’m drawn to her and the physical chemistry igniting between us. She rolls her eyes at a cheesy jump scare, laughing, and it reverberates in my chest. I can’t help it. I lean in closer, my lips brushing against her ear.
In this crazy moment with the horror movie dimming down and Leni stealing all of my senses, a fierce realization hammers home. I’ll never let her go. I’m captivated by this fiery woman. She’s a force of nature who’s ignited something crazy deep inside me.