26 #2
"Okay." Blissfully unaware of me turning ten different shades of blue, Maddie flipped through the cases in her hand.
"Oooh, we should start with this one." She murmured the words more to herself than me which was a damn good thing.
I didn't believe I'd be able to string two words together let alone a coherent sentence.
After she popped the DVD into the player, she snatched the remotes from the coffee table and plonked down next to Sheldon. She was so close to me, if I stretched out my arm across the top of the couch, I'd be able to brush my fingers over the back of her neck.
I wanted to do just that.
Instead, I focused on the opening credits rolling over the screen while the band begged someone to be their baby. My eyebrow arched high. Whatever bumping and grinding the people on screen were doing, it sure as shit wasn't dancing.
"Uh, what exactly are we watching?"
Maddie grabbed the bag of popcorn and opened it. After popping a few into her mouth, she turned to me and grinned. "Only the best movie ever."
My brow climbed even higher. "Which is?"
"Are you kidding?" Her eyes grew wide. "You've seriously never watched this?"
My gaze flicked to the TV where big, bright pink letters scribbled across the screen informed me the film was titled Dirty Dancing . Fitting, considering the first three minutes resembled some kind of foreplay.
"Nope, can honestly say I have not."
My face must've given away my reservations because Maddie burst out laughing. She reached over Sheldon and patted my thigh. "It's not that bad, I promise."
I focused on her delicate fingers splayed across my leg. "If you say so."
"All right." She patted my leg once more before removing her hand. "Tell you what, if by the end you still hate it, I'll watch whatever you want me to watch."
My gaze sought hers out. "Anything?"
"Yup, anything."
I narrowed my eyes and thought of the one movie my sister hated. Not because it was bad, but the ending was so unexpected. I, of course, thought it was genius. "Even Braveheart ? "
Maddie wrinkled her nose and I had the urge to kiss the tip of it. "Of all the movies in the world that's the one you pick."
I tapped my chin and pretended to think. "How about 300 or Gladiator ?" Her groan told me she'd seen both and most likely didn't want to again.
She threw another piece of popcorn into her mouth and after chewing and swallowing it down, she said, "Luckily I don't have to decide until this one is done."
"Only if I like it," I quipped.
She shot me a self-assured grin. "Oh, you'll love it."
"That so?"
"Yes! Now shh and watch the movie."
"So damn bossy," I muttered, giving my attention to the screen.
For all of ten minutes. I'd wanted to concentrate on what was happening on the television, but as if it had a mind of its own, my gaze kept flicking to Maddie.
Not only did she know the movie word for word but the smile playing on her lips never wavered.
"This is such a good part," she said quietly, forcing me to pay attention to what was happening.
The girl made some comment about carrying a watermelon that Maddie found absolutely hilarious. I had to wonder, as the heroine stared at the hero of the story, if I looked like that whenever my gaze followed Maddie.
Could she see the amazement, the wonder, the want on my face?
When the pair finally made it to the dancefloor together, it was my turn to chuckle because that girl's stiffness in her hips had nothing on mine. "I'd probably break something if I tried that," I muttered, pointing at the screen.
I barely had time to blink before Maddie was up on her feet, pulling me right along with her. Her hands landed on my hips and I sucked in a sharp breath.
She was manhandling me; trying to rotate my hips first left then right while I thought of ice creams and cold showers.
"You're stiff as a board," Maddie exclaimed. Yeah, no kidding . "You have to loosen up. Like this…"
Every rational thought left my body the instant she took my hands and set them on her hips. Beneath my palms, I could feel the warmth of her skin seep through the soft layers of her clothing.
I wanted to grip her tighter and pull her body flush against mine. I needed it almost as much as I needed my next breath.
"Shit. Maddie…wait." I took a big step backward; almost falling over the chaise when the back of my legs hit the couch.
"What's the matter?" She moved forward, but I stopped her with a jerky shake of my head. The confused look on her beautiful face nearly killing me.
"Gimme a sec." My voice was so rough, I doubted she heard me.
"Did I do something wrong?"
I swiped my palm over my mouth, barely hiding my uncomfortable chuckle. "You didn't do anything, Maddie. It's me. "
Despite the warning look I gave her, she advanced on me. Touching her hand to my chest the instant she was able to do so. Electricity zipped through my veins. The heat of her touch searing me even through the fabric of my shirt.
Every nerve ending in my body felt alive and on fire.
"Could you not touch me for a minute?" I snapped.
But this woman, this gorgeous creature in front of me, knew exactly where my frustration was coming from. Taking another step closer, her palm swept up and curled over my shoulder.
Her breasts grazed my chest when she pushed onto the tips of her toes. I had to grit my teeth and use all my strength not to bow my head. If I did, not even a breath would separate our mouths and there was no way I'd be able to resist tasting her.
Of course, Maddie was unaware of the war raging inside of me.
"Oh." She dropped back onto her heels. "I'm sorry, you said…" She shook her head and muttered, "I thought you wanted me too." The words were so soft, but she might as well have yelled them from the rooftops.
She made a move to turn around, but my hand shot out first, fingers curling around her wrist. One tug was all it took for our bodies to mash together. My other hand possessively wrapped around the back of her neck, pressing our foreheads together.
We were so close, my lips brushed against hers with every word I spoke, "I want you so bad, it fucking hurts. "
Tilting my head slightly, I finally, finally , sealed my mouth over hers. My eyes fell shut. Maddie sighed. Soft pliable lips met mine, and it took every bit of strength I had not to swallow her whole.
Another sigh blew into my mouth when she opened up, giving my wondering tongue permission to slip inside. We matched each other stroke for hungry stroke. The kiss wet and dirty as we both tried to give as good as we were getting.
Maddie's arms banded around my waist, the action bringing our bodies even closer together. A groan filled with pure need rumbled through my chest when she hummed at what she felt pressed against her.
I wanted to hear more of it.
Wanted to taste more of her.
My hand slipped into her hair, winding her silky tresses tightly around my fist while the other slid down and over the curve of her ass.
Curling my fingers, I squeezed hard and pressed her soft body even deeper into my hard one.
Her moan was loud and needy and so damn sexy.
As was the way her mouth was moving over mine in the same insatiable way I wanted her.
Like she too couldn't get enough.
Maddie lifted her leg, dragging her knee along my outer thigh. My hand dropped and gripped her tighter, fingers digging into her hot skin. Hard. I wouldn't be surprised if bruises matching my fingertips showed up the next morning.
Another animalistic sound rumbled through my chest when she rocked her hips against mine. It felt so damn good, the bulge straining against my zipper jumped in excitement.
If a kiss could feel this big, this consuming, how much more magnified would it be when I lost myself in the warmth of her body?
I wanted it.
Wanted to own every inch of her and give her all of me. Wanted, no needed, to hear my name on her lips when pleasure ripped through her body. It was the only thing I could think of until I felt her hand slip beneath my shirt and reality slapped me in the face.
Up until now, she hadn't given me a single reason to believe she'd look at me with repulsion, but she also hadn't seen what was hidden beneath the cotton of my tee.
Even more, I wasn't ready for her to see.
Gripping her wrist, I dragged her hand up and pressed a kiss to the center of her palm. My eyes locked onto hers. One look at the want shining in those whiskey irises and I figured I was likely the world's biggest idiot. "Nothing's rushing us."
She stared at me for a long second before her gaze dropped to my mouth and stayed there even longer. "We're going slow." Her eyes flicked back to mine. "Got it."
Is she…? Oh yeah, this gorgeous woman was full-on pouting. Barking out a laugh, I cradled her cheeks between my palms and pressed my mouth to hers in a quick smacking kiss. Before either of us had the opportunity to deepen it, I pulled back and took her hand in mine.
"Come on, Let's finish this movie so we can decide whether we're watching Braveheart , Gladiator , or 300 next."