Chapter 23
Melody
Affection and desire pulsed through Melody’s body as Ben walked her up to her apartment following their date.
By all accounts, first dates could be akin to walking a tightrope, wanting to impress without coming on too strong.
Conversation could lag. Personal space could feel disrespected.
Deal-breakers could be unearthed. Any number of pitfalls could arise to derail the evolution of a relationship.
Nothing even remotely close to that had happened this evening.
Instead, Melody found herself craving increasing levels of closeness and connection.
Ben had been incredible from the moment he’d knocked on her door—so much so that she found herself wondering how such a diamond could still be single.
Not only had she enjoyed a phenomenal few hours in his company, it hadn’t escaped her notice that he’d taken hours of his time to research and arrange tonight’s events.
She could barely believe the lengths he’d gone to.
As a star forward in the NHL, money wasn’t something Ben had to worry about.
He certainly hadn’t had to go to either the effort or the expense of renting out an entire restaurant so they could enjoy personalized, hands-on instruction from a man she could well believe was one of the best French chefs in the city, though.
Ben was displaying all the signs of a man who was genuinely interested in her. And thank goodness for that. Any last vestiges of willpower she’d been able to put forth to resist falling hard and fast were crumbling before her eyes.
Despite her reticence to falling for any false image of Ben she might have unwittingly constructed in her mind, she was coming to believe he really was as good as her fantasy image of him.
She knew Ben wasn’t perfect. Maybe he had messy kitchen cupboards or left clean laundry in baskets without ever putting it away.
She still had a lot to learn about him, but what she did know was like a daydream brought to life.
Her heart raced as they drew closer to her apartment door.
Her mind flashed with all the possibilities that lay ahead in the minutes to come.
Thus far, his touch had been little more than friendly and chivalrous.
While she appreciated his gentleman-like reserve and knew she had drawn some measure of comfort from his not being too physical with her too soon, she now found herself wanting more.
She felt so out of her depth, but also somehow comfortable, which was enough to make her want to push her boundaries and take things to the next level.
But maybe that would happen organically, without much effort on her part.
Surely, he would make more of a physical overture and at least try to kiss her goodnight?
That was standard for a first date that had gone well, wasn’t it?
Once again, she wished she had more experience to draw from.
Her heart was beating a mile a minute by the time they reached her front door. “I had a wonderful time tonight,” she offered with sincerity. “Thank you for an incredible evening.”
“Thank you,” Ben returned in a way that made her feel like she was the one who had made their evening so remarkable.
Something about the way he was looking at her made her feel bold. “Maybe we can do it again sometime.”
Her breath caught as he took a step forward, closing the distance between them. “Depend on it,” he promised, his whisper-soft voice sending chills down her spine.
Chemistry crackled in the space between them.
She’d felt the connection from that very first moment in the Challengers’ locker room when Ben had interjected a Little Mermaid quote into her argument with Eric.
It was a kind of immediate physical attraction she’d never felt before and hadn’t even known was possible.
In that moment, she knew a kiss was inevitable. As if of its own volition, her chin tilted up to better receive the caress she felt certain was coming. Her lips felt like they were being pulled to his like a marionette being worked by its master. All she could do was heed the tug.
As Ben bent down and angled his head toward hers, she got up on tiptoes to meet him halfway. Warmth filled her when their lips finally connected. She sighed, overtaken by a sense of coming home.
Ben positioned his hands on either side of her head, the better to create the perfect slant for his lips to explore hers.
The kiss was sweet and soft. His lips moved over hers with feather lightness, satisfying something deep within her, while inflaming her desire for more.
A symphony played in the background of her consciousness as their lips melded, learning the taste and texture of the other.
She’d never known that a kiss could feel like this. Time stood still as unspoken words passed between them. Attraction. Anticipation. Connection. Rapture.
All too soon, Ben pulled away, popping the happy bubble she’d found herself floating in. She felt bereft and awash with confusion at the sudden distance between them.
“Thanks again for a great night,” Ben said as he stroked the underside of her jawline with his thumb. “I hope to have many more like it with you in the future.”
Melody nodded dumbly as Ben placed one more soft kiss on her lips before smiling down at her and walking off in the direction of the stairwell.
Melody chewed on her lower lip as she dug her keys out of her purse and let herself into her apartment.
She’d thought the date had gone so well.
She’d had a great time, Ben had knocked her socks off with a kiss that was at once both sweet and scorching, and he’d clearly expressed a desire to see her again.
So why then, Melody thought as she paused in her entryway and twisted around to survey Ben’s departing form, was she now wondering if she’d done something wrong?
If he’d been half as affected as she’d been, she couldn’t help but feel like he would have been walking through her door instead of away from it.