Chapter Seven Rome #2
Because something else is . “You should know that being Catholic is—”
He laughed and my words stopped in my throat. Alex said, “Oh, no, no, that’s… God, no. Shit! Sorry! I mean…”
Alex’s cheeks burned an adorable shade of red as he dropped his head into his hands. I put my hand on his back and rubbed in a playful and patronizing way. “Use your words, Alex,” I said, my tone dripping with mock condescension.
He came up from his hands and lightly slugged me in the shoulder.
“It’s not the religion thing. That I don’t quite understand but that’s a conversation for another time.
” He spun on the stool to fully face me.
He cleared his throat. Licked his lips. And boy did he then use his words.
“I like the direction we’re heading and the speed we’re going.
This works for me, especially since I just got out of something serious and abusive.
You are, Rome, a breath of fresh air for me.
Something new and exciting. You also told me that you don’t have a lot of experience.
It’s not a concern but it’s something to consider. ”
“I understand that. It’s been so difficult for me to find a potential partner, let alone be in a relationship.
There’s all these factors and gates that have to be met, and the pool of men is…
I don’t know… one of those backyard plastic pools.
” I snorted and so did Alex. “I get that you’re not here to be my coach, to show me the ropes and—”
His hand shot out again, this time reaching my thigh.
“Oh-ho. That is an incorrect statement, my friend. The prospect of showing you things is very …” His cheeks burned red again and he looked away.
“Well. I’m looking forward to it. But . Again, I have to reiterate, that we need to go slow, okay?
” He leaned back and put on a smarmy affect.
“Because once you get a taste of this, all you’ll want—”
I whacked him on the shoulder and laughed, then suddenly realized that even a playful smack could be triggering. “Oh no, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that. I was trying to be playful. I would never, never hit you like that.”
His hand went back to my leg. “It’s okay, Rome. I know you wouldn’t. And you can be playful, so don’t worry.” He slapped the counter with both hands and blew out air between puffed cheeks. “All right. That’s all for me. Is there anything you wanted to talk about?”
My lips twitched up into a half grin. “Feels like this is a meeting.”
Alex nodded. “Get used to it. Check-ins are important. Best way to communicate.” He swallowed and licked his lips. “If this is going where we want it to, we need to establish that foundation.”
“You got it, coach.” A zing of pleasure hit me at saying that. Oof. That’s gonna keep me up at night . The idea of him giving me direction under the sheets? Guiding me where I needed to go. What brought him the most pleasure. How I could use my body to do that…
Nope. Not thoughts for right now, Rome.
“I think we covered everything. Nothing burning from me,” I said to move things forward and away from the thought of him on his back, legs in the air, coaching me on how slow or fast to move.
Stop it. Stop it right now . I stood from the stool. “Well, I should get going,” I said. “Thank you for breakfast. Could you send me that one picture of the city skyline from the trail?”
“You got it.”
A few days ago he had established a secure drop site between us for pictures.
(I had wanted to tell him he should probably use a different password than “alex123” but that wasn’t my place.) Already he had uploaded over a dozen shots that I was interested in or had already requested.
I knew he’d do the same for today’s photoshoot.
“Oh, can I do something really quick?” he asked as he jogged over to his computer. He unhooked his camera. “Wanted to grab a fun pic with my camera and not on the phone. That okay?”
“Of us?” I felt my cheeks go red. “Yes, I would love that.”
Alex made quick work of setting up one of his tripods and having me sit on the couch to establish the focus.
He told me to look “broody and distant” as he snapped a few standalone pictures, then set the timer and hustled over to sit beside me on the couch.
Naturally, my arm went up and around his shoulders and his hand rested on my thigh.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
He suddenly turned and planted a kiss on my cheek. My face split into a big, silly smile.
Click .
“Perfect,” he said and leaped to his feet, then walked back over to the camera.
“Trickery,” I told him as I stood. “You are a trickster.”
He shrugged as he put his camera back on the computer desk. “Gotta sneak in my rewards somehow. Besides, I wanted something fun to hold you over for nine days without little ol’ me.”
“I’ll text when I can,” I promised him as I stood from the couch and dragged my feet toward the door. Alex padded down the hall behind me. I didn’t expect him to walk me to my car in the visitor’s spot of the lot. I did, however, expect something else.
I started to ask something but Alex interrupted me before I could say anything. “You don’t have to ask anymore, Rome. First base is all yours.”
I stepped into his space and raised my hands to cup his face.
He surprised me when he grabbed two fistfuls of my shirt and yanked me into him.
His back collided with the door, our chests together, as our lips became a single set.
He pried my mouth open as his tongue slipped in to coil around mine.
One hand went around his neck, the other on his waist as I pressed us together and leaned into the passion.
The heat. The wetness of his lips. The hardness that grew below our waistlines.
I wanted everything from him as my tongue pushed deep into his mouth.
His hands came out from between our chests and wrapped around my chest, fingers interlocking on my back to secure our bodies.
I wanted more, to pull off the fabric separating our skin so I could feel his body directly on mine.
But then his fingers unlaced from my back, his tongue retreating carefully into his mouth. He initiated the end because he probably knew I couldn’t. Our lips closed and he pressed several close-mouthed kisses before gently pushing me back. I had my eyes closed, lips still pursed.
Come down, Rome. Come down from the clouds .
I opened my eyes.
“Will that hold you over?” Alex asked.
I couldn’t respond. He was blurry. My eyes had fully dilated. My dick was so hard it hurt.
Alex snickered. “I’m taking that as yes. Need help to your car?” All I could do was shake my head and again he laughed at my inability to speak. I only grumbled something incoherent in response. He moved to the side as he pulled open his apartment door. “Text me when you can, all right?”
I groaned again and started out the door, but he stopped me with a solid grip to my arm. I spun, he pulled me back to him, and again our lips pressed, but this time a lot softer.
“Okay, okay,” I relented, “I’ll text you when I can. Send me that picture of us soon, ‘kay?”
“I’ll upload it right now. Fly safe tonight. I’ll be watching tomorrow.” One more peck and he finally pulled away. “ Buona fortuna .”
“ Grazie mille, tesoro. ”
“Did… did you just call me risotto?”
I hawked up a guffaw of laughter, gave him the quickest of kisses and left with a wink and not another word.
The door clicking shut shot me with a modicum of sadness. We had only known each other a week, so the prospect of nine days without seeing him felt like an eternity.
But I could still feel his kiss on my lips. His hands tight against my back. How stiff he grew beneath my touch.
Yes , I answered to myself his earlier question. That will definitely hold me over.