Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Delaney
“Absolutely not.”
The way he says it—firm and leaving no question—does something to me. His deep green eyes fix on me, and something in me knows he’s telling the truth. My cheeks heat.
“Hey, I want you to know I honestly brought you up here to hang out and correct your whiskey palate. Nothing else.” He gives me that smile again. “If at any time you’re uncomfortable and want to go back downstairs, that’s cool.”
I give him a slight nod and a small smile in response.
“I’m okay, but thank you.”
Al leans back and lets the couch engulf his upper body. I didn’t realize how tense he must have been while down in the bar, but now that he’s up here, it’s almost like I can see the stress melt off of him.
We sit in silence for several minutes, and before I realize it, my whiskey is gone. Well, all except for one little dribble. Bummer. It was quite pleasant. I just wish I could get that last drop, but it’s not cooperating when I tip my glass.
An idea strikes me. I glance over at Al, and his eyes are closed, but I know he’s awake because he’s tapping one finger along with the music flowing from his phone. I’m going for it.
I tilt my head back, open my mouth, and invert the glass, then wait for that last smooth treat to hit my tongue. When it does, I inwardly cheer, then lift my head and lower my glass.
That’s when my eyes land on his face. His very handsome face is now donning a huge grin as he watches me.
“You know, Bets, you’re welcome to another glass.”
“Bets, huh? We’ve known each other for just an hour or two, and I’ve earned a nickname.” I smile, narrow my eyes at him, and rest my chin on my hand in my best thinking pose. “Does that mean I get to pick one for you? Hmm, what kind of nickname can I come up with?”
“Well, my niece calls me Uncle—” His eyes widen. “Oops. Almost told you my real name. Well, my real nickname, anyway.”
“We can’t have that,” I tease.
“No. We definitely can’t.” He nods toward my glass. “Are you staying at the hotel or at least not driving?”
“Not driving.”
“Would you like another?” I nod, and he rises, takes my glass, and heads over to fill both of ours. He glances over his shoulder at me. “Do you want ice this time?”
“Nope. I enjoyed it without.”
To his credit, he tries to hide his ‘told you so’ smirk.
When he’s poured our drinks and sits back on the couch, he turns his body toward me. His mouth curves down at the corners, and his eyes soften.
“Do… do you want to talk about why today was so bad?” His voice is gentle, hushed.
I take a sip of my whiskey to buy me a few seconds. Do I? I’m not sure whether I want to even matters.
“I-I’m not convinced I can even if I want to… Which I don’t think I do.” My voice cracks, and I hate it. “I just want to keep things light, if that’s okay.”
“Of course it is. Trust me, I get it.”
His eyes hold a look of sorrow, and he appears more like the man I met in the bar.
I wouldn’t have recognized it then, but he seemed so much more relaxed when we first sat down up here than he did in the bar…
or now. An intense desire to push back at the darkness that covers his features overcomes me.
“Do you want to play Never Have I Ever?” I blurt out.
That deep, husky laugh erupts from him again, and my heart flutters. I’m thrilled that I helped him turn that frown upside down.
“Like the drinking game from college?” He sputters the words out between laughing fits.
“Yeah. It’d be fun.” I try to convince him.
He wipes away a tear from laughing so hard and composes himself.
“Okay. Let’s do it.” His facial expression turns serious, but I can see him resisting a smile, and I’m pleased with myself.
“Cool. You know how to play?” He nods. “I’ll go first, all right?” He nods again. “Never have I ever been married.” I watch him closely for any sign he’s going to lift his glass and take a sip. He doesn’t. “Your turn.”
“Never have I ever… been in a fistfight.”
Damn it. Also, WTF is with that question? Who asks that in this game? I lift my glass and take a hearty sip. Good thing I like this whiskey.
“Bets, really?” He feigns shock, dramatically throwing a hand over his chest and letting his mouth gape open.
“Hey, he deserved it.” His eyes bulge out of his head. “He, being a boy in my third-grade class, liked to pick on kids smaller than him.” I shrug. “I don’t like bullies. Sorry, not sorry.”
“I’ve got a little vigilante on my hands. Good to know.” He winks at me, and it makes my lower belly tighten. I chalk it up to the fact that it’s been so long since I’ve had any kind of intimate relationship with a man. Being face-to-face with such a fine specimen of one is doing things to me.
“My turn.” I’m pretty sure I know how to make him have to take a drink. “Never have I ever graduated from college.”
Al maintains eye contact as he takes a sip of his whiskey. When he finishes, he narrows his eyes at me. After a few seconds, they light up.
“Never have I ever sang karaoke.” He grins like he already knows I’ll have to drink.
“I feel like you’re somehow cheating.” I take another sip.
We continue playing for a while, and I’m having a much better night than I expected. When it’s my turn again, I suddenly feel brave.
“Never have I ever kissed someone I just met,” I say quietly.
He doesn’t take a drink.
I scoot closer to him, and I can’t take my eyes off his mouth.
“Never have I ever wanted to kiss someone I just met… until tonight.” His voice is hushed, almost reverent.
The words do something to me, and I move even nearer to him. His large hand suddenly cradles the left side of my neck, and his thumb brushes across my cheek.
I lean into his touch.
Before I know it, our mouths are so close to each other, and my heart pounds in my chest. After just a second or two, I can’t stand it anymore, so I close the distance and allow my lips to touch his.
I don’t know what I’m doing, or why, but it feels so amazing.
His other hand is also on me now, mimicking the way he holds my neck and face on the opposite side.
We stay like that for a few beats, then I press more firmly and open just enough that his tongue can slide into my mouth as he takes over the kiss with expert skill and precision.
I haven’t kissed a lot of men for comparison, but I’m sure that Al can be considered an excellent kisser.
His kiss steals my breath as his soft lips press on mine, then part as he explores my mouth with his tongue.
When we pull back, we stare at each other and take the time to catch our breath. I immediately want more. I feel more alive than I have in so long, and I don’t want it to be over. So, I make a split-second decision, and I swallow past the lump in my throat.
“Never have I ever had a one-night stand.” My voice trembles as I whisper the words. I can’t believe I just said that. Al’s eyes pierce me, and they hold an array of emotions, none of which I can name for sure.
“Betty…”
Oh, God. I thought it was a smooth way of telling him what I want, and now I’m embarrassed. I’ve totally misread the situation. My cheeks feel like they’re on fire, and I break our eye contact.
“Shit. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make things weird. I don’t know what I’m doing. Jesus. I-I should leave.” I stand, but before I can move too far away, he grasps my forearm. I stop, but don’t turn around.
“Hey, look at me. Please.”
I don’t. Then, I sense him standing behind me.
His left hand slides from my elbow to my hand, and he entwines our fingers together before wrapping our joined arms across my middle.
I shiver when his right hand rests on my hip.
I could easily pull away from him if I wanted to, but I don’t.
He dips his head so that his mouth is near my ear.
“Never have I ever slept with someone I just met. Never have I ever wanted to… until tonight.”