16. abbi #3
“I want to walk you to the door and finish our date properly.” He holds out his elbow for me with a flourish, and I loop my arm through the opening with a chuckle.
I wrap my free hand around his hard bicep and snuggle into his side as we walk to the front door of our home, and when we reach our destination, we turn to each other with a grin.
Butterflies erupt in my stomach when I look at my husband—he’s still so handsome.
No, I think he’s even more handsome now than when I first met him.
There’s something sexy about experiencing your partner grow and change over decades. It’s the intimacy of it, I think.
“Well, we’re here,” I prompt, hopeful that this doesn’t mean our night is over.
He chuckles. A gentle, amused sound. “Here we are.” Raising his hand, he gently slides his fingers over my ear, slipping some of the hair that frames my face out of the way.
He then traces a path along my jawline and uses his knuckles to tip my chin up a little.
“I had a great time. Would I be able to see you again?” he asks, his expression earnest.
I smile at his sweetness. He’s really going all out to make this feel like a date, and I couldn’t be more touched by his gesture, so I play along. “I think I’d like that. Would you like to come in for a nightcap?” I ask hopefully.
He groans, tossing his head back and exposing his Adam’s apple. “You could tempt a monk, Abs.” He shakes his head. “But I don’t put out on the first date.”
I’m stunned silent for a moment, and then we both burst into laughter at the same time.
It’s loud and boisterous and even includes a couple of snorts.
Tears trickle down my cheeks, and my stomach tenses from the sudden burst of joy.
How long has it been since we’ve laughed together?
The front door flies open, and light from inside streams out, illuminating the porch.
Our laughter freezes, and our heads snap in the direction of the open door.
“What’s going on out here?” Prue asks, her brows furrowed over narrowed eyes, arms folded beneath her breasts.
Nix and I look at each other and burst into laughter again. I almost feel like a teenager who’s been caught breaking curfew by their parents, not that I’d know what that felt like since my parents were never around. “Dad’s just dropping me home after our date.”
“I was just walking your mother to the door,” Nix adds.
Understanding dawns on our daughter, and her confusion is replaced with a smirk. “I should leave you two alone so you can share a goodnight kiss then, I guess.” She snickers as she closes the door, leaving Nix and me in the soft glow of the porch light once again.
Neither of us can contain our grins as we turn back to each other.
This is good. Great even. I love the lightness between us.
It’s been too long. I take a small step to close the distance between us and smooth out a nonexistent crease in Nix’s jacket.
“Tonight was great. Thank you for opening up to me.”
He closes the gap completely, pressing his chest against mine, trapping my hand between us. “Thank you for being so understanding.” His gaze drops to my lips. “I’m going to kiss you now,” he warns, his voice developing a husky tone.
“Please,” I whisper. I’m so desperate for his touch … his kisses.
My eyes close as he dips closer, and his warm breath coats my cheek.
His warm lips, surrounded by soft bristles, press against my cheek, and I open my eyes in disappointment.
When he notices, his mouth tips up on one side, and he presses another kiss on my cheek, this time closer to my lips.
My heart races like a galloping horse at the idea of kissing my husband as if this really is our first date.
His lips come down on my heated flesh again, closer still to my lips but not quite there.
Patience really isn’t one of my virtues, and I want him to kiss me already.
No, I need him to kiss me already with a desperation born from years of intimate neglect.
Finally, his lips make contact with mine as his warm hands cup each side of my face. A soft press that’s barely a kiss, but sends shivers racing down my spine and across my flesh. His warm breath ghosts across my mouth as he leans in and touches my lips a little firmer.
He pauses a moment, his eyes skipping between mine. “I’ve missed you so much.”
I want to scream at him that I’ve always been here. That he just needed to notice me, but before I can respond, he dips his head and uses his tongue to swipe at my bottom lip, before tugging it between his teeth. I’m instantly wet, my dormant arousal roaring to life like a fire.
When he deepens our kiss, I meet him with equal fervor, slipping my hand to the back of his neck to hold him to me.
As our lips touch and press, my body melts into him, and he lowers his arm to wrap around my waist, pressing me further into his body.
Our tongues make promises I hope we can keep, and our hearts beat with a synchronicity I haven’t felt for too long.