Chapter 23 #2
“Yeah?” I lean back, taking in the boost to my ego. “I have it in me to impress? I mean, I knew that, but you’re kind of a different type of judge.” The only one who matters.
She points her fork at me. “And I approve.”
“Besides, the next two weeks are our opportunity to have these kind of nights and alone time. Game season will be sneaking in time, between games and travel… that is, if we continue on this path.” I don’t want to be presumptuous.
“Where is your cocky demand? You sound unsure.” She’s completely entertained that she’s throwing me off my axis.
We need to change this up, as we keep circling back to a what-if. Action is the best step, not conversation.
I abruptly stand up and offer her my hand. “Come on?”
“Someone sounds like he has a trick up his sleeve.” She accepts my hand with ease.
I pull her out of seat, and we walk a few steps until I yank her to me to ensure our bodies are close. She yelps from the surprise move but seems pleased. Clasping our hands together, my other arm snakes around her middle to lead us in a dance.
“Oh my, Vaughn Madden is dancing with me in a romantic setting underneath the stars. Violins are playing for the women in this world whose image of you as the broody playboy is broken.”
I spin us around and tip her back. “Isla, they had a damn orchestra the moment the world learned on social media that you and I have a child together. The heart emoji now officially makes me sick from overuse.”
“The comments did get ridiculous but in a positive kind of way. I’m just thankful that we only let them see a photo of a little hand.”
“You don’t mind dancing without music?”
“It kind of makes it better. You might actually hear the thumping in my chest from excitement.” She squeezes my hand.
We continue to sway side to side. “I don’t need to hear it, I feel it, Isla. Just like I have since you’ve been sleeping in my bed in my arms.”
Her mouth parts open, trying not to read my eyes that are glued to hers. “I think this date is going well, don’t you?”
“It’s going more than alright.” I tip her back.
The sound of distant thunder doesn’t deter us. We continue our dance, and I inhale the scent of her hair while I bring her hand to my chest. This is nothing like I imagined a real committed date would be; it’s a thousand times better.
Lightning far away, followed a few counts later by thunder only makes this more unique.
She rests her head near my shoulder, and a relaxing breath hits her. “A stormfront is coming our way. It will bring warmer temperatures this week.”
I snort a laugh. “That’s what’s bringing the warm temperatures?” There is an underlying inappropriate meaning in my question. I swear I can hear her smile.
“Are hotels your kink?” She’s witty today.
“No, it’s just Lake Spark only has so many spots,” I rebuff.
“This whole thing started because you showed up at my hotel during a hurricane. Here we are on a date on top of a hotel with a storm approaching.”
My hand falls to her lower back to press her closer to me, which is a very dangerous move, because I just want to get lost in her. “I think this will be our start for getting it all right.”
A roll of thunder is stronger than a minute ago. It breaks our moment, and we both study the clouds covering the moon and the purple-blue hue of flashes of light.
Isla backs away. “We should probably head inside.”
A hand finds my heart. “I failed at my date planning and forgot to check the weather.”
It causes her to grin at my humor as she saunters back to the table. “I assure you that you did great, because I’m going to say that I don’t want this to end.” Her head cocks to the side as I take in the news.
“Well then, I should ask them to bag this all up so we can enjoy this at home.”
I stride straight to her and capture her chin between my thumb and long finger, tipping her gaze up to enable my mouth to lower.
My lips mold against hers for a kiss that feels far too overwhelming because this is us kissing for all the right reasons.
Everything before was attraction and sex.
Now emotions are involved, and if I’m honest with myself, a big load of hopefulness too.
Isla whimpers into my mouth when she brings her tongue to mine and swirls. Her fingers find the nape of my neck and curl into my hair. We both kiss a non-respectable first-date kiss because this is far too deep, with no end in sight.
I’m so tempted to lift her up and push everything off the table to lay her down. But I’m well aware that we have to go slow, and I’m not sure she’s ready, even though I know her doctor said I could worship Isla’s body. Maybe not in those exact words, but I was there, as they also checked on Nora.
The point is, I can’t give into lust right now.
Only sink into this kiss and then angle my lips to take in another.
This is long, hard then soft, and the parting of our lips is a brush of skin that zaps along my spine straight to my groin, waving to my chest in the process. It’s all stirring inside of me.
Our possibilities.
Which is why when we return home and enjoy snacking on food until Hadley returns Nora—because there is no way Isla would allow an overnight—then we fall into a different kind of night.
When Isla and I climb into bed, we find one another with her leg hooking over my hip and my hand resting on her side, before our giddy looks lead us into a make-out session.
“You had to leave your shirt off? A new habit that you formed when it became only you and I in bed,” she nearly pants.
A cocky grin hits my lips. “It’s effective, isn’t it.”
She scoffs a sound before kissing me again. This is all we’re going to do tonight, until she falls asleep in my arms with her head against my chest. She flicks her eyes up to study my face.
“When is the second date?” she asks.
That’s promising.