7. Vivian
Vivian
M ichael presses me against the wall, one hand cushioning my back while his arm with my number etched on it braces over my head.
I still can’t believe he did that. It’s gonna take days to wash off, or else he’ll have to hide it with long shirts, which is brutal in the Atlanta heat.
His dark eyes burn into mine. “I want to see you again.”
It’s not a question. And I don’t even mind.
Everything I felt coming here tonight, all of my intentions and resolutions have been completely obliterated by him.
He found me, sought me out, leading me as we danced.
He took control while paying attention to my cues, reading my body as well as my words.
He listened, genuinely listened to me as we talked…
for what little talking we did. I can’t remember the last time a guy did that without staring at my boobs.
Yeah, he noticed those too, but in an appreciative way, rather than me feeling like a piece of meat.
And, oh, the way he soaked up every detail about me.
Like he couldn’t get enough. He’s handsome as hell, but that’s not the only pull I feel toward him.
He’s intoxicating but also feels trustworthy.
Like he’s not one to play games. Like I could open myself up to him.
Acts like he knows what he wants, and he’s made it clear that he wants me.
And while he’s taken charge most of the night, he’s also respected my space.
From clasping our hands together, to wrapping his arms around my waist, even when our hips were pressed flush together during those sexy bachatas that almost made me faint with lust on the dance floor.
He never hid his desire to be close, but the choice was always mine.
Giving me an out if I wanted it. Not that I ever did.
If that’s not a sexy way to check in with a partner, then I don’t know what is.
He let me come to him on the dance floor, waited for me to choose him unequivocally before he took over…
maybe he’s waiting for me to initiate a kiss?
I really, really want to kiss that sensual mouth.
Trailing a finger down his neck to the top of his shirt, I breathe in his intoxicating crisp and citrusy scent.
I really need to find out about that cologne.
My finger reaches the collar, his chest rising and falling almost as fast as mine.
And when I look up, his molten eyes have grown dark and heated.
He’s waiting for me; how he’s holding himself back I don’t know.
But I don’t want to wait any longer. I need to feel his mouth on mine.
Tilting my head, I close my eyes and close the small distance remaining between us, my lips just barely brushing his. His lips are soft and warm and feel heavenly against mine.
And his response is all-consuming. If I had any doubts about how he feels, they’ve all just been blown away.
Michael’s hand cradles my head as his lips come down strong and sure on mine.
My mouth is anticipating his to ravish me; instead, he moves over me slowly, taking his time savoring the softness.
Like he’s tasting his favorite dessert at leisure.
Not rushing, even though I’m still faintly aware that the club is closing.
No, he acts like we’ve got all the time in the world.
At this moment, it feels like we do. Like we’re the only ones here.
He drags his mouth across mine with increasing pressure, marking me, tasting me. Nibbling at my bottom lip, he sucks and tugs and I melt at this mere closed-mouth kiss making my knees weak. His hand grips the small of my back, tugging me against his hard muscles.
Just when I’m afraid he’s going to tease me to death, he angles his head and slips his tongue inside.
A moan rushes out of me at the sensation, hot and wet and hungry.
He groans as his tongue dances with mine.
Each stroke feels like he’s stroking my entire body.
I tremble as he dives in, demanding more from my mouth, my body, practically my very soul.
He tastes sweet, the bourbon a rich sexy flavor mixed with something that is entirely Michael .
His hand fists in my hair holding me steady.
The other grips my waist, propping me up as I melt into him.
He’s unhurried and deliberate, cocooning me in his embrace where it’s just the two of us, licking and caressing and igniting.
The man is making love to my mouth. Fire spreads throughout my body, liquefying me.
His hands are the only thing holding me together.
I kiss him back with the same fervor, wanting to feel every inch of him, wanting to get closer and deeper and drown in him. All of our intimacy on the dance floor has led up to this, and I’m impatient now. I want to feel him everywhere. I want him around me, surrounding me, inside me.
My breath catches as his hand travels lower and glides over my ass, kneading and caressing and pulling me closer as his mouth swallows my moans. He rocks me up against him and his hardness hits the perfect spot between my quivering thighs.
My hands bury in his silky hair, trying to bring him closer and closer until nothing is left between us.
Little fireworks explode all over my body.
My skin is on fire. I can’t breathe. I just want to lose myself in him, and I can’t get close enough.
I need more of his hands, his mouth, his tongue all over me.
I want him in and under and on top of me.
Nothing separating us until I don’t know where I end and he begins.
I want to be so close that we share each other’s breath as we make love…
Whoa . Full stop.
I tear my lips away, stepping back just an inch. Breathing heavily, I look up at Michael, my eyes a little unfocused, my stance faltering, just like my heart.
Where did that come from?
That kiss was the single most mind-blowing thing to ever happen to me.
But thinking about not just sex, but making love…
That’s too much.
That’s not what you think about with a quick hookup. That’s reserved for a life-changing partner.
For love.
Spending time together has been amazing. Incredible, even. But tonight has also been intense. Michael is intense. And I don’t know if I’m ready for that.
I need some air.
Michael is breathing just as hard as I am, and it just now occurs to me the level of control he has been exerting not to take things further. Grab my hand and take me home with him. And at that moment, I might have let him. Vivian! I chastise myself.
His arms still encircle me, but he pulls back and his eyes flick back and forth between mine.
Trying to figure out how we went from hot and heavy to a blaring red stop , I’m sure.
This isn’t really fair to him, but still.
I need to be careful, I think as I try to slow my racing breaths.
The look he gives me is filled with concern, even as he tries to catch his breath.
“Mi amor… what is it?” He runs his hands up and down my arms, and my body starts to relax at his touch. Until I catch sight of my number on his arm. I close my eyes, a headache starting to pound in my temples. Almost as loud as the pounding of my heart.
This is all too much, too soon.
When I hesitate, he takes my chin, forcing me to look directly at him.
“Vivian.” My lips feel bruised from our kiss.
I don’t regret it, though. Just where my thoughts were taking me.
It’s the shock to my system that I needed.
But I can’t tell him that; I don’t know him well enough for that.
We don’t actually know each other at all.
Even if my heart tells me differently.
And there I go again.
His eyes search mine. He’s waiting for an answer.
“Yeah, I just realized how late it is and that I need to get back home. My friend will be worried about me.”
He lifts a brow, his expression telling me he doesn’t quite believe me, but he doesn’t push it. Thank heavens for that. “I’ll walk you out.”
“No, I’ve got it. I’m fine. I do this all the time by myself.” I laugh weakly.
Michael’s eyes darken and his hand grasps my chin tighter.
It should make me feel afraid. He’s clearly stronger and could hurt me.
But instead, I feel like he’s safeguarding me.
Citrus and the faint hint of bourbon waft over me, remnants of how our mouths were just joined.
It’s incredibly unfair of him to smell this good, cologne and sweat creating an intoxicating blend that I want to wrap myself in, and it almost sways my resolve.
Part of me hates myself for backing off and not letting him finish what we were starting.
“I’m sure you can take care of yourself.
But when I’m with you, keeping you safe is my top priority,” he says gruffly, but the words are softened as he rubs his thumb over my cheek.
My eyes close of their own accord, and I take a mental snapshot to preserve this moment.
A moment where I felt protected, cherished by a stranger that cares about my safety. It only makes him sexier.
As we walk through the doors, his hand finds mine and tangles our fingers together. That’s a boyfriend move in any book, and I don’t quite know what to think. Especially when his thumb runs circles over my knuckles, like merely holding my hand isn’t enough.
“Which way?” he asks, and I point him in the direction of my little red Corolla. I’m still reeling from the kiss and his determination to see me to my car safely.
When we reach the driver’s side door, he waits while I unlock it and then opens the door for me. As I slip into my seat, his hooded eyes stay transfixed to my legs as they swing in. A sharp inhale gets my attention, and he turns away slightly to adjust himself.
His gaze drags up to my eyes, lust and longing and something more in them. Like he’s finally home after a long journey. It’s intense, it’s burning, and I have to look away to keep from being consumed.
“Vivian, I…” His voice falters, his tone strained.
He trails his hands down my arms till they reach my hands.
His hands are rough but his touch is soft as his thumbs stroke the inside of my wrists.
Lifting them up to his cheek, he places a tender kiss on each wrist, then the back of each hand.
My skin is branded where his lips touched.
”I’ll be seeing you soon, mi amor,” he says as he takes my hand and presses it over the numbers I’ve inked into his forearm. After letting go of my hands, he closes the door and waits until he hears me lock it.
Wow. Every single nerve ending is on fire.
I can barely turn the key in the ignition because of how I’m trembling, but he stands outside the door waiting with arms crossed for me to drive away.
Somehow I manage to put my little four-cylinder in drive and slowly roll out the parking lot, Michael’s image in the rearview mirror never wavers until he’s out of sight.
Michael
As I turn back toward the club, I run my tongue over my lips, still tasting her sweetness.
Hot damn, that mouth… I can't get enough of her mouth or how she said my name. I never knew it was possible to feel heaven like this.
I lost my soul and my breath when her lips touched mine.
At that moment, I gave everything to her.
My heart, my life. It’s all hers now.
She has to feel it too. Maybe not quite yet, but she will. I know it.
That kiss was everything, and I’m still confused why she broke it off.
There’s no way she wasn’t into it. Into me.
Her hot little curves responded to my touch.
Her tongue danced with mine as it promised to caress her all over.
When she pulled away from me, I felt torn in two at the abruptness.
The air chilled as I felt her putting up a wall between us.
Don’t know what that was about, but I'm sure as hell not going to let whatever it is stand in the way of me getting my girl.
For a minute I seriously considered hauling her over my shoulder, bringing her home with me and kissing her senseless until she confided in me.
But I laid my cards out the entire night, letting her know how I felt and ultimately allowing her to choose how much she wanted to take.
Besides, her assertiveness is a turn-on.
So whatever the reason she held back, it can wait.
My soul is at peace now that I’ve found her. It’s okay if it takes her a while to catch up.
She’s going to be my future, my everything, and I can't wait to learn everything about her.
Smiling to myself, I stride away, confident that we’ll be seeing each other again soon. Because now that I’ve found her, my woman, my wife , there’s no way I’m letting her go.
Best birthday ever, hands down.