Chapter 6 #2
“Maybe a couple of times,” I admit. Then I offer a half-truth that I hope will make him feel better.
“Before you came over, I’d just gotten kind of an…
upsetting text from my old boss. So I think I’m still a little off balance from that.
Normally, if I wanted to know what you were talking about, I would have asked right away. ”
Webb stiffens. His voice dips. “Your old boss is bothering you? What did he do?”
“It’s not a big deal. We just didn’t part on the best of terms. And he’s still… not thrilled about it. But it’s fine. I shouldn’t have let it get to me.”
“If someone’s upsetting you, though—”
“Really, it’s okay. I just wanted to explain. That’s why I seemed a little off when you got to my apartment. But I’m good now. And I’m having a great time. It’s nice to see where you live, where you work, plus, now I’ve met your friends.”
“We’ve known each other for a long time,” Webb explains. “Sam and I went through training together, so we’ve been friends for… shit. Fifteen years. And the other guys were all based out of Fort Campbell, same as me.”
“And now you’re all back together again.”
He nods. “Except for Sam, yeah.” As we start along a cleared path lined with solar lights on either side, he says, “What Sam said, about not introducing women to my friends—it’s true. I’ve never brought a woman over to hang out with them before.”
“Never?”
“Never. Not that I didn’t date. But there was never a woman I wanted them to meet. Not until you.”
The annoying voice of logic in my head pipes up, asking, Really? A handsome guy like Webb, who could probably get anyone he wants, and I’m the first person he’s wanted to introduce to his friends?
Maybe, my heart argues. Maybe he’s telling the truth. Maybe he’s been too busy with work, or he just hasn’t found the right person yet. Maybe he feels the same magnetic tug that I do whenever we’re together, the one that makes my heart race and my skin come alive.
Webb stops, taking both my hands and facing me.
His expression is solemn. “I mean it, Noelle. My friends—my teammates—are like family. Which means I take introducing someone to them seriously. And on the flip side of it, I wanted you to know more about me.” He smiles.
“I thought meeting them might prove I’m not just this creeper—”
“I don’t think you’re a creeper, Webb. We’ve been through this already.”
“I want to be sure,” he replies. “Because I really like you, Noelle. And I want to keep seeing you, assuming I haven’t scared you off yet.”
My heart jumps.
“You haven’t.” I take a step closer. “And I’d like to keep seeing you, too.”
What about keeping things platonic, the logical voice reminds. Taking things slowly? Getting your life back on track first?
Shut up, my heart snaps. After the crap I’ve been through, I deserve something good. And being with Webb makes me happier than anything else in my life right now.
Webb pulls me closer. His gaze burns into mine. “Good,” he says roughly. “Next time, I’ll take you on a real date. One where it’s just the two of us.”
“I’d like that. But… I like getting to see this part of your life, too.”
He releases one of my hands so he can cup my face. His thumb strokes across my cheek. “Noelle. I get the feeling you want to take things slowly. And that’s fine. But there are things I want to do…”
My breath catches. Desire pulses at my core. The attraction I’ve felt towards Webb from the start flares hot, setting my body on fire.
“If I do something you don’t like,” he continues, “or it’s too fast—”
There’s something so endearing about this confident man letting himself be vulnerable with me. And it has me moving closer yet, so our bodies are only inches apart. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
Webb’s hand moves to the back of my head. His gaze is dark and hungry as he lowers his lips to mine. When he’s only a whisper away, he says quietly, “I’ve been thinking about doing this since the day I met you.”
I whisper back, “Me too.”
We both go quiet, the hum of crickets a chorus around us.
My pulse flutters madly.
Then we kiss.
At first, it’s gentle. Just the lightest press of his lips against mine. Like he’s giving me a chance to get used to it, or to change my mind.
But I won’t change my mind.
And I want more.
I want to taste him. I want to know how Webb kisses when he’s not holding back. I want to feel the banked desire I can see burning in his gaze.
I want to feel his body flush against mine, with his arms wrapped around me and his arousal jutting into my belly.
I want to know how his muscles feel after weeks of fantasizing about them.
So I grab hold of his shoulders and rise up on my toes, then kiss him harder.
Webb groans.
While he tilts my head back with one hand, he places the other at the small of my back. Then he drags me against him as his tongue plunges into my mouth.
An ache builds inside me; a desperate emptiness only Webb can fill.
Our tongues lash together as the kiss grows more passionate. Our teeth clack. Just like I imagined, Webb’s erection juts hard and thick against my belly. My core squeezes in anticipation.
Not that we’re going to have sex right now. Not when it’s only our second date. Not where his friends could come looking for us at any moment. And not when an inadvertent brush against a nearby tree could give me a very itchy and unsexy rash.
But I’ve never, ever wanted another man like this. Not even close.
A needy sound works its way up my throat, and I rub my sensitive nipples against Webb’s very impressive chest, which is just as firm as I thought it would be.
He groans again. His erection throbs.
God, I want him.
I want to see him naked. I want to know if he has any tattoos, and if the golden hair on his arms and legs extends to his chest. I want to feel his bare skin against mine. I want to know what his—
“Dinner!” someone bellows from the direction of the house. “The vultures are already descending!”
A female voice calls out in a slightly softer tone, “I won’t let them eat all the food. We can make up a couple of plates for later.”
Webb drags his mouth from mine. While I try to catch my breath, he brushes his thumb across my lower lip. “Noelle.” His voice is husky. Needy.
“I liked it,” I blurt. “And it wasn’t too fast.”
A slow smile curves his lips. “I liked it too.” Then he kisses me again, but it’s quick. Tender. Not a repeat of our first kiss, but a promise for later. “A lot. And I can’t wait to do it again.”
I lean against him, tucking my head under his chin. His heart is beating so hard I can feel it. “I can’t wait, either.”