Love Between the Pages – by Rae Shawn #4
“I’ve dated a few people. It didn’t work out for various reasons, hence my comment about being better at sussing out bad actors,” I said. “I was pregnant once, but I lost the baby.”
“I’m so sorry.” His voice didn’t carry pity but what seemed to be sorrow for my loss.
“It was years ago, and it was a stressful pregnancy,” I said. “Thank you, though. It’s taken some time to be open about it.”
“I appreciate you feeling comfortable sharing that with me.”
The rest of the walk was silent until we reached my apartment. I had a two-bedroom with a huge patio on the first floor. I’d gotten lucky—other apartments had been sandwiched between floors and didn’t have balconies. I liked a good open space to sit and paint or read a book during the evenings.
Darius brought my bags inside and set them on my kitchen island, glancing around in wonder. “It was nice to see you again.”
“Leaving so soon?”
His increased grip on his bags was noticeable. “I didn’t think you’d want me to stick around.”
“I’m going to try a new recipe. I saw this zucchini crust pizza with roasted bell peppers and honey barbecue chicken online. Want to try it with me?”
“I’d love to.” Darius smiled and lifted his bags. “Mind if I put some of this stuff in the refrigerator?”
“Of course.” I waved him into the kitchen first before walking in behind him to wash my hands. “Mind taking the chicken out of the fridge and leaving it on the counter for me?”
Darius put away his groceries and took out the chicken while I rinsed the vegetables I needed, then he washed his hands.
“How can I help?” he asked when he joined me.
I pulled up the recipe on a tablet I had in the kitchen. “I enjoy trying new food joints, but I also really love to cook. I’ll handle the crust. You want to prep the chicken? It needs to marinate for at least fifteen minutes.”
He nodded, and we fell into an easy rhythm. After I’d chopped the pizza toppings and finished measuring out everything for the crust, he sidled up behind me, offering to help. His palms slid over the backs of my hands as he stepped close to me, his chin coming to rest on my shoulder.
“Is this ok?” he asked, his breath tickling my ear.
I shivered at his proximity but took a steadying breath as I nodded. “Completely ok.”
We worked the mozzarella cheese, sliced zucchini, flour, and eggs together, the ingredients coating our fingers.
His steady heartbeat against my back should’ve been distracting, but I found it calming.
He made me comfortable and wanted in a way I’d been looking for since my last relationship went down the drain.
I might’ve spontaneously combusted if he’d whispered in my ear a second time, though. Thankfully, he only softly grunted his agreement as I gave him instructions. We washed our hands and placed the crust in the oven before Darius returned to the chicken, grilling it on the stovetop.
The sweet and zesty aromas lifted into the air, and less than an hour later, the pizza rested on the counter before us. We made small talk about menial things, stealing glances and enjoying the moment.
“Wine?” I asked.
He nodded, and I grabbed two glasses, popping the cork and pouring us generous amounts. As we sat at the table, I could see a hunger in his eyes that was for more than the food on our plates—and I was all too ready to oblige.
I liked him. Something about his softness drew me in. While we were still learning about each other and I knew his child could very well end up in my class, I wanted to explore what was building between us.
Darius
We ate in relative silence, the time passing quickly as we sipped our wine and devoured our slices of pizza. I’d never had a zucchini crust before. While it was good, I wanted to know if Emani was down to let me taste her instead.
The way she’d felt in my arms had been right.
I didn’t know what had possessed me to cage her in like that, but when she didn’t push me away or tell me to back off, I found the moment giving me new information.
It wasn’t just a fleeting attraction between us.
There was the possibility of domesticity—of normalcy and restrained desire through activities that could later bring more.
“If only we had dessert.” I stared at her, a flush creeping onto her cheeks.
“I have some ice cream in the freezer.”
I bit my lip. “Would it be too forward of me if I said I’d rather lick you than a cone?”
She sputtered her wine, her eyes meeting mine. I knew it had only been a few days, but I wanted her. I was drawn to the playfulness that had developed between us.
“Not if it isn’t too forward to say I’d been thinking about something a helluva lot more since you enveloped me while we cooked.”
The corner of my mouth lifted before I took another sip of my wine. “Care to share?”
Emani downed the contents of her glass, resting it on the table. “You look ravenous, and I wondered how much you could eat until you got your fill.”
“Would you like to find out?” I quirked a brow as she licked her lips. “That tongue of yours seems to enjoy peeking out. Is it interested in tasting something more?”
Her eyes flicked down toward my chest, my lower body covered by the oak table between us. “Popsicles are my favorite. Can I try yours?”
I groaned and climbed to my feet, closing the distance between us. “The teasing and flirting is going to end me. I want you, Emani. Do you want me?”
She stood. “I do, and I'm sure it’s not just for tonight.” She grabbed my hand to guide me down a short hall.
We entered a room and she turned, crashing her lips into mine.
I could taste the lingering cabernet and barbecue sauce on her tongue as I held her against me, slowly backing her toward her bed.
She groped me through my shirt, tugging at the fabric on my sides to loosen it from within my pants. I stepped back and yanked it over my head, both of us fumbling to remove our clothes quickly.
“Condom?” I asked, realizing I didn’t have one. I didn’t carry them around anymore.
She grinned and reached into her side table, pulling one out. “Will this fit?”
I chuckled and glanced down at the tent in my boxer briefs. “It will. I’m not a monster, but I can work you like I’m packing one.”
She tossed the condom on the mattress and unhooked her bra, sliding it off. Black straight bars pierced through each nipple, causing me to inhale sharply because I hadn’t expected that. She giggled and climbed backwards onto the bed.
I followed her like I was on a leash, slowly climbing over her until I could kiss her once more. I settled between her legs, her skin soft and warm.
She moaned into my mouth as my hands slid up her sides.
“Beautiful.”
One hand molded to her breast, massaging and gently squeezing as I moved kisses down her jaw to her collarbone.
Soft nips and flicks of my tongue over her birthmark I’d wanted to see followed.
The mark covered a portion of her clavicle and I traced its outline as if I were etching each divot and curve into my memory.
Emani stretched, giving me better access to the area before arching into my touch as I drifted lower. Her nails softly raked my shoulders in time with a suck of breath through her teeth.
“And these rings …” I wrapped my mouth around one, my tongue teasing and rolling around it.
She whimpered and tightened her grip.
“I didn’t expect these,” I said against her skin. “I’m pleasantly surprised.”
“Good,” she breathed, her hand snaking between us and into my boxer briefs. “I’m full of them.”
I grunted when her hand wrapped around my dick. “Full of … what?”
“Surprises.”
Several moments passed as I relished the slide of her palm against my twitching length, my body aiding her movements, craving her touch as soft puffs of breath warmed my neck. A hiss escaped me as she sped up, leaning down further to grip me tighter.
“You’re interrupting my dessert.” I managed through gritted teeth.
Her chuckle sent a shiver down my spine, my dick hardening further. “I believe I also wanted a treat.” Her sultry voice was low and full of want. “Should we both indulge before you sink into me? I can get you ready.”
“I’ve been ready.” I squeezed my eyes shut, her hand still working me. “If your mouth touches me now, I’ll feel like a teenager having his first time. Don’t have me out here like that.”
A peel of laughter escaped her before she released me. “Been a while, I take it?”
“It has,” I said, able to fully concentrate again. “Let me please you and then we can move on to more mutually beneficial activities. Although …”
I kissed down her sternum, my eyes on her as I pushed her thighs apart. “Watching you come apart will be a benefit to me as well.”
She leaned up on her elbows, watching my mouth descend further and further, my thumbs rubbing soft circles at the apex of her thighs. Her bottom lip tucked between her teeth as I kissed just above her clit through her panties.
“Slide them to the side,” she said as I hooked two fingers into the waistband against each hip. I raised a brow as she heaved a breath. “I don’t want to wait. Please. Now.”
“I need both hands once I get started.” I quickly pulled her panties down her legs and tossed them over my shoulder. Emani’s whine died on her lips as her head fell back when I licked the length of her. My tongue gently glided against her as I gauged the amount of pressure I should provide.
“More.” Her voice was breathy and caught when I flicked her clit.
I repeated the action, applying more force, which gained me a guttural moan.
I maintained that as I increased my speed, licking and sucking as I discovered through her body’s reactions and soft sounds exactly what she liked.
Emani gripped the sheets, whimpers falling from her mouth like discarded vowels.