Chapter Four
Sweet Lover
I flicked the switch to the living room as we walked in.
“I don’t think Julia’s home.” He didn’t answer, just followed me into the kitchen. “Can I get you a drink?” I asked as I turned to face him, my breath caught in a gasp. Toby stood so close I could feel his peppermint breath on my cheek. His eyes had darkened and the intensity they held caused me to look away. How would I be able to resist him? First date sex was never part of my plans. A kiss is usually all I allowed to be stolen in the beginning. Even then the list of men who journeyed past the first couple of dates was quite short.
“I’m fine, thanks,” he answered and I almost forgot the question I’d asked.
This time, when I dared to look up into his face, I couldn’t turn away. Our eyes locked, my knees felt weak and everything inside me turned to molten lava. Overwhelmed by the electricity in the air, I took a few steps backwards until the wall prevented further escape. Did I want to escape? All I knew was the intensity of his stare, and my liquefied limbs, made standing difficult. His steps mirrored mine until he was near enough to breathe on me again. His hand brushed my hair back over my shoulder, as he did that first time, but this time he didn’t take it away. Leaning casually, far more casual than I could possibly feel at that moment, against the wall beside me, he idly caressed my hair. His eyes went from my eyes to my lips and back again. He didn’t say anything, just caressed my hair, stared and leaned.
“I had a really nice time tonight,” I said.
“Me too.” He placed a soft kiss on my jaw near my ear. It was so soft and brief I thought I imagined it.
“I can’t believe people danced too...it was so surreal and....”
“Romantic?” he whispered near my ear before placing another kiss on my jaw-line, this time closer to my mouth.
“Yes,” I breathed out.
“I like your hair. It feels like silk and smells like coconut.”
Oh my!
“T..t..thanks.” Even my lips were quivering with anticipation. I wanted to feel his lips on mine and his searing hands on my skin. All caution and thoughts of holding back, of not leaping into bed with him disappeared and instead electricity caused my skin to tingle. If he kissed me now I would not be able to refrain.
One hand still stroked my hair in long sweeping motions while the other slid over my shoulder and down my back before pulling me away from the wall and against his body. Heat scorched on the places our bodies touched while his eyes glided over my face and stopped at my lips.
Light feathery kisses traced my face before resting on my mouth. The kiss soft with slightly open lips lasted for a second. The moment his lips left mine, I wanted them back. I peered up into his eyes and saw all the emotions I felt reflected in them.
When his lips returned they were no longer gentle. Our mouths came together in perfect symmetry. His arms held me close against him as his tongue teased mine. My body was on fire, my blood boiling. Everything about this moment felt right. I wanted my prince to make love to me like they do in one of my soppy romances. Did men actually do this? I never wanted anything more than to find out if it could be possible.
With stars in my eyes, I took his hand and broke off the kiss. With trepidation beating my heart into frenzy, I led him to my bedroom and then lit the candles spread about the room. I gave myself silent thanks when I remembered I tidied it that morning. This felt perfect. I wanted everything to be right. Perfect.
His lips sought mine as he guided me to the bed. The kiss was different this time, urgent, passionate. The feel of his body beneath his shirt urged me to remove it so I did with shaky hands. Following my lead, he unzipped my dress and heaved it over my head and swept his eyes over me. Each item was discarded between kisses, our mouths reluctant to part. Shyness overcame me when we were both naked and as his eyes washed over me again.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered.
I dared to look up and the soft warm glow from the candles danced across his face. My breath caught when I saw that desire had deepened his eyes. They were the colour of a thunder storm filled sky and appeared just as turbulent.
“So are you.”
He smiled before kissing me softly and guiding me onto the bed. Endless minutes passed as we drove each other wild with heated kisses and urgent hands. His smooth skin and gym buffed body felt like heaven. I considered pinching myself to see if this was real but was afraid I would actually wake up.
Every romantic cliché followed. Every touch and every kiss blissfully perfect. Our bodies moulded together as though making to love each other was what we were born to do. My wish to be loved like a romance heroine fulfilled. This couldn’t be real.
Dawn cast a soft glow across the room waking me. As my eyes adjusted, I realised my curtains were open before noticing my limbs felt like jelly. A lingering scent hung in the air, a mixture of jasmine and pheromones. A slow smile spread across my face. I rolled onto my side and watched the man sleeping on his stomach beside me. His face against the pillow squished his lips, taking away a little of the perfection, making him real. This, I decided, just made him seem, well, even more perfect. When blue eyes full of sleep slowly opened, I smiled.
“Morning,” he mumbled.
“Is this real?”
A boyish giggle filled the room reminding me how much I liked it. “Yes.”
“I’m afraid that if I leave this bed or the room, when I come back, you’ll be gone, up in a puff of smoke, back into my imagination.”
“Then I guess you’d better not leave this bed.” In one swift motion he rolled onto his back and lifted me astride him. I didn’t need further invitation as our lips came together.