Page 11 of Until We Meet Again

"You look beautiful, Tessa."

"Thank you," she says, and the compliment causes a blush to spread across her face.

I want to tell her that she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen and that her smile could solve every one of the world's problems, but that might be too much for a second date and considerably more than I'd typically feel or be ready to share.

She sits down slowly on the barstool I pull out for her. I watch as she crosses one leg over the other, admiring her bare skin and imagining how it would feel beneath my fingers.

"What would you like to drink?"

"Red wine, please."

"Anything in particular?"

"No, I'm easy."

With a playful grin, I turn to face her. "I highly doubt that." A smile hits her lips, and I'm reminded of the very first time I saw her picture.

I was in bed one night after unpacking a few boxes and opened the app. It's not my favorite way of meeting women, but I'm a guy with needs, and fucking my hand gets old real fast, so I figured I'd try it.

Then I saw her.

Her smile drew me in, and now that I've seen it again in person, I'm reminded why I’d been so attracted to her.

"Let's grab a table," I suggest, offering my hand to her as she takes her drink.

Walking beside her, I place my palm on the small of her back for the second time today, enjoying how my hand perfectly fits against her body.

Once she sits down, I settle across from her, my focus again drawn to her long, blonde hair flowing down her chest like a river of silk.

If I ever see her hair pulled back into a ponytail, I'm fucked.

"So, how was your afternoon?" she asks.

I spent the best part of it fisting my cock, imagining I was hitting the back of your throat until tears were streaming down your face.

"Relaxing, thank you. I read a little and started to prepare for next week."

"When do you start your new job?"

"Wednesday's my first day."

"How exciting!" Her emerald eyes sparkle, and the corners of her lips curl into a smile.

"It is, but I doubt it'll be that different from what I was used to in Dallas. Same job, different location."

"Does your family live in Dallas?"

"They do." I take a sip of my drink, and I can tell she notices my hesitation in responding as I keep my guard up, knowing that this isn't a conversation I want us to have tonight.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to pry."

"I know, it's all good. It's just not a date-two conversation."

"Holding off till date six or seven?"

"Something like that."

"Got it." As soon as she smiles, I feel lighter. The idea of discussing my family with anyone makes me want the universe to swallow me whole.

---