Page 57 of Taming You

Sincerity is written all over his face. I know he means everything he just said. I squeeze his hand back and relax a little. I pick up the menu again and scan it, my eyes catching on potato skins. I drop the menu enough that my eyes can peer over the top and stare at Matt. He grins at me, and at the same time we say, “Potato skins.” I can’t help the laugh that leaves me.

We agree to share the potato skins as an appetizer and order a steak and burger and split them. We slip into easy conversation like normal, and a thrill goes through me when Matt takes my hand again, running his thumb slowly over my knuckles and then up the back of my hand.

I completely lose track of time. It isn’t until I watch the table beside us stand and grab their jackets and I realize it’s not the same couple that arrived just after us that I check my phone and see we’ve been sitting here for nearly three and a half hours.

“Holy shit,” I say.

“What? Is everything okay?” Matt’s on high alert, and knowing he’s worried for me makes my heart race a little.

I nod. “Yeah, everything’s fine. It’s just that we’ve been here for three and a half hours. We should probably give them their table back.”

Matt seems to think for a minute before nodding and asking the waitress for our bill. When she comes back, he pays and we gather our stuff, heading out of the restaurant, but instead of heading to the car, Matt stops me. “Walk with me?” he asks.

I intertwine my fingers with his, and he smiles at me before walking down the block. The silence between us as we walk isn’t awkward this time, but more comfortable. Like we just want to spend time with one another and don’t need to talk. I spot a park on the other side of the street and pull Matt with me as I make my way towards it. He follows, and we hurry across the street before I bring us to the swings.

“I loved the swings as a kid,” I say, sitting in one of them. “I always felt so free when I was on one, trying to see how high I could go.”

Matt circles the swing so he’s at my back and grabs the chains, pulling the swing back slightly before giving it a push. I tip my head back and giggle as he pushes me again. The breeze blows through my hair, and I close my eyes, reveling in the feeling. After a few minutes, Matt slows the swing, and I look at him over my shoulder. His eyes hood as he looks down at me, and I suck in a breath.

He leans down and pauses, silently asking my permission, and I nod. When his lips meet mine, my eyes close, and I swear I can see fireworks. The kiss is soft and slow at first, but becomes more exploring, and I lean into Matt. His hand comes to my face, and he strokes my cheek with his thumb. I let him take control. I don’t often let men take control away from me, but with Matt, I feel a sense of safety, like I won’t lose everything if I give him control.

I try to twist to face him more, and the swing rocks. We break apart, both working to catch our breath, and my hand instinctively comes up and touches my mouth.

Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit. I just kissed Matthew Carter.

I quickly turn and face forward, my cheeks heating the more I think about it. Matt rounds the swing and stops in front of me, tipping my head back with his fingers under my chin.

“Please don’t tell me you regret letting me kiss you,” he says, his voice laced with so much vulnerability.

I quickly shake my head. “Not at all,” I breathe out.

He grins. “Good, because I’d very much like to do that again.”

I grin back. “Me, too.”

He leans in closer and dusts his lips over mine before stepping back and offering me his hand. I take it, and we walk back towards the car, but I’m not ready for tonight to end. Even if we don’t kiss again, I want to spend more time with him.

When we get to the car and he pulls open the passenger door, I turn and face him. “We still have some movies to finish in ourStar Warsmarathon. How about we watch some tonight?”

His face lights up, as though he didn’t want to end the night either. “That sounds like a perfect plan.”

I slide into the car, extremely pleased with myself, and Matt drives us back to his place.

CHAPTER 23

Matt

I’ve never gone on a date where the end goal wasn’t sex. I’ve taken women out, but they always knew they weren’t getting a relationship out of it. With Zoey, it’s all different. Do I want to sleep with her? Of course. I’d be idiot to see how gorgeous she is and not want to. But if she never wanted that, or made me wait an entire year for it, I’d be okay with that, because it’s her. Kissing her in the park was not the plan, but when I saw how carefree she was and she laughed as I pushed her on the swing, I couldn’t stop myself. It wasn’t an overly explicit kiss, but it was hands down the best one I’ve ever had.

When we stepped out of the restaurant, I knew I wasn’t ready for the night to end. I was not ready to just drive her home and drop her off, so I suggested a walk. When she later asked about watching anotherStar Warsmovie, I knew she felt the same way.

I’m itching to hold her hand as I drive, but I hold back, not wanting to dive into anything too quickly. I need to make sure we take all of this at Zoey’s pace.

Inside my apartment, Zoey takes off her boots, and I watch as she undoes the zipper, slowly exposing more of her legs. I can’t seem to take my eyes off it. When she looks up at me, she smirks, knowing exactly how enrapturing she is. I clear my throat and head to the kitchen.

“Popcorn?” I call.

“Of course. We can’t watch a movie without snacks.”

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