Page 63 of For the Win

“Jesus.You’d think we’re a couple of virgin teenagers.”I pause, my eyes widening.“Oh...is that why you’re nervous?”

She laughs softly.“No.I’m not a virgin.”

“Okay.I mean if you were, that would totally be fine.I don’t have a virginity thing.One way or the other, I mean.And I’m not either.A virgin.”

She lays her soft hand on my cheek.“Somehow I didn’t think so.But why are you so nervous?”

“Because...”I clench my teeth briefly.I can’t tell her why.She’ll run screaming.“Because I really like you.”

“I like you too.”She caresses my face, my stubble rasping against her hand.

I set down my drink too, cover her hand with mine, and turn my face so I can kiss her palm.I watch her carefully.Her lips part, her eyes are half closed, and a pulse flutters in her throat.“We can just take things slowly.”

“Yes.”

With a hand on her hip, I bring her closer and kiss her.She makes a little noise in her throat, opening for me.Our tongues slide together.She tastes fantastic.I want to devour her.

Easy.

I touch my fingertips to the side of her neck so gently, my thumb brushing her jaw, our mouths moving on each other in slow, lingering kisses.Her hand curves over my shoulder, around to the back of my neck, caressing me.I suck on her bottom lip.For a moment we pause, my nose resting alongside hers, our eyes flickering open to peer at each other.Heat swells inside me and shimmers around us.

I dive in for more kisses, hotter, faster.I slide my mouth down to the side of her neck and suck gently.Leaning her forehead on my shoulder, she shivers, then she tips her head back giving me access to her throat.I glide my tongue over her smooth skin and kiss her there too.She’s panting and making needy little sounds, and a groan climbs my throat.

I shift her closer to the arm of the couch and lean her back onto it.She lifts one leg up onto the couch.Now I’m on my knees, our hands all over each other.

She toes off her flip-flops, letting them fall to the patio, grabbing at my shirt to tug me closer.

Okay, then!

I slowly slide my hand down from her shoulder over her collarbone.Watching her face, I wait for any resistance as I linger there, then leisurely cup her breast.

“Ohhh.”She sinks her teeth into her plush bottom lip, her eyes fluttering closed.Her back arches, pushing her soft flesh into my hand.

“Christ,” I mutter, gently squeezing, then kissing her again.“You feel so good...”

“Yes...”

We make out for a long time...kissing and touching, licking and sucking.I want to feel more skin, and it seems she does too, as she slips her hands beneath my T-shirt to explore my back.

I lift my head, panting.“This isn’t exactly private.”I jerk my head toward the next-door neighbor’s house.We’re on a corner, so there’s only one, but still...

“Yeah.”She gives me big blue eyes.

“Inside?”

She nods.

I take her hand and help her stand.Then I hesitate.“Um...wait right here.Just a minute.”

She slowly sits, watching me, luckily her lips curved in a half-smile.

I dash to the door that leads to my bedroom.At the back of the house, it also has a door onto the patio.I don’t have my fucking key.Argh!

I hustle back into the kitchen, down the hall, and through my room.It’s a generous-size room, having been two smaller bedrooms at one time, with shiny oak floors, a big white-covered bed against the wall between two windows, and another door to an en suite bathroom.The room is dim, with the blinds on the two windows still closed, the only light coming through the frosted panes of the French door to the patio.

I scoop up the socks and underwear lying on the floor and shove them in the hamper, grab two towels and hang them in the bathroom, and kick a pair of shoes under the bed.Other than that, the place isn’t too bad.Thank God I made my bed this morning.

I fling open the French door and step outside.

---