Page 58 of The Sound of Silence

He reached up and gently cupped my face, and his hazel eyes turned hypnotic—spellbinding and alluring. I could feel his warm breath mingling with mine as his thumb grazed my cheek. His other hand reached up to grip the nape of my neck and my heart began to pound. His lips were only inches away from mine but he didn’t close the remaining gap. For a few moments, he simply looked at me.

“I want to kiss you,” he stated, his voice husky and low.

“Then kiss me.”

I could still feel his uncertainty—as if he thought I was a scared rabbit who could be spooked at a moment’s notice. Perhaps I was, but I didn’t want to wait to find out. I wanted to feel his lips on mine. Closing the small remaining gap between us, I pressed my mouth to his.

The moment our lips connected, I felt a current charge down my spine. Electric. Energizing. My tongue darted out to test the seam of his lips. He opened and allowed me to taste with savory, hungry licks, and I felt his gasp more than I heard it. Cupping the nape of my nape, he angled his head and deepened the kiss. Our lips grew urgent in frantic need, both of us terrified of breaking the electric thread holding us together.

The other people on the boat ceased to exist. We were in our own world, his kisses erasing away every kiss that came before. His tongue tangled with mine in a tentative exploration I felt all the way to the tips of my toes. I sifted my fingers through his misbehaving waves and my core tightened.

Kissing him made me realize this part of me—my desire—hadn’t gone away forever. It had only been lying dormant—and Derek Mills had awakened it.

25

Val (Gianna)

Derek and I stood outside the door to my apartment, reluctant to have the night come to a close. Reaching into my purse, I pulled out my keys.

“Thank you for dinner,” I told him.

“You’re welcome. I had a nice time. I…” He hesitated, and I fiddled with the keyring as I waited for him to continue. Instead, his gaze flitted to my mouth, then back up to eyes. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he drew me in.

My heart stalled, and my tongue darted out to moisten my lips. I wanted this man to kiss me again more than anything. I hoped like hell he wasn’t going to wait for me to give him permission this time around.

Heads bowed together, our breaths mingled as he slowly closed the distance, and the electricity sparked once again. Our mouths tangled and I couldn’t get enough of him on my tongue. Aligning our bodies, he pulled me closer. He suckled my lips between his, then dipped his tongue in to taste mine. When his hand found the hem of my shirt, I moaned from the feel of his warm hand against the bare skin of my waist. My fingers curled at his nape and I contemplated inviting him inside.

However, before I could offer the invitation, the thumping bass from the dance club next door began to rattle the walls, effectively disrupting any thoughts I had about making a decision I would probably regret. Inviting Derek inside would only lead to one thing—the very thing I didn’t think I was ready for. Reluctantly, I pulled my lips away but kept my forehead pressed to his as I looked down at my watch.

“Right on time,” Derek said.

“What’s right on time?”

“The music. It’s ten o’clock on a Saturday. That’s when Club Revolution opens its doors.”

“It’s also when the walls in the hallways begin to shake,” I joked, pointing to one of the trembling light fixtures in the hallway. “I know it can’t be helped, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to it.”

“I used to have an apartment here on the third floor. I moved across the street a couple of years ago when a bigger flat opened up, but I remember what it was like living in this building. The noise from the club is easier to ignore if you’ve been there. Whenever I heard the music, it made me want to pop in. The club is actually a pretty fun place.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah. I mean, I’m sure the older residents of the building don’t care much for the noise they make, but it’s grown on me.” He scratched his chin and cocked his head to one side contemplatively. “We should go together one weekend.”

“How about next weekend?” I suggested, and one corner of his mouth tilted up in a knowing smile.

“Is this you asking me out on a second date, Sparky?”

“Maybe.”

“Well, I might just have to say yes,” he whispered.

He leaned in and pressed a feather-light kiss to my cheek before stepping back. The space he vacated now felt cold and empty, but I knew it was time to call it a night.

“Goodnight, Derek.”

“Goodnight, Sparky.”

After I went inside and closed the door, I secured the deadbolt and lowered the wooden bar. Habitually, I walked around the apartment and double-checked all the window locks. Confident everything was buttoned up tight, I yawned and headed to my bedroom to change into pajamas. It was fairly early to go to sleep, but the idea of crawling under the covers with a good book seemed appealing.

---