Page 31 of Honey Bun
My heart thundered. I wasn’t sure how to answer that. She was the only one who shone in my life. As the teenagers walked to the parking lot together, Maddie and I followed behind. I said, “I’m used to women falling in line with my life and doing whatever I want.”
Maddie shrugged. “I probably fit into that category with you too.”
“You’re in a class of your own.” I stopped in the middle of the walkway and took both her hands. “I’ve been holding back so I don’t scare you.”
She cupped my face. “You could never scare me. It’s not in your nature, Arman.” She went on her tiptoes, and my muscles tightened. It was like we were alone in the crowd.
“I’m fighting myself to treat you right.”
“You do.” She sucked on her bottom lip and then pouted. “At some point soon, we’re going to kiss.”
I hoped so. I lowered my head. “I’ve been waiting.”
She came closer as if she was going to kiss me. “It’s probably a mistake.”
I would never force her. I closed my eyes, though I knew I could wait for her. “Life is what you make of it.”
“You’re right.” Then she pressed her lips to mine.
My heart sped up as I held her close. Finally, she’d kissed me.
Chapter Nine
Arman
Maddie was a treasure, and her lips sent my pulse into overdrive. I’d never felt a rush of joy so fast except with the close of a deal, but that was shallow and momentary. Maddie made me believe in forever. Unlike anyone else, she made me pause. Her kiss set me off. I hugged her waist, wanting to take my time and taste her.
She stiffened. “We have to go.”
We waved at Aurora, who was hugging her friends in the parking lot. I quietly said, “Kissing is like making love. If you go slow, you enjoy every second.”
She said, “I don’t know what that’s like, and people are around.”
I kissed her forehead. “You need rest.”
She let out a sigh then held me tight. “I’ve never been kissed like that before.”
I spoke low so only she would hear me. “I want us both to experience every intimate offering you’re willing to give.”
Her cheeks blushed, and she shook her head. “I don’t know if I can.”
I turned away, not wanting to push her too far. “We can settle for more kissing, later.” As we approached the car, her daughter rushed toward us. I held the door and asked Aurora, “Did you have fun with the Solomons?”
I then held Maddie’s door and smelled her vanilla scent as she took the passenger seat. A minute later, I jumped into the driver’s seat, and Aurora said, “Yes. I wish I had brothers and sisters so I’d never feel so alone.”
I jabbed the engine button as my heart raced.
Maddie turned back. “Aurora…”
“Mom, I saw you kissing,” Aurora said with a laugh. Maddie tensed. Then Aurora sat back. “Look, if you marry Arman, I’m okay with helping with babies.”
Maddie shook her head. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
I pictured her in a white dress, telling everyone that she loved me. The wordlovehad come out of her mouth when she was talking about party planning, and I imagined her saying it with more passion.
As I drove us home, I said, “Well, everyone be ready to leave in the morning.”
The drive to New York was easy. I showed her to the apartment in my building that I saved for important clients to let them experience life by Central Park while in the middle of Manhattan. Having Maddie two floors down from me was the closest I could get to having her move in.
