Page 86 of Conflict
I pause, unsure of what to say. Sure, phone sex sounds excellent in theory, but because I’ve had sex all of two times in my life, I’m not sure how to do this. But then my liquid courage has me responding. “Your hands.”
Silence fills the other end of the line, and as the moments tick by, I start to wonder if it’s too soon for phone stuff.
“My hands?” Shane’s voice is low, husky, and hell, I wish he were here with me.
“Oh yeah,” I breathe out. “They’re so much bigger than mine. So much more fulfilling…”
He groans. “You’re killin’ me, baby. What I wouldn’t give to be there with you right now, fulfilling your every desire.”
“Tell me. Tell me what you’d do if you were here right now.”
And he does just that. With only his words, he brings me to orgasm twice before we say our goodbyes, eager to be together again in less than twenty-four hours.
The next night, I’m waiting outside when Shane pulls up. Sure, I could’ve stayed warm in my condo, but I’m that eager to see him. After nearly a year of avoidance, I can’t even stand a week apart. It’s ridiculous, I know. I just can’t help it.
Shane runs around his car, a huge grin spread across his handsome face. He pulls me into his arms, his embrace instantly warming me up. I shiver, and I don’t know if it’s from the cold or from his closeness. His rests his chin on the top of my head, and I swear I could stay locked in this moment for the rest of my life.
“You should’ve waited inside,” he tells me.
“I couldn’t wait,” I admit.
When Shane pulls back and lowers his gaze to my lips, my belly tightens. He was right, of course. I’ve thought about little else this week than him kissing me. And again, I can’t wait.
I rise onto my toes and brush his lips with mine. I don’t deepen it; I don’t devour him—as much as I’d like to. It’s a simple greeting. We have time for ravishing later.
“Hi,” he whispers.
I nearly fall in love with that one simple word.
“As much as I love your voice,” I tell him, “I’ve seriously missed your face.”
His chest rumbles with laughter. He takes my hand, places his on the small of my back, and leads me to the car. I open it up and slide in.
He rests his forearm on the top of the car and leans in close, placing a kiss on my cheek. “I’ve missed your face, too.”
With that, he closes the door and rounds the car, and we’re off on our first date.
Except, is it?
When he slides in beside me, he must see the look on my face. “What is it?” he asks.
I tilt my head towards him. “Is this our first or second date?”
He takes a moment to think about it and then grins. “Second. I told you last year you were the first girl I’d ever taken on a date, which would make this our second. It only took us a year to get here.”
My cheeks warm. “I like the way you think. And since our first date was absolutely perfect, I’d say you have your work cut out for you.”
Shane tosses a grin my way. “I’m afraid the only thing I can offer better than dolphin sightings are my killer personality and off-the-charts good looks. Other than that, tonight’s about wining and dining you. I hope that’s sufficient.”
“Hey, I’d rather look at you than a dolphin any day,” I tease. “And as for your killer personality? I’d be just as happy eating at Waffle House if it means I’m with you.”
He takes my hand, entwines our fingers, and rests our joined hands on his thigh. “As tempting as that sounds, I’m going to do you one a least a little better.”
And he does. My eyes widen when we pull up to the Hilton Atlanta. Usually I wouldn’t be one for hotel restaurants, but as the elevator takes us to Nikolai’s Roof, excitement overwhelms me. The restaurant is on the thirtieth floor, and with floor-to-ceiling windows, it showcases incredible views of the city. Shane checks in with the hostess, who promptly leads us to an intimate, cozy table by a window that allows us to view the setting sun.
“This is gorgeous, Shane.”
“The view does look damn good from where I’m sitting,” he says, and when I look at him, he’s watching me, not the view.
