Page 13 of Stroked
“It’s sort of late. And I really do have a long and busy week ahead. Maybe I’ll see you here again soon,” I said.
Valentina jumped off her stool. “I have to leave my car here. I have had too much to drink tonight.”
“Do you need help ordering a ride?” I asked, ignorantly.
“Actually, I wondered if I could go with you and grab my car in the morning. That would save me the extra ride back and loads of time.”
Again, under normal circumstances, I would have red flags all over this lady. I never, never, ever took anyone to my apartment. Especially someone I just met the day before and for all of two minutes. Sure, we hung out tonight, but in mixed company, and I still didn’t know her.Wait,what the hell? Was I actually considering this?
“I don’t know. We just met and I don’t usually take anyone to my place. It’s kind of a rule I have.”
“I promise, I will sleep on your couch and be gone early in the morning. Lucy said it was pretty close by. I should be able to find my way back here. I will be good.” She stepped closer and stroked her fingers over my arm. “Unless you can think of something more fun than that.”
All the blood in my body was directed between my legs and my mouth started watering. I couldn’t believe I was about to say this, but my brain checked out when she touched me. My body was in control now.
“Let’s go.”
Chapter 9
Amy
Valentina and I walked quietly on the sidewalk to my apartment. It was late. Not as late as I’d normally be going home, but we started drinking hard early with no breaks. There were still plenty of college kids lingering and walking around. We walked next to each other, but there was at least a foot of space between us. Still, that space was filled with an intense amount of tension and heat.
I couldn’t figure out if I should reach for her hand or say something. It was so awkward. A feeling I hadn’t felt for such a long time. In fact, I couldn’t remember ever feeling so out of place. I had never questioned what I was doing, with anything. It was one of my most redeeming qualities. I was decisive. But now, I had no idea what I was doing.
I broke my ‘no apartment’ rule. I was nervous. I missed her cues completely. Hell, I had to flat out ask if she was gay. I always just knew, even if there was a small glimpse of hope for bi. But she wasn’t readable.
My mind and my heart were racing. The ten-minute walk felt like hours in the uncomfortable silence. I felt the urge in my hand to reach over to her, but my mind kept telling me no. It was an unsettling and unfamiliar sensation for my body and brain to be fighting each other. And my damn mouth was watering so bad I was afraid if I tried to speak, I’d drool everywhere.
We finally made it to the building, and I opened the door for her, then went to the elevator. The ride in the elevator was as odd as the walk here. But even though there was plenty of room, she still maintained the foot of space. I could smell her now that we were in an enclosed space. Jasmine and vanilla. It was exotic and warm. Exactly how I imagined her.
The doors to the elevator opened and I physically felt the tension follow us from the small space into the hall. I struggled to get the key in the door. I took a few deep breaths as quietly as I could as she waited behind me. I put the key in again and finally got it to work.
I stepped inside and turned the light on, then stepped aside so she could come in. I locked the door behind her, and she casually walked around, obviously looking around. I dropped my clutch and keys on the kitchen counter.
“Would you like some water or something?” I asked as I leaned into the fridge. “We don’t have much to eat without cooking but there may be some crackers or something in the cabinets.”
I straightened up and turned to where she had been in the living room to see her standing right in front of me. I was frozen, still standing in front of the open fridge door.
“You have a nice apartment. Why do you not invite people here?” she asked in that subtle accent.
I swallowed hard to keep from drooling as I answered. “Bad experience with an ex. It's just better that way. So, are you hungry? Thirsty?”
She stepped in even closer. Her long thick lashes hovered over her eyes as her lids got heavy. Her blue eyes appeared grey as she slowly moved her gaze from bottom to top. She audibly sucked in a big breath as her eyes ran up my body. She moved her hair from its resting place on her breasts to behind her shoulders, exposing even more beautiful skin across her chest and shoulders. Her neck was thin and long. I wanted so badly to put my lips there to feel it, taste it. But I was motionless. I wasn’t even actively breathing.
“I am hungry. But I do not think what I want is in the cabinet.” I felt moisture pooling between my legs, and I was struggling to keep my knees from buckling.
Valentina stepped even closer, just inches away now. We were almost eye to eye with my flats on and her wedges. I felt my bottom lip drop open and I finally took a breath, but just enough to keep from passing out. She reached her hand up to my hair and brushed it off my shoulder, watching my neck as she did.
“Are you nervous? Do you not want me to touch you?” she asked, although her hand was now resting on my shoulder. She raised her other hand and moved my hair from my shoulder on the other side, then stroked her hand lightly down my arm, finding my hand with hers.
When her fingers intertwined mine, something in me finally snapped. I tightened my fingers around hers and whipped her arm behind her, pulling her up against my body.
“Not as badly as I want to touch you,” I said breathily as I pulled her mouth to mine.
Tingles, no, vibrations started in my lips and spread down my chest, through my arms, down my abdomen. Her lips were warm and soft, but not gentle. She kissed me back as ferociously as I kissed her. Our tongues were dancing in each other’s mouths as I grabbed a fistful of her silky hair. She had one hand under my jaw and one around my waist, pulling me as close as I was trying to pull her.
I pulled away enough to taste her neck, running my tongue under her jaw to below her ear before planting my lips to the delicate skin. She groaned lightly as I did and ran her hand over my ass. At first, gently caressing, but eventually, grabbing firmly. I felt her fingertips under the legs of my romper, moving her hands between my thighs from behind.
