Page 44 of Practice Makes Perfect
Her eyes widen. “I’m not sure seeing you naked will make me less nervous.”
“No?”
“No. Your body does this—” she waves a hand at my chest, “—thing.”
I feel a grin spreading across my face. “A thing?”
“It’s very distracting.” She rolls her eyes. “But I need to get used to undressing.”
“Then we’ll go together,” I suggest. “At the same time.”
She nods, squaring her shoulders like she’s preparing for battle. “OK. Yes.”
We stand there for a beat.
“Should we… move to the bedroom?” I ask.
“Right! Yes! This way!” She leads me down a short hallway to a bedroom that’s unmistakably hers—more books, a deskcovered with color-coded notes, and dance shoes hanging from hooks on the wall. “Lea and I got moved into a suite dorm this semester, so it’s good we’ve got separate bedrooms now?—”
I stop her rambling by pulling my shirt over my head. Her eyes trace the movement, yet when I toss it aside, she hasn’t moved. “Together?” I remind her.
“Right.” She grabs the hem of her sweatshirt and pulls it up in one swift motion, revealing a simple black bra underneath.
I try not to stare at the curve of her breasts and the smooth skin of her stomach, but I’m only human. And I’m so awestruck that I miss her hands moving down to her leggings. She starts pushing them down, then looks at me and raises an eyebrow when she catches me gawking and not stripping.
“Sorry!” I say, as I unbutton my jeans, and then we both push our pants down at roughly the same time.
And suddenly we’re three feet apart in our underwear, sizing each other up.
“This is weird, right?” she asks, nervously twisting her fingers. “Like, normally there’s music or something. Or it’s dark. Or you’re drunk.”
“Do you want music?” I grin. “I do a pretty mean impression of the Full Monty if you ask nicely enough…”
“Surprised that’s not in the syllabus.” Her eyes trail down my chest to my boxers, then dart away as if she’s been shocked with a cattle prod. “Your turn.”
With a shrug, I hook my thumbs into the waistband of my boxers and push them down, stepping out of them like it’s no big deal. For me, it’s not. But for Em, it’s clearly a whole new world. Her eyes widen, and I catch her quick inhale, and she’s definitely looking now.
“Your turn,” I say quietly.
Her fingers tremble slightly as she reaches behind her back to unhook her bra. She hesitates for a moment, then lets it fall.My breath catches—her breasts are perfect, small and perky with dusky pink nipples that are already hard with excitement and anticipation.
“You’re beautiful,” I say, meaning it.
She gives a nervous laugh, then quickly pushes her panties down and steps out of them, standing naked before me. I take my time looking at her—the curve of her hips, the small patch of dark hair between her thighs, the goosebumps spreading across her skin.
“Are you cold?” I ask, noticing how they cover her arms and legs, and it’s just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
“I honestly can’t tell if it’s temperature or nerves,” she admits, wrapping her arms around herself.
“You did great.” I step toward the bed. “Now let’s get under the covers. You’ll be warmer that way.”
Once beneath the sheets, Em’s skin slides against mine, warm and impossibly soft. The contrast of smooth curves against my harder planes sends a rush of heat through me, shooting straight to my groin. I want this woman—and I want toshowthis woman—but she’s tense, so I give her a moment to adjust.
“Can I kiss you, Em?” I ask, propping myself on one elbow to look down at her, but keeping a little distance between us in case she wants to back out.
Em nods, clearly not trusting herself to speak, because her lips are clamped together. I lean forward, kissing her with just my lips at first, gentle but also insistent. She melts into it almost immediately, her mouth opening under mine. The kiss deepens naturally, and I slide my tongue against hers.
“Is this OK?” I murmur against her lips, not wanting to break contact, caressing my free hand up her side.
