“No reason to be sorry. I’m glad you decided to open up.”
“And we had a great time at the drive-in. Can’t believe I’d never been. Can we go again sometime?”
Ben turned in his seat. “Definitely,” he said, and then his lips were on mine.
Not wanting my neighbors to see me making out, I asked, “Want to come in?”
“Also definitely,” he mumbled, his lips tickling mine. Then he jumped out and opened the door for me.
“You don’t have to do that every time, you know?”
“I do.”
With no further argument, I took Ben’s hand and led him to my door. I’d never been so assertive, but something about this felt perfect and right.
“I feel bad that you’re still far from home,” I said when I locked the door behind us.
“Is that your way of saying I can’t stay over?”
I dropped my head in my hands. “Oh God. You must think I’m so naive or spoiled.”
Ben shook his head while turning and backing me into the door until my shoulder blades were against the wood, his hardness pressing into mine. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t going to stay. I’m liking this, taking my time with you, Murph.”
Then he kissed me. Not with a sense of urgency, but taking his time just like he’d promised.
“As for my place, it’s on the other side of Montpelier, but it’s not a big deal. I drive at night to get to emergencies.”
Our lips locked again, and Ben’s hand slid down my back, eventually grabbing my butt—my ass?My former New York socialite self couldn’t reconcile with this newer, more casual and hip version of me.
“You feel so good,” he murmured, pulling me out of my head as he leaned further into me.
It wasn’t forceful and it didn’t hurt. In fact, it felt so alpha, or caveman, or in charge. Whatever, it felt great, and I wanted more. As I leaned further into Ben, a low moan or maybe a growl made its way from my mouth.
“Was that me?” I said breathlessly.
“That was you.”
Ben broke free from my lips and kissed his way down my neck before running his tongue over my collarbone. Then he knelt lower, lifting my shirt and pressing his mouth to my nipple.
First, he sucked through my silk bra, before pulling the fabric down and blowing warm air on the chilled skin. Goose bumps spread all over my body as he continued to suck on me and then blow warm breaths.
I didn’t want to admit I’d never had this type of sensation before. Yeah, I’d been groped or felt up in the past, but it had been a while. And it had always felt so cursory—obligatory and unemotional.
Moaning, I couldn’t help the sounds coming from my mouth. My head banged back into the door, and Ben was kneeling on the floor, pulling my jeans down and tugging my panties to the side. It happened so quickly, I couldn’t remember if I’d done any maintenance down there. It had been a long time since I’d had the full monty in Manhattan. Now, I was all about quick and down-and-dirty trimming.
A deep rumble came from Ben’s chest, and then his mouth was on me there. All over me, devouring, licking, nipping. With a long swipe, he released my most sensitive spot from his mouth, and said, “I’m sorry if I’m rushing you. I had to taste you. I’ve been waiting ... well, years.”
He didn’t say another word until I came apart, all over his mouth, face, tongue, whatever you want to call it. It had never happened like that for me. This was a rebirth or something. Sometime between Ben spinning my back toward the door and now, I’d become a highly sexual woman.
After sliding my panties back in place and pulling my jeans up, Ben rose to his feet and trailed a long line of kisses over my collarbone and up my neck, finally landing on my mouth. He tasted like me, and it was so intimate, I thought I might combust.
“See?” he said, smiling against my lips. “Not only am I not staying over, but I’m not even seeing your bed.”
“What about you?” My head spun with confusion. I’d never been in an intimate situation where sex or intimacy wasn’t quid pro quo.
“What about me?”
Running my hand up and down his back, I said softly, “You. Pleasing you.”
