My heart drops into my stomach as I lift my head to stare at Audrey. “Your event?”
“Yeah, I thought you knew. It’s my family’s gala.”
“Your parents donate to charity?” I blurt out.
“Yes, but nowhere near as much as other events and non-profits. It’s all for appearances. They donate what they have to. Gotta keep up the charade like they actually care about the less fortunate.”
“I didn’t even see what the charity is for. Usually I do a lot of research about events, but I didn’t this time, because I was so pissed I even had to go. What’s the charity for?”
Audrey snorts. “Homelessness! As if either of my parents would ever help the homeless in real life. I bet they’d run over someone for a hundred bucks.”
We’re both quiet for a few minutes, an awkward lull that makes me feel uncomfortable and unsettled. I rub two fingers together, hoping the stimming sensation will help to calm my rapid heartbeat.
“Audrey, where does that leave us?” I ask, my social filter apparently having left the building some time ago. “I’m laying it all on the line here. I want to date you. And kiss you. And tell my friends about you. But if you’re not on the same page, tell me now.”
Her eyes dart between mine as she bites her bottom lip, and I resist the urge to pull it from beneath her teeth. “I don’t know.”
Well, fuck.
“I like you too, Jamie. But our worlds are very different. If Saturday night was any indication of what you deal with fairly often, I’m not sure I’m strong enough to handle that. I made the mistake of Googling you —”
I interrupt her. “Please don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.”
She gives me a tentative half smile as she continues. “I didn’t read anything, but the pictures spoke a thousand words. I’m nothing like the type you regularly date.”
“I don’t regularly date anyone. And I don’t have a type.”
“Almost every picture of you at events had you with a statuesque blonde, much like the girl from Saturday. It’s pretty hard to imagine anything with you, when I look like … this,” she says, dragging her hand up and down her body.
“I think you’re stunning,” I tell her passionately. “I want to memorize your curves. And most of those women? I probably met them that night, much like this weekend. My agent would work out agreements with models, influencers, and actresses to accompany me to things. It was good publicity for both of us. I’d never say I’m only attracted to blondes, or I only likethin women. There are so many different factors that go into attraction for me.”
“I’m scared,” she blurts out.
“Why?”
“People will talk. You’ll get a lot of backlash, and I’m scared you’ll ghost me when you realize how much bad publicity it brings. If you can bring a skinny girl to an event for good publicity, dating a fat one can be the opposite.”
“I don’t ever want to hear you call yourself fat again,” I command, watching as Audrey stills completely. “You are the definition of voluptuous. You’re curvy. Every inch of you is spectacular. Do you want to know what it’s like hugging a tiny actress? Or fucking a model who only eats less than five hundred calories a day? It actually hurts, Doc. They’re all sharp angles and bones. That girl this weekend? I wasn’t attracted to her at all. I’d never fantasize about her body like I have about yours. I’d never dream about falling asleep with my head against her breasts, but I sure have had that recurring dream about you.”
I watch as a blush creeps up Audrey’s neck, onto her cheeks, and her eyes darken almost imperceptibly. Her breathing has increased, and I wonder if her heart is beating as quickly as mine. I’ve never spoken to a woman like this. In all honesty, I’ve never had to. Being a professional athlete means women are all too eager to jump into bed with me, and I don’t have to try very hard to get them on board.
But the thing is, I want to try with Audrey. I want her to know how desirable she is. How much I think about her. That I want to build up her confidence by worshiping every delectable inch of her body until she’s screaming my name. I’m not sure if I’ve ever been as turned on like this. I’m almost vibrating with need.
“Jamie,” she whispers, her eyes hooded and dark with lust. “Will you … please. I need you to kiss me.”
I don’t answer her. I don’t have to. Grabbing hold of her wrist, I yank her forward until her body crashes against mine. A millisecond before my lips cover hers, I feel the relieved exhale from her, and I know I feel the same way. The moment our lips touch, I’m a goner. It’s like I didn’t know how much I needed this until right now. The room spins, and goosebumps erupt across my body.
Sliding an arm around Audrey’s waist, I maneuver her into my lap, her legs straddling mine. As she sighs against me, I take the opportunity to slip my tongue into her mouth. Her taste explodes onto my tongue, and the velvety smoothness is a soothing balm on my soul. I skirt one hand under her shirt, up her spine, and the other slides into her hair at the base of her skull. She whimpers, her thighs clamping down as she searches for friction, and I groan as she provides perfect pressure against the length of my rigid cock.
I’ve never been huge into kissing. Maybe it’s a sensory thing, or perhaps it’s another random autistic characteristic where I can’t enjoy the kiss because my mind whirls on about germs, tastes, and other ridiculous things. Right now, though, I feel like I could keep kissing Audrey forever. As her fingernails scratch my neck and scalp, I’m all too present and engaged in this kiss.
This isn’t what I expected from Audrey. I only wanted her to hear me out, and state my case for why I think we should explore our connection. But this? This explosive chemistry? It’s beyond anything I could have ever predicted. We have to explore this. I can’t leave here with things up in the air. I have to convince Audrey to give me a chance.
A loud bark, and responding cacophony of squeaks, forces us to break apart. Both panting, Audrey rests her forehead against mine as we catch our breaths.
“Wow,” we say simultaneously. I open my eyes to find hers glassy and unfocused, her lips swollen and rosy. I slide my handfrom her hair, letting it drift across her neck. My thumb finds her bottom lip, stroking it softly.
Flash barks again from her bed in the corner, but I can’t tear my eyes from Audrey’s. She’s so beautiful, and I need to tell her. Instead, what comes out is, “You have three freckles on the tip of your nose, and two under your left eye.”
