His eyes darkened as he smiled at my joke. “Now you’re being cruel.”
“I thought this was a regular wine night. I’m just trying to stay in character.”
He stared at me intently for a long moment before saying, “I’m glad you said yes.” He let that settle over me while he flagged down the waitress to bring us some wine.
We spent the rest of the evening laughing and talking over good food and great wine. Ben was right; there was no difference between here and at home. I enjoyed him as much as I always did.
I was surprised when he pulled into my driveway and I didn’t want the night to end. I had imagined racing from his car, barricading myself in my house and avoiding him for the next four months.
But he had made this night amazing and so casual that I hardly noticed it was anything more than one of our usual nights in my kitchen.
It wasn’t until he walked me to the door that I truly remembered that this was a date. At the restaurant there had been a table separating us. And even though he would put his hand on my back when we walked to or from the car, he always did that so it wasn’t anything new.
On my porch, he lingered.
This was new.
And my nerves noticed it immediately.
I looked up at him, trying to decide what to do and how to end the night. “Thank you, Ben. I had a lovely evening.”
“I’m glad,” he murmured and stealthily took a step forward. “I had a nice time too.”
“The food was great.”
He ignored my trite comment. “You’ll do this again with me?”
I forced myself to hold his steady gaze. “Ben, I don’t-”
He had no patience for my refusal. One of his hands wrapped around my hip and jerked me against his hard body. His mouth descended on mine before I had a chance to panic.
His rough, demanding intensity pulsed around me, but his mouth moved sweetly, gently, as if he were savoring every single second of this.
Soft lips against soft lips, his tongue swept out along my lower one and then I found myself opening for him, letting him taste me completely. I kissed him back, unable to make coherent thoughts or think of anything beyond this moment.
My heart pounded ferociously in my chest. My hands slid up his vest and wrapped around his neck. His other hand pressed against the small of my back until we were chest to chest, tightly held together.
He kissed me for a very long time, longer than any first kiss I had ever had. He didn’t seem to want to stop. He would nibble on my bottom lip and then delve his tongue back into my mouth.
I gasped for air and sanity, but he filled every breath and sense.
Finally, just as our kisses became frantic and our touch more desperate, he slowed down. He ended our make out with the sweetest, lingering kiss. He pulled back just a little but rested his forehead against mine while his breathing steadied out.
“I have wanted to do that for a very long time.” His words were worshipful whispers.
I started trembling. I couldn’t form words or share the same sentiment. I had never thought about kissing Ben.
Not once.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he promised.
I nodded, still unable to speak.
He let me go and I groped for the door handle. I couldn’t look at him as I fled inside the dark house. I shut the door behind me and flicked the deadbolt over. My back slammed against it and reality came crashing over me.
I started sobbing; it seemed there was nothing left for me to do. The cries came straight from my heart, soul-wrenching sobs that were so deep they didn’t make any sound at first.
I slid to the ground, completely bereft.
