“I still can’t believe that douchebag never tried anything with you. The guy is an idiot.”
“Well, we kissed. I mean, nothing like you and I kiss. He’d give me a kiss when he came over and a kiss as he was leaving. No tongue. He said French kissing was gross. I know now that he was just telling me that because he didn’t want to French kissme. He seemed to be okay with it when he kissed Brooke, though.”
“So, for a year, the guy missed out on the sexiest girl on the planet?”
I laugh. “If you say so.”
“Oh, I say so. I’m also one lucky bastard!” he says with a sigh.
Chapter Fourteen
STELLA
When we get back to the dorm, Alex walks me to my door and invites me down to his place to watch a movie. I agree after I change into something more comfortable. He laughs and tells me he needs to change too. I may be missing something, but he winks at me as he says it. I’m relieved to see that my roommate is gone. I decide to hurry, though, in case she comes back.
It takes some time, but I get out of my dress. I change out of my panties, since they’re kind of a mess from our tryst in the truck. I decide to wear some short pajama bottoms—not as short as Lily’s were—a tank top, and another loose sweatshirt. He’s already seen me braless, so no need to go through the trouble of wearing one of those, right? I run a brush through my hair and reapply my lip gloss, grab my keys, and take the stairs down to his floor.
I knock, but the door is ajar. When I push it open, I hear music playing. It’s coming from Alex’s room. I walk to the sound, and what I see takes my breath away. Alex Emerson. Naked. Granted, it’s from the back, but H-O-L-Y shit, the guy’s ass should be bronzed. He’s got muscles bulging everywhere––like in his legs and back, my goodness, his back. Who knew a man’s back could be that sexy? I could honestly and sincerely look at this man for the rest of my life. I suspect I could find something new and beautiful each and every time I look. I stand still with my mouth agape. As I lick my lips, I hear someone clear their throat. Oh shit! Busted!
“Like what you see, Pixie?”
“Hell yeah! Who wouldn’t like it?”
He gives a deep, trembling laugh. “I don’t really care about anyone else, Stella. I just want to know if you like it.”
Nodding like a fool, I speak the truth. “I definitely like it.”
He hasn’t turned around to face me yet. He’s looking over his shoulder. If the back looks this good, I can only imagine the rest of him.
“I need to put some clothes on. To do that, I need to walk toward you to get to my dresser. Do you want to stay there, or would you like to wait in the lounge?”
Huh? What? Oh, he’s asking me if I’m ready to see the rest of him. Am I? “I’m not sure.”
“Well, maybe this will help. If I turn around and move toward you, I can’t promise you I’ll stop at my dresser. I’ll want to come to you. I’ll want everything, Stella.”
“Oh. Okay. Um, I’m not sure I’m ready for that. Yet.”
“No, I don’t think you are. Soon though.” He grins.
With that, I turn toward the lounge and slowly walk away. Did I make the right decision?
“You made the right decision, Pixie,” he says, walking out of his room in his loose athletic shorts and a white tee, “You’re not there yet.”
How did he know that’s what I was thinking?
“I saw the expression on your face. The one that looks like it’s overanalyzing everything. I’ve seen it quite a bit in the last week.”
“It’s possible I tend to overthink things.”
He nods. “Don't get me wrong, I would have been more than happy for you to have chosen to stay put, but I don’t want to do it when you feel pressured. I want it to happen organically.”
I know what he means. It needs to happen naturally––at the right moment.
“Which movie should we watch? We didn’t get a chance to seeSawthe other night….”
“Ha-ha, hilarious!” I punch him in his hard-as-a-stone arm. Ouch, I think I hurt my hand.
“What about…Bridesmaids?”
