“Dom?” Pen holds out the glass.
“Right, just hold it there.” I give the mixer a few solid shakes before slipping off the cap and pouring the drink into the glass she’s holding.
“Ooooh! This looks beautiful. Is that… are those glitter sparkles in there?” Pen’s eyes light up as she holds the glass up, seeing the edible glitter floating around in the drink.
With the drink mixer empty, I pop the cap back on and shove it inside the interior pocket of my jacket. “Yeah, I thought it would make it really…” I trail off, losing my focus as Penelope trains her admiring smile on me.
“Gorgeous. It’s gorgeous, Dom.”
For a beat, we stare at each other. Clearing my throat, I motion to the glass. “Try it.”
“Oh, yeah.” She lifts the glass to her lips and tilts it back, and I am captivated by her subtle movements— her delicate lips parting, eyes closing, eyelashes fluttering, and her throat bobbing as she swallows. All of this alone makes my cock semi-hard, but then she goes and moans. “Mmmm, wow. That’s incredible.”
Penelope Elizabeth Adams, you kill me in the best possible way.
Jerking my chin in an appreciative thanks, I avoid her gaze as she takes another sip. “I was thinking of calling it the Velvet Thorn. If you, ya know, wanted a signature drink for your dark romance book club. Or whatever.”
“Oh!” Understanding in her expression, Penelope nods. “Oh, wow, Dom. That’s… this is… you didn’t have to do that. But thank you. Wow, it’s so good.”
Another beat and I turn toward the door, ready to leave before I say or do anything to make this more awkward than it already is. What was I thinking? Walking over here, in the cold and the snow, and asking her to drink this?
“Wait!” Pen’s hand on my arm pauses me, and I turn back toward her. She’s close now, so close. She’s set her drink down on the coffee table and when I turn to face her, she puts both her hands on my arms. A telltale blush graces her cheeks and I knowwhatever she’s about to say will probably be totally random but so authentically Pen. “Do you remember when you kissed me? That last summer?”
Just as I expected, completely unpredictable. My throat tightens as I force myself to agree with a small nod. Memories of that last summer flood my mind, and I push them away quickly. For a while, I thought it was the end for Penelope and me. It simply hurts too much to think about.
“That was my first kiss. Ever. Did you know that?” Her hands are still on my arms and I’m finding it difficult to not reach for her and pull her close.
“Yeah,” I whisper, my voice lower than usual.
“It’s been a long time,” she whispers, stepping a fraction closer, “but, from what I remember… this drink tastes like that to me. Like, the memory of that kiss. Is that crazy?”
My heart races as I gaze into her shimmering eyes, feeling the strong energy between us that has grown in recent weeks. Does she feel it too? I can't control my actions or my racing thoughts. "No. But maybe we should find out for sure," I say hoarsely, barely keeping up with my own words.
Pen licks her lips, giving the slightest nod— that’s all the permission I need. Taking her face in my hands, I lean down and claim her mouth. It’s soft, tentative at first, as I capture her top lip between my own. Flicking my tongue along the seam of her lips, she gasps in delight. With her mouth open, I take full advantage, slipping my tongue in, stroking along hers. Her grip on my arms tightens as she moans into my mouth, and I'm grateful for her touch anchoring me to this moment.
This isn’t the shy, soft kiss of thirteen-year-olds. It’s sure, steady, and full of a pull I can’t ignore. The strength of it leaves me a little unsteady, but Pen’s hands anchor me. When we finally part, we’re both a little breathless, caught somewhere between surprise and certainty.
“It’s the same,” she whispers. Desire blazes in Penelope’s eyes, and I know,I know, I need to leave before I let this go too far. Damn Penelope and her random thoughts.
Dropping my hands from her face, I reach for the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I grumble, forcing the mask back on. I’m the human equivalent of Kevin spilling chili all over the floor onThe Office. Penelope is too good for me. Always has been, always will be.
I’m on the sidewalk before Pen shouts out from her stoop, “Dominic Miller! I got a question for you.”
Not pausing, I turn, walking backward. “What’s that?”
“Do you like me?”
"A little bit." Her smile grows wider and she tilts her head, waiting. “A lot.”
“Ditto.” Then, she gives me a small wave before slipping back into her house, shutting the door.
And with that, I begin my journey back home, my hands deep in my pockets as I trek through the rapidly falling snow. Strangely enough, despite the shitty weather, I feel warmer than when I arrived.
SEVEN
april
PENELOPE
