I nodded again and followed him back into the kitchen, wholly unclear on what had just happened. Austin seemed perfectly at ease, while I felt like I needed a cold shower.
We sat at my small dining room table and ate in virtual silence, Austin leaving me to my thoughts which really wasn’t a good idea on his part, because I spiraled. Big time.
I made it through one piece of pizza before I realized if I ate another, I’d throw up. I took my plate back to the kitchen. Rinsed it, put it in the dishwasher, and turned to get his, but he was already right behind me.
His arms came around me and he gave me a squeeze. “You’re gonna be fine, Dani. We’re gonna make this work and you’ll learn to trust me.”
I did a face plant into his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist and breathing him in. He smelled delicious. Leather and cologne... not too heavy... but just enough to make me want to lick every part of his body, starting with his mouth. I shook off my thoughts and let him hold me. “You freak me out.”
He chuckled. “I’m pickin’ up on that.”
I leaned back so I could see his face. “I feel like I’ve known you forever and that scares me. I just can’t trust you this fast. It’s unwise.”
“I’m gonna give you time. You’ll see.”
“What do we do about my family?”
He shrugged. “Whatever you want to do. But if this works out the way I want it to work out, I’m gonna have to meet them.”
I pulled away from him and poured a glass of wine. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms while I sipped and contemplated. He let me think for about six minutes before he took the glass from my hand and put it on the counter. “I’m still working on that,” I complained.
He pinned me in, his hands on either side of my hips, leaning against the counter. “You can have your wine in a minute. Right now, you need to listen to me.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Notthe boss of me.”
He chuckled. “If you want me to be patient and wait, baby, you need to stop being cute.”
“I’m not trying to be cute, I’m being serious.”
Austin leaned closer. “That’s why it’s cute.”
He kissed me, and damn it if I didn’t melt right then and there. I had to figure out a way to get myself together and quit doing this. Of course, I thought of this while I slid my hands into his hair and deepened the kiss. Austin lifted me onto the counter and I wrapped my legs around him as he moved into me. His lips moved to my neck, while a hand went under my shirt and pulled one bra cup down, scraping a nail across my nipple. I gasped as he rolled it between his fingers and I couldn’t help myself from pushing into his touch.
“Austin?”
“Mmm?”
“We need to stop,” I said, my breath coming in short bursts.
“Fuck.” He dropped his hand, lowered my shirt, and nodded.
I cupped his face and grimaced. “Sorry.”
“I get it, babe. It’s just gonna take me a minute.”
Austin got himself together and then lifted me off the counter. I couldn’t seem to stop yawning, but didn’t want the night to end, so covered it as best I could.
“I should go,” he said. “You’re exhausted.”
“I was hoping I could hide that better.”
He stroked my cheek. “I’ll take you to dinner tomorrow night.”
I grinned. “Okay.”
“Plan on Saturday nights to be our thing, yeah?”
“That all sounds amazing, but next week’s out.”
