She wrings her hands but doesn’t hesitate. Instead of making room for her to sit beside me, I pull her onto my lap, letting her straddle me.
She’s so warm. So soft. So much a woman.
She makes me feel like a man, and I realize that everyone who came before her was only practice. For this. Forher.
“We don’t have to do this tonight,” I tell her, loving this vantage point. Her above me, looking down. That adorable, bitable chin of hers within such easy reach of my lips. “We can take this slow, you and me. Go on twenty dates, if that’s what you want. I want this to be right for you. Forus.”
She smiles and tugs on my ear. My cheek falls into her palm of its own accord.
“It’ll be right for us because itisus. But…” She chews on her bottom lip, making my own teeth jealous. “What if you don’t think I’m any good? You’ve had a lot more practice than I have, and I—”
“Hush, woman.” I press a finger over her mouth and groan when she kisses it delicately. “You’ll be good ’cause you’re you. It’ll be good ’cause we’re us. ’Cause we care about each other and respect each other. It’ll be good ’cause I’ll listen when you tell me what you like and ’cause I’ll show you whatIlike.”
My gaze snags on the locket lying against her pale, smooth skin. I can’t stop myself. I lean forward and plant a kiss next to it, atop her heart. Feeling the steady beat against my lips.
She shivers. Her fingers tangle in my hair, and then she’s falling to the side, pulling me on top of her, and framing my face with her hands so she can guide my mouth back to hers.
“Luc.” My name isn’t much more than a moan.
“Maggie May.” I lift my head, my heart a jackhammer inside my chest. “I’m serious. We don’t hafta do anything tonight.”
She considers this for a while. Long enough that I brace myself to kiss her forehead and leave. Long enough that I prepare myself for a painful drive home.
“Thing is,” she finally says, “I want to doeverythingtonight.”
The breath that escapes me is ragged. “Thank God.” I rest my forehead against hers and revel in the sound of her giggle.
“Luc.” She presses her fingers against the side of my jaw. “In case I forget to tell you later, I had a wonderful time tonight.”
I fake a frown. “You stole my line.”
Her grin is mischievous, making the gap between her front teeth wink. “It’s a good line.”
Then, for a long time, we kiss. We kiss and touch and, true to my word, I listen when she gasps. I pay particular attention to the spots that make her moan and pant for more.
Reaching for the belt on her dress, I release the clasp. When I lay my palm against her belly, I feel her stomach muscles tighten. And all the while, I leave a trail of kisses from her ear to her jaw and down her sweet-smelling neck.
Tossing the belt aside, I work the side zipper on her dress, and now it’s only a matter of slipping the garment off her shoulders and down her body. This I do slowly. Savoring each inch of newly exposed skin until she’s naked except for her bra and panties, a matching black lace set that Iknowaren’t part of her Waistband Mondays.
She wore these for me. For us. Forthis.
Shethoughtabout this. And knowing she thought about it, anticipated it,preparedfor it is about the sexiest thing ever. Desire makes my skin hot and tight, achy. And when I allow myself to look at the entire length of her, I grow achier still.
I saw her in a bikini plenty of times when we were kids, but this…
Nothing compares to this. This maturity. This intimacy. Thistrust.
“You’re beautiful, Maggie May.” My voice sounds like it was put through a shredder.
Every muscle in my body is tight with longing. With urging. But I refuse to rush. Not with her. Never with her.
“Luc.” She opens her arms, and I gladly fall into them, finding her mouth hot and wet and welcoming.
When I slip my finger under the edge of her bra strap, she shudders. And when I break the seal of our lips to kiss her soft shoulder, she moans.
I toy with her bra and panties, first with the tips of my fingers, then with my lips and tongue. Eventually, she’s naked beside me. Unwrapped like a present on Christmas Day.
My blood runs so hot I’m surprised it doesn’t melt my veins.
