Both his eyes and his voice were serious. I nodded.
With his hand on my thigh, and those blue eyes piercing my soul, I wasn’t sure ice cream would be enough.
So, we headed back downtown.
I was an adult. I wasn’t a virgin by any means. During my undergrad days at CU, I’d had a serious boyfriend. We’d gone our separate ways after graduation though. I’d dated a little in New York, but eventually sold out for my academics.
There could be nothing wrong with me giving in to a little fling about now. In fact, I think Bernadette would even approve. I could only imagine what his body would feel like on mine. Skin against skin. My breathing got shallow the more I thought about it.
I hardly realizedthat he’d parked at a grocery store. “I’ll be right back.” He hopped out, leaving the keys in the ignition and the car running. I pressed play on his stereo and some familiar classic jazz music wrapped around me.
Duke Ellington.
Just when I didn’t think Hunter could be any more attractive. I loved classic jazz.
He wasn’t gone long. Before the first song came to an end he came running out of the store carrying a single bag. I loved watching him move. He made everything look effortless.
He climbed in, raising his eyebrows at the music, and handed me the bag. “Strawberry.” And then he kissed me quickly, tugged his seatbelt on and put the car in gear again.
This time he took my hand in his. All night long he seemed to touch me any chance he got. I brought my other hand over and laid it on top of his. He squeezed.
It was as though we could talk to each other without saying a word.
We had a long way to go but I knew I wouldn’t get anywhere if I didn’t take that first step.
Being inside hisapartment again already felt surreal. The same, but different. “My shoes.” The evergreen pumps I’d worn last night were carefully lined up by what was probably a coat closet.
“I knew you’d be back.” He winked and pulled me inside. I swallowed hard. Now that we were here, I wished I could be more forward.
I wanted him. Like I’d never wanted anyone before.
When he released my hand, I strolled into the living room and studied his remotes. “Netflix?” I asked and then I reached down to my heel and pulled off one of my sandals. His eyes followed my motions as though he was hypnotized.
He made me feel like a goddess, just watching me like that.
I watched him over my shoulder as I removed my other shoe.
He licked his lips.
I could almost imagine stripping for him.
Almost.
“Uh. Yeah. The bigger remote turns it on and you can find a movie with the smaller one.” He was standing behind his kitchen island with the ice cream. Without looking down, he opened a drawer. “Do you feel like some of this now, or later?”
“Later.” I couldn’t eat a bite.
He put the ice cream in his freezer while I made myself comfortable on his couch. I’d slipped off his warm up jacket but clung to it for some reason.
“What should we watch?” I wondered what he’d pick. Movie choices could reveal a lot about a person.
“You pick.”
“No, I got to pick the ice cream flavor. You pick the movie.” I insisted as he lowered himself beside me. He kicked his own shoes off and relaxed, resting his legs on a large ottoman.
I slouched down and put my feet up too. When his arm dropped around me, I felt like all was right with the world.
I started scrolling through his movie choices and was surprised at some of the Netflix suggestions for Hunter.
