“Oh my god. I’ve never seen you act like this over a man.” Audrey placed a hand on her heart.
“I know.” I flattened my hands and rested them under my chin. “But he’s perfect.”
“Tell me everything,” Audrey ordered as she shoved another spoonful of cereal in her mouth.
“Well, first, he’s anexcellentdancer.” As I spoke, I started listing things off on my fingers. “He totally matched my energy during the improv. When I went goofy, so did he. When I tried to throw him off, he seemed to anticipate it and adjusted. When I went sensual and seductive, he was right behind me.” I winked at her after that, which made her cackle.
“I love when men can have fun without feeling self-conscious,” Audrey added.
“That’s exactly it!” I said, remembering his laugh as I pulled out the sprinkler move near the end of the night. “He and I just had so much fun. It’s been so long since, I don’t know, I just hadfunwith someone.”
Audrey’s smile faltered at that, but before I could question her about it, she recovered and asked, “And you still aren’t even kissing?”
“No.” I frowned, but then I couldn’t help myself, and a grin spread across my cheeks again. “Not on the mouth, at least.” Audrey choked on her cereal and pounded her chest with her fist.
I laughed at her until she recovered and asked, “Where did he kiss you?” Her hazel eyes glanced down, where my legs rested under the table.
“Iwish,” I groaned. “When he walked me to my building, he kissed my knuckles—” which reminded me a lot of Fergus, but I was quickly learning how into hand kisses I was, “Then, he turned my hand over and kissed the inside of my wrist.” I held my wrist up, as if I could show her the evidence of his warm lips there, but I didn’t have any, just the memory of it. The way my pulse spiked as soon as he brushed his lips against my skin.“Then he kissed me right here.” I tapped the spot on my neck just below my ear. The spot that sent shivers down my body, making me melt into him.
How I had to hold back a whimper when he pulled away with a soft look in his eyes, as if he didn’t want to go either.
“Then,” I continued. “He wished me goodnight and left.”
“Oh, he’sgood,” Audrey wiggled her eyebrows with her words. “He left you wanting more.”
“I know,” I pouted. “He’s playing me like a fiddle. If you hear an increase in buzzing noises coming from my bedroom, you know why.” Audrey laughed before she lifted her cereal bowl to drink the remaining dregs of milk.
“Are you going to see him again?” she asked as she stood to put her bowl in the sink.
“Oh yeah, he—” I stopped talking when my phone vibrated on the tabletop. Displayed on the screen was a text from him. “Please hold.” I snatched my phone off the table to open his text.
“I love this so much,” Audrey giggled from the sink.
Drew: I hope you slept well, Vanessa.
“Aww.” I lifted my phone to show Audrey. “He hopes I slept well.”
“Stop it.” Audrey groaned dramatically and plopped herself in her chair again. She rested her chin on my shoulder as I rattled off my response.
Me: I hope you didn’t.
Audrey snickered when three dots kept appearing and disappearing. Finally, his message came through.
Drew: Can I ask why?
Me: I hope you slept just as badly as I did.
His three dots danced on and off again, and I held back an evil laugh at the sight as I thumbed my next message before he could come up with a response.
Me: I hope you tossed and turned all night, just like me. Aching, unsatisfied. Thinking of you. Wishing your hands were on me. Remembering the feel of your lips on my skin.
“Why are you so good at this?” Audrey murmured. “I need to remember how to flirt via text.”
“I’ll give you some pointers next time Liam texts you.” I turned to look at her while we waited for Drew to respond. She blushed and rolled her eyes, ignoring my prying comment. Then my cell vibrated in my hands.
“Oh, what did Mr. Proper say?” Audrey tapped her fingertips together in anticipation.
Drew: I don’t think you comprehend the anguish I felt leaving you last night. I had to grasp an immeasurable amount of self-control, just so that I didn’t knock on your door, invite myself in, and drag you to your bed. The hunger I feel for you is all-consuming. Does that paint an adequate picture of how I slept last night, Vanessa?
