I do.
I let all of that fade from my thoughts as I surrender to the sensations of this man: his masculine scent, the warmth of his embrace, and the heat from his hardening body.
This is only one night: I mentally repeat the promise I made to my mom and Sally. Granted, it’s becoming more difficult to hear over the swish of my blood coursing through my veins. But as our lips continue their dance, I decide to follow through on that promise. For just this one night, I'm going to let myself live.
Malcolm's heat consumes me, causing my body to melt in his grasp. Our hearts beat wildly against the other's as they pound out the rhythm of a song I'd forgotten. I relish his touch as his large hands skirt over my exposed arms. No longer foreign, his contact ignites sparks. The small hairs on my skin stand to attention as if waiting for lightning to strike. His fingers brush against the side of my breast.
I push closer, wanting more.
My mind and body battle.
My mind screams its instructions: move away and protest. But instead, my body rebels, liquefying at his touch and longing for more.
His lips bruise mine as his tongue probes their seam. Willingly, I open, gasping for breath as the lingering taste of beer mixes with my wine. The blend scorches my blood as his closeness sends the boiling fluid to forgotten parts of my body. I whimper as my insides painfully clench, and my thighs press tightly together.
Though I want to hide my reaction to his kiss, to his touch...I fear I don't.
What I really want to do is push my hips closer and allow more of our bodies to touch. It's been so long since I've felt this way, so long since I've wanted...really wanted.
Malcolm's spicy scent surrounds me as it merges with musk. Suddenly, I'm blinded in his cloud.
When we finally pull apart, before I can speak or even contemplate what happened, Malcolm's blue eyes shine down on me, taking me in and reading me.
His voice rumbles through the background commotion of the bar. “You taste like sweet wine and smell like perfume and desire.”
Warmth fills my cheeks. “You taste like good beer.”
“Good? You're a beer connoisseur?”
I shrug. “Mostly, I know cheap beer.”
He lifts my chin, bringing his indigo eyes into focus. The room disappears, making those blue orbs all I can see.
“I'm a connoisseur,” he says as his thumb gently rubs over my bruised lips. “And you, beautiful Mandy, if you were a beer, would never be a cheap one. No, you're a rich custom craft brew. I see it in your eyes, feel it in your touch, and smell it in the air. Kissing a stranger isn't something you do, is it?”
I try to move my eyes away, but Malcolm's grip of my chin is unrelenting. Meeting his gaze, I reply, “No. I won't even bore you with how long it's been since I've kissed a real man.”
His eyes sparkle. “You kiss fake men?”
“Boys. Well, only one actually.”
“You kiss boys...” And then, as if the reality of his statement hits home, he asks, “You have a son?”
My heart flutters, its speed increasing by the second. “I do, but I don't want to talk about him. Not because he isn't important for he is—he's my world—but because tonight isn't about him. It's about me.” I can't gauge Malcolm's reaction. I can only guess that he's assuming that I'm some needy woman trying to get a man to take on the responsibility of a kid who isn't his.
I reach out and splay my fingers over his chest. His heart is beating to match mine. “I don't want to talk about him,” I continue, “because he'll never know about you—I'll never tell him and never introduce you. Don't worry. I'm not after a man to rescue me. I'm perfectly content with my life as a mother. I just wanted to remember what it felt like to be a woman...for just one night.”
“I'm not anti-children—”
I shake my head. “Stop. That doesn't matter.” It’s then that I notice the filled glasses on the table and laugh. “When did the waitress come?”
Malcolm bows his head until our noses touch. He inhales deeply, his eyes closing as his hand falls to my lap. “I'd say just after you.”
More heat floods my cheeks. “I-I didn't...”
“Then we need to do something about that.” He looks again at the full glasses. “I think the drinks came while my tongue was busy getting to know your sweet mouth.” His hand splays over my thigh.
My breathing hitches. “Malcolm?”
“You said you want one night. One night doesn't end with a kiss. It begins with one.”
Ignoring his lingering touch, I reach for my menu. As I do, Malcolm lifts my glass of wine with his free hand and brings it to my lips. “Drink, beautiful Mandy. You have secrets to spill, and we only have one night to do it.”
I sip the sweet, fruity liquid, its alcohol going straight to my head. Or is it the kiss, the closeness, or just Malcolm?
“You know,” I say as I turn his direction, “I had a blind date tonight with a man with issues. The poor guy may be here somewhere, and I'm standing him up.”
Malcolm's fingers move higher up my thigh as he shrugs. “Poor shmuck. His issues will probably get worse.”
“I'm not sure I can handle that responsibility.”
Malcolm laughs. “So you're saying that you wish you were with that guy?”
I don't have to think to respond—not that I could with his fingers moving closer to my arousal. I don't want to be anywhere—not with Sally and Brian, not with their friend Pep. For the first time since, well, for too long, I feel alive. I'm with the person fate intended and I'm not complaining. “No. I think fate had other plans, and who am I to argue with fate.”
His fingers move below the hem of my dress.
“One night,” he whispers.
My thighs part as I suck in a ragged breath. As he brushes the crotch of my panties, the choices on the menu blur. Though my hunger grows, food no longer seems important.
Malcolm speaks softly near my neck. His warm breath is the breeze rekindling the earlier blaze as his fingers stroke the flame. “Do you see anything you want?”
My body is on fire as I writhe toward his touch. I turn until our eyes meet, purposely allowing my legs to fall open farther to his desires. “Yes, I do see what I want.”
“Me too and it’s not on that menu. Since we only have one night, how about we both stand up our blind dates and make other plans?”
My breasts throb in anticipation as I try to take a breath. My words come out as a sigh. “W-what would those plans be?”
“I have wine and beer at my apartment and a pizza app on my phone. How about we leave this crowded place?”
My heart beats out of my chest as my mouth threatens to sabotage my one night. I made a commitment to Brian’s friend. The crowd is supposed to be my safety net, but as Malcolm’s touch lingers, I decide to live for me. One night. “I-I...”
“If you spread those sexy thighs wider, we could finish what we started. We can do that here in front of this entire restaurant or back at my place.” He nips my ear, the jolt zapping straight to where his fingers are roaming.
Fuck!
“I promise you'll come.”
My insides tighten. I haven't been so turned on in years. “Malcolm...”