“You’re good. Okay, let’s plan a shopping date, and you can choose my outfit, but I get to choose yours.”
“Deal. Oh, and don’t forget, I am graduating in ten days, so I won’t be in that Monday. You’re welcome to attend my ceremony.”
“It’s already on my calendar. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
The rest of the day ticks by slowly as time does when I want to be somewhere else. The weekend needs to start. I spend the last fifteen minutes organizing my desk. It’s amazing how many ways I can accessorize with a phone, a notepad, and a vase of flowers. I look at my lunchbox and feel bad that I didn’t eat what Damon gave me, but it’s in the staff refrigerator for Monday.
Finally, the hour hand clicks into place, and I’m free.
The drive to Damon’s takes me twenty minutes. I approach the gate and enter the code 0615 and wonder if there’s any significance to the numbers. It hasn’t escaped my attention that the grand opening of Ahz is on June fifteenth. Maybe that’s the connection.
The farther up the driveway I go, the more nervous I feel.
Tonight is the night he and I will meet in the middle, so to speak. I’ve thought of nothing else all day except how his body will feel next to mine—inside of mine.
As I near the garage, I watch him approach wearing faded blue jeans and a white cotton button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He’s casual sexy, and I’m way overdressed in what Em picked out for me.
Chapter Nineteen
I barely apply the emergency brake before he opens the door and practically pulls me from the car.
“It’s been forever since I’ve seen you, and I’ve missed you. This feeling of longing is not a feeling I’m used to having.” He hugs me, then steps back to stare. “I sat in my meeting all day today thinking of you. I couldn’t stay in my desk chair because all I could imagine was your lips wrapped around me. I couldn’t sit on the couch because it reminded me of my lips on you.”
He reaches into the back seat and grabs my bag, then ushers me into the house. It smells delicious, like garlic and cheese, but the only thing I’m interested in is him.
“Damon, whatever plans you have need to wait. All I want to do is strip you naked and have my way with you.”
He says nothing, but his eyes say everything. That dark, stormy look is back.
He drops my bag on the entryway floor and sweeps me from my feet to carry me upstairs. He sets me on my feet in the center of a massive room. I turn in circles, trying to take in what I see.
There’s a massive king-sized bed with the duvet turned down, and a single rose lying across one pillow.
Flowers in vases sit everywhere, along with unlit candles placed beside the bed.
He thought of everything from the bottle of wine and glasses to the soft music playing in the background.
I hear something that sounds like, “Ahh,” coming from him, and I stare in his direction.
“You look stunning. Unfortunately, you won’t be needing these clothes tonight—except for those.” He points to my black stilettos. “Later, I want you wearing those and nothing else, but right now, I’m going to make love to you until you scream my name.”
Damon is so sure of himself, and it’s such a turn-on. “I’m ready. Take me to bed.”
It takes seconds for him to strip us both naked and press his body against mine. Guiding me backward, I retreat until I feel the bed against the back of my knees. With nowhere to go, I collapse, taking him with me.
We scoot up to the top, where the red rose lies across the pillow. He picks it up and trails it over my bare skin. The feel of the petals drifts across me, lighting up every nerve ending.
So many things go through my mind, but all I can focus on is how much I want him.
“Damon. Please!” I’m reduced to begging and pleading.
“I’ve thought about you begging, but I think you can be so much more convincing.” He nips at my lips and licks a heated trail between my breast.
“Now, who’s killing whom?”
“I’m bringing you to life.”
I lie back and let whatever will happen, happen.
“Amazing—absolutely amazing,” he declares as he caresses my body.
He pulls me to his side, so we face each other, and he looks at me with such tenderness.
I lay my head on the pillow and stare back. There isn’t a male model who would look any better at this moment. Damon Noble is sex on fire.
“I agree. There’s been so many firsts with you.”
“Tell me about them.”
I no longer feel embarrassed or shy with him. I share everything with him because he sees me like no one has.
“Well, first and foremost, you gave me my first orgasm during sex.” If I had a blue ribbon, I would have stuck it to his chest. “Did you know orgasms feel different? Some are more intense than others. Don’t get me wrong, they’re all exceptional.”
“Your first, huh?” He beams from ear to ear.
“I’ve given them to myself, but it’s never happened with someone like this.”
“I’m glad I could be of service. I’m more interested in knowing about how you pleasure yourself. I’d pay anything to watch that.” He rises on his elbow and kisses me.
“No more discussions about self-gratification.” My face heats at the thought of him watching.
“Why not? You talk about everything else so candidly. How did you ever grow up to be you? Most people would never talk so openly about the things you do.”
“My parents were always upfront with me. If I was old enough to ask, I was old enough to know. No subject was ever taboo. I’m not embarrassed or ashamed to talk about most things because it seems normal. Honesty is important.”
“I want to meet your parents. If they created you, they’re amazing.”
I can’t tell if he’s serious or teasing. “Do you seriously want to meet my parents?”
“Yes, I want to meet them.” He rubs his hand from my ribs to my thigh, settling his palm on my hip.
“We can have lunch with them on Sunday. Or, you can wait and meet them at my graduation. You’ll come, won’t you?”
He nods. “I’ll be there, and Sunday sounds great. Call them and make the arrangements. I’m happy to treat everyone to lunch.”
“You don’t have to take anyone to lunch. My mom will insist on fixing something. I can imagine what they’ll say when I bring home a man.”
“Haven’t you brought a man to your parents’ house before?”
“Yes, but it was over a year ago, and it was just a drive-by. I don’t bring men home to meet my parents. It gives them the wrong impression. Warning, we’ll have to set them straight as soon as we get there, or my mom will have me walking down the aisle.”
His face goes from curious to concerned, then back to something resembling humor. He pulls me toward his chest, so my face presses against him. I inhale his scent; he’s spicy, with undertones of lavender and cedar—intoxicating and sensual.
My hand covers his heart, and the pace speeds at my touch and taps out a steady cadence different from the one a few moments ago. I recognize it as his “I’m ready again” rhythm.