“Mmm,” she hummed. “I think that’s all.” I eyed her curiously but opted to order the food first. When I finished with that, I set my phone down and grabbed her.
“I feel like you have something to say,” I said, pressing her back against the counter.
“And what makes you think that?”
“You’re easy to read.”
“I am not,” she argued.
“You are, now tell me.” She bit down on her lip and looked away. “Blossom…”
“I like you,” she finally said, placing her alluring gaze on me again. The sentiment was something we’d established last night, but I was feeling the fact that she felt inclined to say it again.
“Yeah, I like you too, BB.” I was wondering how many times we’d tell each other that before it began to evolve into more. “Do me a favor, though.” Her telling me that she gives all of herself too fast at times, played in my mind.
“What’s up?”
“Don’t give all of yourself to me just yet.” I ran my thumb over her bottom lip. “Let me earn you.”
“You want that?” she asked. “It comes with so much more, Roman.”
“And maybe I want the so much more part.”
“How can you be sure?”
“I’m not,” I answered truthfully. “But I am feeling the fuck out of you, and it’s hard to believe that I won’t want more.” She reached up and cupped my face.
“Feeling the fuck out of me, huh?”
“Yeah.” She shook her head and went in for the kiss, to which I responded immediately. I was already obsessed with her lips. It felt good being like this with her. Felt right. Like it was meant to be this way. I pulled her bottom lip into my mouth and sucked on it. Gripping her ass, I lifted her onto the counter and stepped between her thighs, never breaking our kiss in the process.
“Roman,” she mumbled into my mouth.
“Yes?” It took us a minute, but we were able to pull apart. Blossom lifted her hand and ran the tips of her fingers over her lips while staring at me. “Turned on again?” She nodded, and I grabbed her free hand, pressing it against my erection. Her eyes darted downward.
“You aren’t the only one.” I released her wrist, but she didn’t remove her hand. Instead, she traced the outline of my dick and glanced up at me.
“This is tempting,” she whispered, chuckling. “I haven’t…” She shook her head, and I gripped her waist.
“You haven’t what?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve—”
“We have time to go there,” I said, cutting in. “I’m a patient man.”
“But what if I’m ready now.”
“I’m not,” I told her. It was a lie because I wanted to throw all caution into the wind and have her right now, but sexing her this early wasn’t the goal. Nah, I wanted to fuck her mind first. “Remember what I just said?”
“Yeah, I remember,” she replied, smiling.
“Let me hear it to be sure you really do.” Blossom ran her hand over my erection once more and then slipped that same hand into my shirt, wrapping it and her arm around my torso. Her fingers massaged my back, and I groaned. Her touch was special. “Let me hear it, BB.”
“You want me to let you earn me first.” She leaned in and pressed her lips to the corner of my mouth and then said, “The direction you’re headed in… it’s the right one.” Three hard knocks to my front door reminded me of the food we’d ordered.
“I need you to get that.” She inclined her head and stared at me. “BB, I can’t answer the door like this.” I nodded toward the tent in my sweats, and she laughed, pushing me back. Blossom hopped down off the counter, gave my erection one last look, and then sauntered out of the kitchen. I stared down at my situation and shook my head.
“She’s going to be the death of us,” I muttered.
After we ate, we went for a walk around my neighborhood. I was going to make it my business to walk with her as often as I could. One because she enjoyed it, but also because this is when I’m able to get to know her more. I learned that from the one time we’d done it earlier this week.
“Tell me about your pops.” Daddy issues. That stood out to me, and I needed to know just how bad it was.
She shrugged and said, “He left when I was five, and I haven’t seen his face since. My mom passed when I was eleven, and we...” I turned my head slightly to look at her when she didn’t continue. Suddenly, she stopped walking and looked up at me. “Do you mind if...” She touched my hand, and I lifted it palm side up, knowing what she was asking for. Blossom placed her hand softly into mine and smiled. “Thank you.” I didn’t say anything as we continued on our way, fingers laced. It was all becoming very clear to me. The way she just asked to hold my hand or the way she would lean against me randomly this week. The extra-long hugs after the first one. It’s as if she needs to feel my touch. I picked up on it right away.
“When you were eleven...”
“Right. When I was eleven, my mom passed, and she didn’t have any family. Our grandparents had passed when we were really young, and she was an only child. Our father was the only family they could find. But instead of him taking us in, he asked his sister to and then signed his rights away.”
“Damn,” I mumbled. “I’m sorry he wasn’t man enough to step up.”
“What?” I stopped walking and pulled her in front of me.
“I said I’m sorry he wasn’t man enough to step up, Blossom.” She closed her eyes and shook her head.
“You don’t have to apologize for—”
“Yes, I do.” I tilted her head up with my index finger. “Who else is going to tell you that it wasn’t your fault?” She blinked twice and then did it again. “Wasn’t your fault,” I repeated. “He was a coward, and from what I’ve seen over this last week, he missed out.”
“Roman…” She said it in a pleading tone. I knew I was evoking some feelings she didn’t want to surface, and that wasn’t my intention, but I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t tell her exactly what I was thinking.
“I know how it is to grow up without a parent who chose to not be there. My uncles apologized for him, so I’m doing the same for you.” I shook my head and pulled her closer. “Are you listening?”
She nodded and then said, “I’m listening.” At that time, I was angry with life in general, but more importantly, my father. My uncle sat me down two nights after I graduated from college and told me something that’s stuck with me since that day six-years-ago. I repeated the same words he spoke to me back to Blossom.
“Your father’s absence isn’t a reflection of you, only of him. It isn’t anything you did, only what he didn’t do. What he chose not to do. I’m sorry he wasn’t there, and I’m sorry you had to deal with the confusion and pain of his actions.” I lifted her head and added my own words in, “From man to woman, I’m sorry BB.” Her eyes were a watery mess, but she didn’t let them fall. That strength looked good on her, but she didn’t need to be strong for me. “You can let those tears fall if need be, and if you don’t feel comfortable enough with me yet, then we’ll revisit this when you are.” She wiped her eyes and moved to stand beside me again, slipping her hand back into mine.