Page 77 of Hate to Love You
She turns toward me. “Are you coming up?”
“Yeah. But only for a few minutes.” With the way I feel, it’s probably not a good idea for me to stay. I want this girl too much. I can’t remember when I’ve wanted someone more.
It only takes a few minutes until we’re inside her apartment. She hangs up her jacket and lays her purse on a small table by the door.
“Want something to drink?” she asks, heading to the kitchen and filling up a glass of water. She downs half of it.
“Nah, I’m good.”
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Natalie have more than a drink. Maybe two. Tonight, she’s had two or three shots and just as many drinks. She’s not drunk, but she’s definitely buzzed. Maybe a little more than that. Wherever that happy place is between the two, that’s where Natalie is hanging.
I’m happy that I could make her birthday a good one. Especially considering that it’s the first one since the divorce.
I settle on the couch and watch as she kicks off her heels and runs her fingers through the long strands of her hair. Her dark waves tumble around her shoulders. There’s a glint in her eyes as a smile curves her lips. Her hips sway as she walks toward me. I’m mesmerized by the sight of her.
“I had a great time.” Placing her hands on my shoulders, she straddles my lap. “Thank you for dinner. For everything. You have no idea what it means to me.”
Our faces are scant inches apart. My breath catches, becoming trapped in my lungs. For the first time in my life, I have to think about releasing the air from my body and sucking it back in again. It’s just as scary as it is exhilarating.
“You’re welcome.”
She leans forward and presses her lips against mine. A sizzle of electricity zips through me at the contact. I want to grab hold of Natalie with both hands and never let go, but I have no idea if she wants me the same way. I’m afraid she likes the way I make her feel but she doesn’t actually like me. All I can hope is that what I’m feeling isn’t totally one-sided, that she feels the chemistry and the growing feelings and friendship, as well.
It doesn’t escape me that this is the first time Natalie has initiated physical contact between us. It takes everything I have inside not to haul her body against mine. Not to run my hands greedily over every inch of her.
But I don’t.
I want her to set and control the pace.
The kiss that unfolds between us is deliberate and measured. She takes her time nibbling at my mouth. Sucking on the top and then the bottom. Pressing kisses against the corners. Her arms twine around my neck, pulling me closer.
When her tongue licks at the seam of my lips, I open. Her fingers tunnel through my hair, tugging at the strands. There must be an invisible thread running from my hair to my dick. Every time she tugs, my cock twitches in response.
Her tongue strokes mine before she draws it into her mouth. The urge to flip her over and take what I want pounds through me until it’s all I can think about.
Natalie sits back and searches my eyes, the glassiness shining brightly in hers. “I want to sleep with you, Brody.”
Hearing those words fall from her lips makes my cock stiffen. If I was hard before, I’m like steel now.
Her hands are still tangled in my hair. I feel the pull of it against my scalp.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I groan, unable to believe I’m turning her down.
Her brows beetle together. “Why?”
“Because you’ve had too much to drink.” I stroke my fingers over her cheek. “I don’t want you having regrets in the morning.”
Given the way I feel, I don’t think I could deal with that.
She purses her lips. It’s the most adorable thing ever.
Christ…What’s this chick doing to me?
“Will you at least stay the night?”
Sleep in a bed next to her, but somehow resist the temptation of her body? I don’t know if I’m strong enough to do that. I’ve spent many years indulging my urges by gorging on women and booze. Whatever pleasure I wanted, I took.
“Please?”