Page 79 of DadBod

ELIZABETH

I’ve been waitingfor him for hours. I wanted to text Jeriann to see what was taking this long at the restaurant but I remembered it was her night off. Part of me has been excited, the other nervous he’d walk in and tell me that today, the kissing earlier, was a mistake. That he regretted it. I don’t think I need to worry, because by the look on his face just now, I’d say he was feeling the same as me.

Ready for more.

In no time, we’re on the couch, Rome above me kissing my neck, shoulders, and lower. His hands, God, his hands are everywhere. They haven’t yet slid beneath my tank, but I want them to. I really want to feel his hands on my skin, but I’m not the kind of person to ask for something like that.

“Honey.” Rome breaths onto my neck. “We need to stop.”

“Huh?” I’ve got one hand in his hair, pulling on it, and the other on his upper arm. I was about to move it around to get a feel of his ass, something I’ve thought about a number of times, and he’s telling me we’ve got to stop? “Why?”

Sure, I sound like a whiny teenager. It can’t be helped. Rome must find it amusing, because he chuckles. “Yes. This is neither the time or the place for this.” He kisses my neck again, softly, sweetly.

“Right.” I place my hands on his shoulders and give him a gentle shove.

Rome pushes himself up and away, using his arms. Staring down at me, I can’t help noticing how handsome he is. No, beautiful. He’s beautiful. And his expression only makes that better, because he’s looking at me with soft eyes and a sweet smile. “What?”

His smile grows. “You’re the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen, Elizabeth.”

This time, my name sounds good, not like a curse word. Thank goodness.

I’m not going to argue with him––not going to tell him how wrong he is. Instead, I give him the same compliment. “You are too.”

“I’m pretty?”

“Oh, yeah.” I run my fingers over the scruff on his cheek. “But you’d probably prefer handsome or hot, huh?”

He nods. “Yeah, I’m not sure ‘pretty’ fits.”

“Foxy. You’re foxy.” That was what my mom used to call my dad.

“Yeah?” And no lie, Rome blushes.

“Yeah.”

Giving me a quick kiss, he rolls away from me and off the sofa until he’s standing. “You need to sleep in the spare bedroom again. It’s too late for you to head home.”

“Bossy.”

“You’d better believe it.” Standing next to him, Rome’s hand touches my shoulder and slowly slides it down my back until it rests on my bottom. “Tomorrow. I’d like to sit down and talk about––this.”

This?

“Okay.”

“I need to know we’re on the same page. I need to know you want this too.”

The thing is, I don’t know what “this” means. Are we just fooling around, or does he want more? “Yes. We should talk.”

“Good.” With a pat on my bottom, Rome moves into the kitchen. “I’m going to make myself something to eat. You hungry?”

I really want to go home. I miss my apartment, but he’s right, it’s late. Too bad I can’t drive the car home, but I’ve got more studying to do before I take the stupid test on Friday.

“No.” I point to the steps. “I’m going to bed.”

Rome mumbles something in the kitchen that I can’t quite make out. “Night.”

“Goodnight, Elizabeth.”