“Say you won’t run. Say you’re in this as much as I am. Say you want me the same way as I want you.”
The determined expression on his face causes a V to form between his brows. He’s in this for keeps. And it’s time for me to make that leap of faith. “When I took your hand and came out here, I’d decided I wouldn’t run anymore. I want this. I want you.”
He raises my hand and twirls me. I’m not an expert skater but in his arms I feel like I can do anything. I spin but lose my footing and we fall in spectacular fashion.
The sky above Washington, DC is too bright with manmade lighting to have a clear view of the stars. As we lie there, I imagine what they look like.
“Are you going to get up?”
I laugh. “I thought maybe we should stay down and make snow angels. It might be safer.”
His chuckle comes from somewhere deep in his chest. Before I can think more about it, he’s there cupping my face and pressing soft warm lips to mine. I’m reminded again how good it can be between us. Then he stands up before me, and offers a hand up. “Come on, snow princess. There will be time for snow angels later. We should go skiing… soon.”
Reluctantly, I’m up on my feet again. As we begin to skate side by side, I notice the dull heartache in my chest hasn’t completely left. Yet for once, I feel as though I can breathe through it.
The magic of the night imprints on my brain as much as my heart. Lights that circle the rink along with the holiday decorations twinkle and add a sort of enchanted quality to our nighttime skate under the hidden stars. Even without a full-skirted dress and glass slippers, this man makes me feel like I stepped into a fairytale.
The night only ends because the guy comes to tells us he has to close up for the night. I find myself smiling uncontrollably when we change back into our shoes.
“Someone’s in a good mood.”
“Only because I’m one lucky girl.”
I’m still floating on the drive home. He turns off the engine after he finds a park on the other side of the street.
“Let me walk you up.”
I have no intention of letting this man leave tonight, but I only nod. We get out and I do my best to dodge the dirty gray snow that has yet to melt from the last storm. He takes my hand in his and we enter my apartment building as a unit, an unbreakable couple. Or so I hope. When we get to my door, I turn to ask him in. Before I can speak, he twines our fingers together.
“I had a great night.”
My jaw drops because he sounds like he’s actually going to leave. Then a sinful smirk appears on his mouth right before he dips his head and covers my lips with his. At first the gentle pressure is sweet. After one taste of him, everything changes. I reach up and tangle my fingers in his hair, trying to bring him closer. His hands land on my waist under my coat as I explore every inch of his mouth.
When his grip tightens, I feel cool air on skin as my shirt lifts. He takes advantage, and I feel his fingertips glide across my bare skin, under my shirt and around to the small of my back.
I’m breathing so hard when I pull back and say, “Please stay tonight.”
He stares at me a second before he captures my mouth in a hot tangle of emotions. Then he strips the keys from my other hand that dangle at my side. Quickly, the door opens at my back. His hand steadies me as we step inside with tandem precision without a breath between us.
As the door closes behind us, I let my purse fall. He takes a step back to heatedly glance over me. I decide to give him more of a view, so I let my coat fall to pool at my feet. I kick it aside as he takes his own coat off with more care. He blindly places it on the high kitchen counter behind him that separates the kitchen from the tiny living room.
Then he steps into me and cups my chin possessively to expose my neck. He places a hot trail of kisses down toward my shoulder as I try to remain standing. When he reaches my collar bone, his hands shift. He lifts his head and his eyes are focused on me. He slowly pushes my sweater up while his hands roam over my ribcage and then over my breasts, which instantly feel heavier. Once my bra is fully exposed, he latches onto my nipple through the thin fabric while continuing to skim the sweater up my arms. When it reaches my wrist, he holds my arms there to stretch over my head as I feel myself grow wet with need.
“Please,” I beg for everything and nothing at the same time.
His hot mouth releases my breast as he slowly faces me. His lips are but a whisper from my own.
“What Cate? What do you want from me?”
I squirm, trying to close my legs tight enough to create the pressure I seek between my thighs. His next move shows he knows what I want. His free hand cups me through the fabric of my pants and the heel of his palm presses against my nub just hard enough to make me needier, but not yet fulfilled.
“Andy,” I breathe.
Instantly, his hand is gone and I groan in frustration. “Tell me what you want, sweet Cate.”