The movie lasted longer than he’d thought, over two hours when he’d been expecting an hour and a half. But, just like he’d remembered from the time he’d first seen it, it was pretty entertaining. He’d just forgotten it was such a long chick flick. Still, if it got Anya into a mellow mood, it would be well worth it.
After the movie, from the way Anya leaned against him as they walked out of the theatre he would say his strategy was a success. She was warming up to him but even more important than that, she was beginning to trust him. When they walked through the mall together she didn’t wait for him to hold her hand. Instead she took his and when she looked up at him there was no hesitation in her eyes. All her shyness was gone.
In the mall they decided to forgo formalities and grab some chicken wings in sweet chili sauce from Thai Express.
“Let’s take it to go,” Anya suggested. “We can camp out on the rug in my living room and get our fingers all messy and sticky and not even worry about it.”
“Whatever the lady desires.” Rafe didn’t need too much convincing. There was nothing he would like more than spending time on Anya’s living room floor…although there were a lot more exciting things he could think of doing on that floor besides eating chicken wings. He smiled to himself at the thought but he was also smiling because now he had no doubt that Anya saw him as a friend. Why else would she invite him into her home? Soon, though, he hoped they could be more than just friends…
Anya wasn’t lying when she’d told him they’d be having dinner on the floor. At the door they got rid of their shoes and donned fluffy indoor slippers then padded off to the living room where she spread a tablecloth. They sat on the floor across from each other, he with his legs stretching off to one side of the cloth and she with her legs crossed lotus style. “Dig in,” she ordered and before he could make a move she grabbed a chicken wing and took a hearty bite. He’d seen Anya eat before and for a girl of her size she could really pack the food away. He wondered where she put it.
“What are you waiting for?” She licked a drop of sauce from her index finger. “Dibs on the fat one over there.” She was reaching for her second chicken wing and he hadn’t even started yet.
“Hey, wait for me.” Rafe could see that if he didn’t make a move he was in danger of not getting any dinner at all.
She only laughed and grabbed the wing before he could get it.
After that it was every man for himself and of course Anya got most of the goodies. Rafe wanted to think it was because he let her but who was he kidding? The girl was quick and she didn’t play.
But then after they’d had their fill she was nice to him and served him a huge bowl of peach-flavored sherbet while she had the rainbow-colored one.
And then as they sat there on the floor watching each other lick the sweet stuff from their spoons it came so naturally that they should lay their spoons down, both at the same time, and tilt forward, leaning toward each other, moving closer and closer until their lips touched.
Anya’s lips were cool from the icy dessert she’d just eaten but they were soft, so soft and yielding against his. Wanting to taste even more of her, Rafe leaned in further until the gentle pressure of his lips nudged hers apart and then he was truly tasting her, dipping into the heavenly nectar she’d been denying him all night. It was a heady sensation and before he knew it he was sliding his palms up her arms to cup the back of her head and tilt her body even more till she was off balance and clinging to him.
Rafe took full advantage of her helpless position. Sliding his other arm around her back he drew her close, pulling her off her knees, sliding her across the rug and over onto his lap.
When he had her exactly where he wanted her he stepped up his attack, kissing her with such passion that she clung desperately and this time it wasn’t because she was off balance. He could feel the frantic beat of her heart against his chest and he knew the fire raging within him was consuming her, too.
When he drew his lips away she moaned and it was all he needed to hear. She wanted more. Gathering her into his arms he shifted his legs and got up then strode over to the long, low couch pushed back against the wall. There he laid her down and as she sank into its plush depths he sat down beside her, leaning over but this time it wasn’t to kiss her. This time he wanted to feel her skin against his lips. He wanted to taste her. He wanted to know every inch of her.
As he trailed his lips down the side of her neck Anya gave a soft sigh and when he moved even further down to nibble at her collarbone her sigh morphed into a moan. He slid lower still until his lips tickled the tops of her br**sts and that was when her soft moan deepened into a tortured groan.
Not wanting to move too fast he shifted his lips, moving back up toward her collarbone but her words stopped him.
“Please, Rafe,” she whispered. “Don’t stop. That feels so good.”
Taking her plea as license to explore, he trailed a path back down to her br**sts, feathering kisses along her heated skin, making her breath quicken and her fingers dig into his arms. When he slid his fingers up between them and began to loosen the buttons on her shirt she did not object. Instead, she arched her back and moaned again.
Soon Rafe had Anya’s blouse open wide enough where he’d exposed her lace-covered br**sts to his hungry gaze. In her jeans he’d thought she was delicious but now she was mouth-watering. And he meant that in the literal sense of the word.
Ravenous now, he hooked his finger at the top of the right cup and drew it down until her precious pink bud popped into view. He lowered his head again but slowly, ever so slowly, tormenting her until she arched her back again and reached her hands up to press his head down toward her. It was only then that he eased her misery, lowering his lips to her prettily puckered pebble, drawing it smoothly into his mouth, making her writhe in pleasure.
“Aah.”
The relief sounding so sweet in that soft sigh, Rafe wanted to please her even more. He suckled at her nipple then nibbled until she was gasping then panting in the pleasure from his lips.
“God, you’re driving me crazy.”
If only Anya knew that the words she’d whispered so fiercely described his own feelings exactly. Having her in his arms, his lips on her, his tongue tasting the sweetness of her skin, he knew he was in trouble. The hardness between his legs was painful testament to the torture he was enduring, wanting her so badly but knowing he must hold back. He wanted desperately to devour her but not yet, not now. This was Anya, his sweet, trusting Anya, and he knew if he moved too fast it could spoil everything. He couldn’t take that chance.