I always thought it would be weird to feel the arm of an unfamiliar man wrap around my waist. The natural response to a stranger breathing down the back of your neck should be instant terror? Then why is it that all I wanted was for him to be closer? I suppose he wasn’t a complete stranger. Granted, I met him on Tinder.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked quietly.
“Nothing,” I whispered back, knowing that answer wouldn’t satisfy him. It did buy me some time to say anything but what I was really thinking. I couldn’t possibly tell him his chaliced hands made my toes curl; or that his scruff against my neck made my eyes close, taking away my sight momentarily.
“Hey, look at me,” He said.
Sounded simple enough, but that was a suicide mission. I couldn’t stop myself; his gaze instantly trapped my eyes. His blue eyes didn’t portray the ocean, they embodied the glow of the moon in the night sky; highlighting strands of blue in the darkness.
“I’m thinking you might be trouble,” I said, studying his face. I know I promised myself I wouldn’t hook up with men sporadically anymore. I kept trying to remember the feeling when they had all decided that they were bored with me. I didn’t want to be left on the cold, damp, forest-floor, curling up in a fetal position desperate for heat. But here I was, running full speed to the tall Aspen trees. “I mean, I barely know you.” I whispered.
Jace rolled me onto my back easily, placing his arms on either side of me. “Ask me whatever you want,” he said, resting his head on my chest. He was like a safe that only responded to my touch. He answered whatever I asked him but never voluntarily shared anything. His shaved head made him look like a character from Spartacus; but I would never tell him that. I just admired him silently.
My back slightly arched as his hand moved up my thigh, sending goose bumps up my leg. Shit. My defensive wall was crumbling down. Mayday! I thought to myself.
He took his palm off my thigh and clenched his fists next to me. Exhaling, slowly.
I started tickling the back of his neck instinctively, wanting to comfort him. In reality, it was his arms on either side of me that scared away my demons. He was the first guy I had ever felt physically protected by. “Tell me about your mom,” I said.
His face lit up as he talked about her. I pretended I knew all the big words he used, saving a spot for them in my memory to Google later. When he was done answering each question he would fall silent, not wanting the spot light unless I focused it on him.
After asking him a few questions, I looked at my laptop and saw the credits rolling up the screen. Holy cow, what time was it?
Jace reached over and checked the time on his phone, almost as if he had read my mind.
My hand traced up his arm, following the jagged muscles. I didn’t want him to leave. I tried to find my mental army, to stop myself from falling into the same trap. I could almost hear a small general in my head yelling, Code red! I realized my warriors had already retreated as I pulled him toward me. Instead, he swiftly wrapped an arm around my waist and lifted me up to him. That was the moment I realized it was all over. I didn’t want to play hard to get, or stick to the ‘three dates’ before sleeping over rule.
When his lips caressed mine, my thoughts evaporated and were replaced with color. Deep purples and exotic blues crushed together, creating a setting I have never been to before. The colors slowly faded away when my mouth was set free.
“I don’t want to leave,” He said softly. “But I’m not going to stay.” His forehead creased as he pulled away from me.
Who would have thought he would be the one denying my body? “I think that’s a good idea.”
“The night I do stay, is going to be when you’re confident,” he said.
My face scrunched up, of course, I was automatically offended. “I am confident.”
He laughed softly and kissed my fingers. “Certain about me. Not everything is about you, sweetheart.”
I smiled back at him. “I know, just most things.”