She finally rinsed herself, pulling on the T-shirt but cringing when she had to put the pajama bottoms against her skin. When she opened the bathroom door, Rose jerked her head toward the kitchen, “I found a wine glass and some wine if you want some.”
Dana nodded, “Good idea! Thanks!”
Hoping it would relax her but, unused to drinking, she poured half a glass. On the first sip, she made a face but forced herself to swallow the rest. Fortunately, it worked well so she poured another half-glass but jumped when he appeared in the doorway. He quickly put a hand up, “I was just going to join you for a sip.”
He bypassed the wine glass and grabbed a tumbler, pouring a healthy bit before downing it. His eyes narrowed, “You’re old enough to drink, right?”
She frowned, “I’m twenty-three.”
He grinned, “Nice to meet you, Twenty-three. I’m twenty-six.”
She laughed as he poured another splash into his glass while asking, “What do you do when you’re not working and where do you work?”
She told him that she was supposed to start working at a bank next week and had been busy unpacking. He grinned at her nervousness, “What kind of movies do you like or do you even watch TV?”
She nodded, “I like thrillers and horror. I have weird tastes in movies or so I’ve been told.”
Intrigued, he asked, “What do you mean by weird and who told you this?”
She followed him into the living room, “Normally, people think I like romance or chick-flicks but I can’t stand them. I like dark comedies and things that are out of the ordinary. Various friends told me but I no longer hang around them for a variety of reasons. Do you always ask a lot of questions?”
He stopped in front of a shelf and pointed out a movie, “Yes. How else would I get answers? Have you seen this one?”
She grinned, “Yeah, I like that one.” Her gaze ran over his library as her grin widened, “You have the same tastes that I do. Ohhh… can we watch this?”
He grabbed it and nodded, “Sure. Have you seen it yet?”
She shook her head and a dimple appeared in one of his cheeks. Narrowing her eyes at his calculated grin, she asked, “Why? Is it risqué?”
He laughed, “Why would I tell you that? Wouldn’t it ruin the movie? Here… you need more wine.”
Her eyes widened when he grabbed her glass and downed the contents before filling it for her. He made a face, “That was warmish. You need to drink it faster.”
“I don’t normally drink.”
Glee shot over his face, “Oh, this should be interesting.”
She sipped her wine as her face heated once again. He sat down and patted the sofa next to him with a challenge, “Scared I’ll start a fire?”
She took a gulp of the wine and pointedly sat next to him, immediately regretting it when his body heat made her breath hang. She swallowed past the lump in her throat as he lifted her wine glass from her hand, “You’re surprising me.”
He immediately drank what was in her glass before scowling, “It’s not good when it gets warm.”
Since her brain was already fuzzy, she shook her head when he went to refill it. He barked a laugh, pouring some into the glass anyway, “Lightweight!”
“I’m not seven feet tall and built like Thor!”
Before she could protest, he pulled her onto his lap, “Precisely. You’re light as a feather. And too cute for your own good!”
His fingers dipped into the wine before they painted her lips while his other hand thrust into her hair. With her lips only a fraction of an inch from his, her tongue inadvertently darted out to lick the wine off at the same time as his mouth closed over hers. His fingers entwined in her tresses to hold her head when she went limp against him.
He scrunched down into the couch, turning while cradling her on his wide chest and deepening the kiss. She jerked when Rose’s voice filtered through her fog of desire, “Where the hell did everyone… OH!”
Laughter rumbled in his chest as Dana pulled back from his mouth, dragging in a huge gasp of air as he growled, “Would you please disappear, Rose? We’re trying to see a movie here!”
Dana blinked down at him with her mouth hanging open but, when she tried to push off his chest, he tightened his grip, “Where are you going? We’re watching a movie, remember?”
“Um… yeah… what movie was that?”
He nodded, amusement flooding his face, “I have no idea! More wine?”
She laughed as she shook her head, shooting Rose a glance but she was quickly headed to her room, “Oh, my god! Would you let me go?”
He shook his head, “Letting go of something on fire is not in my nature. I’m a firefighter, remember?”
She giggled as he drew her back down to him, “Really, Chad, I’m not used to…”
“Ahhh! Allow me to familiarize you!”
She cursed as his lips closed over hers again but forgot what her protest was as his firm lips teased hers into submission. He tucked her between the back of the sofa and himself before deepening the kiss, spiraling an ache throughout and a whimper up her throat which immediately sobered her. She angrily pushed at him, unwilling to fall into bed with a man she’d just met regardless if he was a god in disguise.
He broke the kiss and leaned back so she immediately said, “Stop! Let me up… right now!”
His eyebrows shot up, “No more movie?”
“Cut it out, Chad. All my belongings just burned and you’re trying to fuck me? I mean, I know you just rescued me but… damn!”
He immediately released her, “I got carried away. I wasn’t trying to… crap! I know how it looked and… I’m sorry.”
She scrambled over him, shaking her head, “Jesus… I’ve never met someone so damn overwhelming!”
He winced but called out when she reached the doorway, “Hey, I’m just interested-really, I…”
Seeing her expression, he cringed, “…apologize, okay?”
Scowling at him, she finally nodded and quickly entered the room. Rose glanced over in surprise at her angry expression, “Uh-oh! What’d he do?”
Dana shook her head, “I wish you would have warned me. That man is… holy shit!”
Rose burst out in a fit of giggles as she shook her head, stuttering out, “Don’t… oh, hell… don’t be mad at him. He’s always had a thing for tiny blondes!”
Dana took a deep breath and rolled her eyes, “Just my luck! I get rescued by an irresistible eight-arm octopus who…”
Noticing the amused look on Rose’s face, she groaned as her cheeks reddened. Rose glanced at the ceiling to give her a moment, “If he’s irresistible, why are you in here with me?”
Dana practically snapped, “Because I’m not that type!”
Rose calmly asked, “What type would that be?”
Dana frowned, “The type to be lured into bed with a guy who fucks anything that moves.”
“Whoa… you pegged him wrong! Look, even though he’s affectionate and may seem like he fucks around, he’s pretty damn selective.”
Doubting that, Dana’s face twisted in disbelief as she climbed down into the bed. Rose shrugged, “Suit yourself but, I’m telling you, he’s choosy. Give him a break. He just saved your ass.”
Dana shot her a frown, “He flirted like hell, became overwhelming, and you’re trying to tell me that he doesn’t hit on everything that moves?”
Rose stared at her before leaning forward in anger, “He apparently saw something in you that he liked. I can count the number of girls he’s introduced me to on one hand. Oh, and by the way, I saw interest in his face when he stopped by to talk to us at the apartments. When he’s interested, he flirts… like any normal male. You were flirting too so what’s the problem?”
Rolling her eyes, Rose fell back on her own bed, leaving Dana to contemplate if she had been too hard on him. Sighing, she sank down onto her pillow but couldn’t stop wondering if she’d just been the worst prude. Confused, she scrunched her eyes shut and whispered, “Rose, are you sure?”
Her roommate groaned, “He’s my brother and we happen to be pretty damn close. Of course I’m sure! I’ve
