“I think the stealing makes it taste better,” I say through a full mouth.
Sterling chuckles and swipes a bite. “Definitely better.”
We’re nearly finished with the slice, and I’m eying the brownie when Sterling leans over. “You have frosting… ”
His thumb swipes over my lip, then he sucks the chocolate off his thumb.
I nearly choke on a bite. I’m officially jealous of an appendage. I recover and turn my face for his inspection. “Did you get it?”
“Damn. I missed some.” His hand reaches for me, but this time, he draws my face closer and presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Hmm. You taste even better than cake.”
My lips part in expectation and I toss the cake container away. Sterling’s mouth covers my own, his hands gripping both sides of my face. Then, he spins me underneath him and all thoughts of Charade go out the window. He kisses my lips and the curve of my chin, and I do the same to him. Our pace is slow as we explore with our mouths. I tangle my fingers in his hair as he kisses my collarbone, holding him close. It should be like this always.
Soon, when I start classes in January, I’ll have every excuse to be near him. The challenge will be doing anything but this.
Because this? It’s all I want. This glorious, full-bodied awareness his touch provokes in me. I want to feel this aching, delicious hunger for his touch, for his kiss. It’s all I want.
His hand brushes my breast, but he moves it away quickly, no doubt testing where the boundaries remain between us. I respond by sliding my hand under his jeans and grabbing his ass. That ought to get the point across.
“The bed,” I say, breaking away. I don’t have a lot of expectations about where this goes, but I’m not losing my virginity on a couch.
He releases me and I stumble to my feet, holding out my hand. He grabs it, but the second he stands up, he drops it. Two strong hands cup my ass and lift me into the air. I respond with a gasp that is quickly quieted by his mouth. I am weightless in his arms. Blood pounds in my ears, matching the beat of my heart and the pulse between my legs. I need him. Only him. Nothing else will do.
The pull of gravity shifts as he lowers me gently on the bed and sits next to me. I want him to go faster. And slower. Should I lay back on the bed? Or wait for him? Why isn’t he just taking control? He’s the one with all the experience. My hands move down to the button of his jeans.
“Woah, Lucky,” he says, and a frisson of alarm tenses my whole body. Does he not want this? After everything, is this the part where he breaks my heart?
“Don’t you… ” I search his face for a clue as to why he’s putting on the brakes.
“You don’t have to ask. God, I’m going to regret this.” He turns his head away. “If you’re not ready, it’s okay. This probably isn’t like you planned. Not special, I mean.”
“What?” I say. “I don’t care about that. I want you—no, that’s not right. I need you, Sterling. Like I’ve never needed anything.”
“Here? In my dingy dorm room?”
“What’s wrong with it?” I say, meaning it.
“You deserve a penthouse in Paris. Champagne. There should be—”
I place my fingertips on his lips. He kisses them.
“I only want you.” I look into his eyes and for a moment I see a whole world there. “Okay?”
“You don’t have to ask twice.” He kisses me, resting his forehead against mine. “I’m all in.”
My hands reach for the hem of his shirt, but he pulls away.
“Wait.” He twists around and opens a drawer in his bedside table. My breath hitches when he drops a condom on top of it. Sterling turns back to face me. “I thought we better… ”
“Good idea.” Can he even hear me over how loudly my heart is beating? How is this supposed to go again?
A kiss.
I crush my mouth to his, and Sterling’s hand cradles the back of my head, maintaining contact. I reach to pull off his shirt, and he helps this time. Under it, two perfect pecs trail down to the V of his abs. There’s no trace of boyish fat, just hard muscle. As soon as it’s off, his arm hooks around me, lowering me to the bed.
His hands are on me at once, firm but patient. We kiss, our tongues now exploring along with our mouths. I can’t take it. I need the feel of his skin on mine. I pull off my t-shirt, and Sterling is ready. His left hand undoes the clasp of my bra in one fluid motion as his right squeezes my breast. The flesh there tightens, and I moan in pleasure.
He peels the bra off of me slowly, drinking in every moment as if he were dying of thirst. He looks up into my eyes and I know, somehow, that it’s to make sure I’m not having second thoughts. I smile shyly, shrinking against the pillow a little.
Reaching out, he brushes hair away from my shoulders. “You’re perfect.”
“Kiss me.” It’s not a demand. It’s a wish.
His answer is to coax me down onto my back. He starts at my ear, nipping and sucking, and slowly works his way to my breasts. When he takes my nipple into his mouth, my hips thrust towards him. I don’t remember that particular reflex being covered in health class. But even if all of this is new, it’s somehow effortless. It just feels… right.
Sterling won’t let me go. He holds me tightly but leaves me time to breathe. Every time I look at him he is studying me, his face a mask of desire tempered
