And it wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk about all of that with Belle. I did, someday.
But for now, I just wanted to be me.
The night slipped by easily as we talked, and the candles burned down, working with the glow from the city lights to showcase every edge and curve of Belle’s face.
“What do these mean,” she asked when we’d made our way back into the kitchen. Her fingers traced the black ink on my right arm, the light scratch of her nails sending chills down my spine.
I rolled my sleeve up a little farther to reveal more of my tattoos. “That’s a very long story with a very complicated answer.”
Her fingers traced up and over each marking. “Give me the abbreviated version.”
“Ever heard of Kākau?”
Her arched brow was my answer.
I chuckled. “It’s the traditional art of tattooing in Hawai’i. Polynesian tattoos are sacred. It’s all done by hand, not with a gun, and every symbol has meaning.” I shrugged. “It’s an honor where I’m from, to tell your story on your flesh, to bear the pain that comes with telling that story.”
Belle smiled in awe, tracing over the lines that made up the ocean, the tail of the lizard that wrapped up my biceps. When her eyes met mine, they were heated, her finger sliding under the sleeve of my button-up. “Can I see the rest?”
My next swallow was like trying to gulp down a mouthful of peanut butter, and Belle didn’t wait for me to respond before her fingers were working at the buttons of my shirt. She popped the first one, stepping into me, the scent of her invading every sense. When she unfastened the second button, her fingers brushed my chest, and my heart tripled its pace, my cock responding to the touch like a well-trained dog.
Her mouth was on a track for mine, and God, I’d never been so close to throwing every rule out the window as I was in that moment. All it would take was one slight pressure increase where I held her for her to know I was all in. One squeeze, one breath, one little move and I could have my lips on hers, her ass in my hands, her legs wrapped around my waist. My dick throbbed at the possibility.
But somehow, I managed to keep the game plan in place. I wrapped my hands around her arms to stop her advance, putting some much-needed space between us.
“I have cheesecake for dessert,” I said.
But Belle was persistent, and she closed the space between us again, her lips pressing against the hollow part of my neck.
“I think dessert is right here,” she whispered, nipping at my earlobe.
Dear God.
I inhaled a searing breath, grabbing her arms more firmly and putting two feet between us.
Belle’s pouty lip and wrinkled brow nearly had me throwing in the towel, but I cleared my throat, mentally reminding myself that it would be worth the wait.
“Is something wrong?” she asked, chest heaving, tongue skating out to lick her lips as her eyes fell to mine.
Fuck me.
“No, not at all… It’s just… I’m kind of old-fashioned,” I said with a grimace, rubbing my thumbs along her arms before I released her. My hand grabbed for the back of my neck next, and I kept it there, watching the confusion wash over Belle’s face.
“I don’t understand.”
God, she’s really going to make me say it.
“I don’t want to have sex tonight.”
She blinked — once, twice, then a flurry of blinks like she was sure she misheard me.
“I know it’s kind of dated,” I admitted. “I just… I want to get to know you, Belle.” I was already regretting my next words before I said them. “I like you. And I don’t want to fuck that up by going too fast.”
I waited for her to laugh, or to press, or to grab her purse and leave me in her dust. But after a long pause, she inhaled a breath and let it out slowly. Her smile was the only relief I found. “Okay, then.”
“Okay, then?”
She chuckled. “I’ll behave. Promise.”
I smiled, ignoring how my heart flip-flopped in my chest like a freaking teenager.
“Alright,” she said on an exaggerated sigh, motioning to the fridge. “Get the cheesecake before I change my mind.”
I hated how fast dessert went by, and hated it even more when Belle was standing at my door, high heels back on, clutch in one hand while the other held mine.
“I had a really nice time tonight,” she said.
I snorted a laugh. “Hopefully the conversation was better than the dinner.”
“It was delicious,” she lied, but then her hand squeezed mine. “Maybe next time, though, we go to a restaurant.”
I laughed. “Deal.”
We stood there for a long moment, her eyes searching mine, my thumb brushing circles on her wrist.
She hadn’t even left, and already, I couldn’t wait to see her again.
“I’m going to call in some orders this weekend, just some essentials, so we can get started on Monday.” She arched a brow. “We’re starting with the bedroom. It’s a crime that a man your size is sleeping on an air mattress.”
I chuckled. “No arguments here.”
“I’ll send over a couple of options in the morning, and we’ll go from there.”
“Sounds good.”
Belle bit her lip. “So, goodnight, then.”
“Goodnight.”
But she didn’t move. Instead, she huffed, hanging the hand holding her clutch on her hip. “Do I at least get a kiss?”
I chuckled, leaning in and pressing my lips to her cheek. I held them there longer than necessary, inhaling everything that she was before I pulled back and released her hand, too.
Her little mouth popped open. “Oh, you are cruel.”
“Waiting is half the fun.”
“Says you.”
I smiled, reaching for her
