He'd been so tender and passionate with her. She hated the term making love (hated it!), but last night she felt more—emotionally connected—to him than she ever had before. If she were to ever use that hideous phrase (which she would not), she supposed last night came pretty damn close to that.
Something had shifted between them and she was fairly certain that they were on the brink of something great…something real…something more. And for the first time in a long, long time, that idea didn't scare her. What did scare her was that he might not be on the same page and she was not ready to spook him by jumping the gun. She knew she needed to take a leap of faith (and she would eventually), but leaps of faith? Rather terrifying.
"Red or gold?" Maggie asked.
"I'm sorry?" Alisha asked, the sound of her friend's voice slowly registering in her brain.
"Where's your head today? You've been so distracted all morning," Maggie stated. Her eyes narrowed, and she studied her friend curiously.
"I didn't get much sleep," Alisha answered truthfully, biting the inside of her lip to keep from smiling. "What are my choices again?"
Maggie set the table runners down on the display and placed her hands on her hips. "Is there something you're not telling me?"
(Yes)
Pangs of guilt washed through her and she felt like a shitty friend for keeping this secret for so long. She needed to tell her; found that she wanted to tell her and to get her advice. But because she'd kept said secret for almost two months now (and the fact that Big was not Maggie's favorite person), the timing needed to be right. And it was not the type of conversation you have casually in the middle of Crate & Barrel. (Unless you wanted to make a scene of apocalyptic proportions in front of throngs of holiday shoppers)
"Just thinking about your Christmas present," Alisha lied easily.
Maggie's eyes lit up and a wide smile spread over her pretty face. "Well, carry on, then," she teased.
After the holidays, she decided. Alisha would tell her after the holidays. That would give her time to have a real conversation with Jake and they could figure out if they were ready to move beyond the friends with Benefits stage.
She decided to talk to him after the party at Maggie's. It seemed as good a time as any.
"I need a new outfit for your party, Fabs," Alisha said. (Telling the man you were sleeping with you wanted more seemed like a new outfit kind of occasion, yes?) "You up for some dress shopping?"
"Always," Maggie grinned, scooping up the gold table runners. "Let's go."
The party was already in full swing by the time Alisha arrived as laughter and music greeted her at the door. Maggie launched herself at Alisha the moment she finished hanging her coat up in the closet. "You're here! Finally," the blonde greeted, hugging her tightly.
"Hi, Fabs," Alisha giggled. "Great party." She looked around the large apartment, smiling at all of the guests she knew. As Maggie hooked her arm through hers and led her towards the kitchen, Alisha locked eyes with Big, who grinned at her before turning back to the conversation he was having with Adam by the balcony doors. He'd find her later, she knew, a stolen moment in a vacant room where they'd kiss and flirt and talk about their plans to meet up at his place later. But for now, he looked so good in that black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up (and she knew he'd smell intoxicating, too) that all she really wanted to do was slip her fingers between the buttons on his shirt, feel his skin warm Beneath her fingers, and kiss him senseless. As if he could hear her thoughts at precisely that moment, his eyes met hers again and he flashed a knowing smirk over the top of his drink. (God, he was sexy)
He found her; just like she knew he would (though if she was being honest, she'd purposely stolen away into the guest bedroom at the back of the penthouse knowing it was off limits to guests). She tilted her head and smiled at him as moonlight washed through the room casting deep shadows over his face. "Hey," she greeted softly, her heart racing just a little faster than it was the minute before.
"Hey," Big returned deeply, his eyes raking slowly over the red dress that hugged every delicious curve on her body. He placed a hand on the back of her head and Adam her lips to his; sinking into the kiss he'd wanted to give her since he walked out of her apartment two days ago. "That's a damn dress," he mumbled against her lips, feeling her smile in response and curl her fingers into his shirt.
"I wore it for you," she murmured, nipping at his mouth and making him groan. (She was pretty sure vixen passed those full, soft lips)
"I can't wait to peel it off later then," he grinned wolfishly, cocking up an eyebrow.
"Me neither," she answered with a kittenish smile before pressing her lips to his again; the warmth of it made her head fizzy like champagne bubbles. "We'd better get back," she sighed when the kiss broke. She Rosemary on her toes and brushed her lips quickly against his before skirting around him for the door. His hand on her arm stopped her.
"Hey," he said, waiting until she turned back, a questioning look in her eyes. He wanted to tell her (ask her?) that they should just go out there together and to hell with what other people thought; the words were right there on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't make himself say them out loud. "Can't wait 'til later," he told her instead, wagging his brows suggestively at her and making her grin. She headed for the door and tossed one last
