An American Cinderella

I was his.

I started to shudder, the pleasure becoming too much to bear. His hips moved faster, my hands on his chest to steady myself. His skin was sticky under my palms, keeping me with him.

With a groan he sat up and wrapped his arms around my, losing himself to the pleasure I caused him. He shuddered into my arms, his head tucked into the curve of my shoulder as he gasped my name.

“Aria.”

My name.

The sound of my name on his lips, combined with the low, very male sound as he came was enough to send me flying into oblivion with him.

His broad shoulders heaved with each breath. My palms splayed out on the smooth skin of his back, feeling his heart beat in time with mine.

The sounds of rain and thunder and our breathing were all I could hear. All I could see was him.

I sighed with contentment, keeping him with me for as long as possible.

Slowly he lifted his head, his eyes bright. He touched my cheek and stroked my hair back. He looked me over, leaning back slightly.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered.

I grinned, feeling beautiful for him in this moment. He kissed me again, my whole body humming from pleasure. I hadn’t felt this good in a very long time.

Slowly, we untangled from one another. I shivered now that I didn’t have his direct body heat. He reached for my shirt, handing it to me with a smile. Together we dressed, but I wasn’t ready to say goodnight.

He leaned against the wall, his breath still ragged and eyes bright. I snuggled into his shoulder, his arm wrapped around me as we sat and watched the rain hit the window.

At some point, I dozed off. I was just so comfortable wrapped up in his safe arms that I drifted off.

“Aria, wake up,” he said gently. “It’s time to go home.”

I groaned and shook my head, trying to tuck my face into his shoulder. It was too bright now.

Which meant the power was back on.

“I’m going to take you home,” he said softly.

I got to my feet like a newborn baby deer. It was hard to stay upright. He picked up our picnic things and put his arm around my shoulder to take me downstairs. I followed him like a puppy, doing my best to keep my eyes closed against the glare of the overhead lights.

“Here,” he said, guiding me out to the curb. A car sat waiting. It was the same one from the night of the game. I slid inside. It was only a moment before he was beside me, his leg pressed against mine and his arm around me. I closed my eyes and fell back asleep on his shoulder for the short ride home.

I didn’t remember waking up to go up to my apartment, yet somehow I found myself in bed. My shoes were off and I wore just my underthings under the sheets.

“Shh,” he whispered, leaning over and kissing my forehead. “Go back to sleep.”

“Stay with me,” I said, reaching for him.

“I can’t,” he replied, the anguish clear on his face. I pouted, wanting more of him. “Just for a moment.”

He lay down on the bed next to me, his warmth infusing the bed with instant good dreams. Before I knew it, I was back asleep.

I didn’t hear him get up or lock the door, but when I woke up in the morning, he was gone.

Chapter 13

“How was your weekend?” Jaqui asked, poking her head in my office early Monday morning. “Any more dates with your handsome suitor?”

I grinned. “I had a wonderful night with him Friday,” I told her, thinking of what we had done in this very room and grinning. “But then he had to work all weekend, so I didn’t get to see him much.”

But, we did get to chat through text messages and phone calls. Those were still pretty amazing ways to get to hear from him.

“That’s too bad,” Jaqui replied. “He’s easy on the eyes. I still haven’t figured out where I know him from, though. When do you see him again?”

“I get to see him Tuesday. We have a fun date planned. I can’t wait. He’s going to work on my cooking skills.”

“He is a brave man to put you in the kitchen.” She grinned as she leaned against the door frame.

“Yeah, someone has to teach me eventually, right?” I said with a chuckle. “Hopefully I don’t burn down the place. Or poison him. At least the odds are good I’ll only do one or the other.”