I was realizing that he couldn’t process things without moving around when he stood up abruptly and started to pace while ranting, “Do I know your name? Do I know your name? Really? Yes, Chloe Rae Miller, I know your name. I know you’re a Gemini, oldest girl of three, your parents are still happily married and recently moved out of your childhood home, and you have close to twenty grand in the bank, with a 750 credit score.” He turned on me, bellowing, “What the fuck were you doing following me when you didn’t know anything about me?”
I got a little defensive, and sitting up, I shouted back, “Well, I kept seeing you, and I wanted to know more. I didn’t exactly think it through. I saw you and then complied when my vagina gave me the bat-signal.”
He sputtered, “You-you-” He cut himself off and sucked in air before asking calmly, “You do this a lot?”
I wanted to lash out, but it was a fair question. I worked to level my tone and replied, “Honestly, I’ve never done this before in my life. I do get a little obsessive in my relationships. Still, there’s always been a relationship before that stage in the past. But I haven’t been able to get you out of my head, and I know it doesn’t make sense, but I can’t ignore it.” I thought about it for a minute, and I had to know, “When did you see me for the first time?”
He smiled then, and it was the kind of smile that lit up the dark and made you want to return it, “You came in the tattoo shop as I was walking in. I turned on my heel and followed you back out. Followed you home, and I’ve been doin’ it since.”
I scooted to the side of the bed and lightly kicked my legs while asking, “Have you done this before?”
It came out in a small voice. I knew that if he said yes, a small part of my heart would break. I wanted, badly, for this to be something out of the norm for him as well.
He snorted, “Not a fuckin’ chance. Can’t explain it. Saw you and had to know everything. Told myself that I’d find something bad, and I’d be able to forget this shit, but so far, no dice.”
I hesitated then went for it, “It’s almost like it’s meant to be. I mean, at least, that’s what it feels like to me.”
He nodded thoughtfully and then moved to me. Gently he asked, “How about I take you out for dinner, and we spend a little time getting to know one another. We’ll figure all of this out, babe.”
The desperate heat had waned enough that I could think clearly, so I smiled and gave him my hand.
4
I sat across from him and fidgeted in my seat. It was the way his eyes seemed to set fire to wherever they touched. The smirk glued to his lips added to the heat, and when he trailed a fingertip along the top of my hand, I almost moaned.
Thankfully, he paid the bill quickly, and I slid into the passenger seat of my car. He drove with one hand on the wheel and the other gripping mine. We were acting as if we’d been together for some time and not like we’d literally just met hours before. For about the billionth time, I fought the urge to pinch myself. He took the twisting roads out of town before breaking the silence, “I’m thinking we’re going to work out just fine. Dinner went great, I’ve been in your space, and you’ve been in mine, so here’s the deal. Stay the night. I’ll stay with you tomorrow. We’ll play it out.”
I grinned happily. That sounded like the best idea ever. “Ok.”
When we got back to his house, I kicked off my shoes and wandered around the house while he grabbed us drinks. Setting the bottles down on the coffee table, he moved towards me on sock-clad feet.
I was looking at the photos that lined his walls. Some had to be from his childhood, a couple and a little boy beamed at the camera, another of the boy and his mother, noses touching and a crinkled grin on both their lips. Others were more current. One of him with his arms tossed over the shoulders of two men wearing the same vests, another of him holding up both middle fingers and sticking his tongue out. I moved down a step and saw one that stopped me in my tracks. It was the same couple as before, only older now standing on either side of him. It couldn’t have been taken very long ago. They were laughing, all three were holding a beer.
Smiling, I took the photo down from the mantle and turned as he reached me and settled his hands to my hips. “Felix, tell me about your folks.”
He nuzzled his face into my hair and murmured, “What do you wanna know? My parents are the coolest old people you’ll ever meet.”
“Hey!” I told him excitedly, “Mine are, too.”
Pulling back, he smiled down at me, “Sweet. When we get them together, it should work out great.”
He’d given me his name at dinner, and I now knew that he worked at a tech start-up but not much else. Not that it mattered. I was obsessed with him and quickly getting addicted. He could mop floors for a living, and I’d still be so turned on that it hurt to breathe.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and touched his lips to mine, then took the picture frame from my hands and put it back before leading the way to the bedroom.
My stomach fluttered, and I turned on my heel and danced after him.
When we crossed into his room, he turned and kicked the door shut before rushin
g me to the bed.
He tossed me on the mattress once more, but this time, he followed me down and covered my body with his.
My entire being quivered in response, and heat pooled between my legs.
He pulled my arms up over my head and pinned them down, leaning in to nip at my neck. I wrapped my ankles around his waist and bucked my hips, trying to make connection as I ignited with his touch.
He met my mouth and rocked his hips into me, and I could feel him everywhere.