“You?” I repeated, not bothering to hold back my amusement or surprise. I would never have picked Dane to be good at cooking.
“Yes,” He said with a wounded look, “Why is that so funny? Haven’t we reached a point in our society where a man can be appreciated for his cooking ability?”
“Sure we have, you just don’t strike me as the type to whip up a gourmet meal,” I giggled.
“Hold on,” He began, “I never said gourmet, but my skills extend beyond boiled eggs and pasta.” He stopped as I continued to laugh, “Are you done?” He crossed his arms, and narrowed his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized, my expression suggesting the opposite. He shook his head.
“Okay. You leave me no other choice. Tomorrow, you are coming over to my house for dinner. I’m going to cook you a meal that will make you want to throw yourself at me,” He said proudly, and very confidently. Little did he know I already wanted to do just that.
“Oh, is that right?” I replied sarcastically, “Well I don’t want to miss out on that.”
“Good,” Dane looked satisfied. His sneaky smile made me feel like I’d somehow just fallen for a joke. I was beginning to doubt he could even cook at all, and this was just a façade to get me to his house.
I put the movie on, trying to stop myself from sneaking glances at him. This guy was different to anyone I’d ever known. He was confident, cocky, and sure of himself, but then he was sweet, sensitive and funny. I found myself wondering if there was any truth at all to the rumors Kella warned me about.
“So, are you a sophomore or junior?” I asked, pretending to be confused. I’d known from that day in the office that he was sophomore, because he had to make up a few classes which had held him back.
“I’m a sophomore. I had…some issues last year that kept me from full time study,” He was hesitant. It was the first time I’d heard that reserved edge to his voice. Something was holding him back, what it was exactly, I didn’t know. He abruptly changed the subject.
“Tell me more about Abby,” He asked, turning on the sofa so he was facing me, “What was it like to have a twin?” He asked.
“It was like having a part of you as a separate person,” I began, not really sure how to describe it. It was easier for me to explain what it was like to not have a twin, “We were lucky in that we were so close. We had different personalities, which a lot of people seemed to forget. The number of times we were treated as a single person was a joke,” I said, smiling.
“And your other sister, are you close to her?” Dane asked
“We’re close, but it’s not the same kind of closeness if that makes sense?” I tried to explain, “I love her and would do anything for her, and she knows she can talk to me about anything, but losing Abby almost tore us apart. You’d think it would’ve brought us closer, if anything,” I added. I think all my relationships became strained to some degree after Abby died. I felt bad, maybe it was my fault Anna and I weren’t as close as I’d have liked us to be. I should be calling her more often. It was kind of selfish of me, I’d never really thought about how much losing Abby would’ve affected Anna, especially with my withdrawing from everyone. It would’ve almost been like losing two sisters.
“Lil?”
I glanced back at Dane. He didn’t need to say it, I’d drifted off into my own little world again. His arm rested on the back of the couch, his fingers softly touching my hair. I wondered if he was going to kiss me again. I hoped he did. When he lifted his other hand to my face, I knew it was coming.
Gently, he moved his face closer to mine. His eyes were still firmly locked on mine. I stared into those amazing blue eyes, and wondered what he was thinking. Was he thinking about me? About how much he wanted to kiss me, and touch me? I reached my own hand up to his face, my fingers running over the rough stubble that lined his cheekbones. I found the roughness of his stubble an incredible turn on.
This time, I initiated the kiss, drawing my lips to his. He responded immediately, sliding back onto the couch and pulling me on top of him.
I lay above him, my hair cascading around his face, loving the intimacy of this moment. Apart from the soft hum of the TV, the house was silent, as his mouth worked with mine, together, in unison. My back arched as his hand dipped under the back of my top, his hand running along the curve of my spine. His every touch made me jump, my body responding by pressing closer against him. I was well aware of how aroused he was, and how sexy his arousal made me feel.
“You’re such a good kisser, sexy. Where did you learn to kiss like that?” He murmured, kissing me again.
“I guess I must be a natural,” I laughed, but that’s exactly how it felt. Natural. I rested my head on his chest, this whole experience feeling a bit surreal. As he stroked my hair we watched the rest of the movie, every now and then he’d lean down and kiss my forehead.
I sighed. I could get used to this.
Chapter Eight
Kella was sitting at the table eating toast when I dragged myself out of bed. I sat down next to her and rested my head on the table. It was early, just after eight. I had no business being up that time. Nobody should willingly get up that early.
“You were out late last night,” I commented, yawning. Thank god it was the weekend,
why was it one of the few days I could actually sleep in I woke earlier than if I needed to get to classes? I was beginning to wonder what possessed me to enroll in an extra study load for my first real semester. Between all my assignments, and my foot, I’d barely had time to myself. And now I was throwing Dane into that mix.
“Mmm hmm,” Kella grinned, a mouth full of toast, “Fraser took me out for dinner, then up to this amazingly beautiful lookout.” She sighed, her eyes closing, the dreamy expression on her face telling me she was falling for Fraser, and fast.
“Really?” I giggled, picking at the cereal I’d just poured myself, “Well, I had a pretty good night too,” I hinted. Kella’s head whipped around.
“What? I thought you cancelled because of your fugly foot,” She said suspiciously