“It’s the second best thing I’ve eaten.” He smirks at me then winks. “Ever.” His voice is smooth.
My body stills. My breasts perk up as if they’re ready to participate in a saluting contest. My mouth goes dry and it’s a good thing because I have nothing to say, no comeback, nothing. Just a dry mouth, clammy hands, and a beating fucking heart. I was so fucking right. You cannot be friends with someone you’ve been with, but the thought of not seeing him anymore bothers me more than I care to say.
Chapter Fifteen
Noah
As soon as she tasted her meal, she threw her head back and moaned. Whatever fucking power I had was gone, poof, vanished. That and the fact that all my blood traveled south, my cock fighting the constriction of my shorts. I couldn’t do anything except grab onto my fork and knife with all my might instead of flipping the table over and devouring her.
The minute I walked into the fucking yoga class I knew I made several mistakes. One, the smell was really horrible like I was in the middle of a barnyard. The second was her smile. Her smile stopped me in my tracks and then finally those fucking yoga pants. Jesus, good thing I had a jock on, which didn’t make me show the world what I had to offer. Now here I am in the same state. This woman gets me going every single time.
This whole being friends is complete bullshit. There is no way that she doesn’t want me as much as I want her. I can see it in her eyes, see it in the way her body responds to me. I’m about to lean in and take her hand in mine when Giovanni comes back out.
“Nonno wants to know if you want more food?”
Kaleigh smiles up at him. “I couldn’t eat another bite.”
He nods at her while he takes her plates. I place my fork and knife down.
He clears the plates, leaving us all alone.
“See.” I grab my water. “We can have dinner together as friends.” I wink at her.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she says, rolling her eyes.
Giuseppe comes out with a plate of fruit. Some watermelon, grapes, cantaloupe, and a couple of figs.
“Hmmm. I love fruit,” she says, picking up a piece of watermelon, biting it, and it’s almost as if it’s happening in slow motion. Her teeth bite into the watermelon, the juice leaking out the side her mouth. She licks her lower plump lip, my eyes following the movement.
“Noah.”
I shake my head.
“Where you go?” Giuseppe asks, laughing.
“Just thinking about my busy day tomorrow.” I grab a couple of grapes, tossing them into my mouth.
“You worka too hard. The whole country same thing. In Italy you have to slow down and enjoy life. La Vita Bella.”
The good life he says and I just nod at him. I pay the bill or at least I try, but since we are friends, Kaleigh chipped in.
Getting up from the table, Giuseppe comes over, kissing Kaleigh on both cheeks. “You come back, yeah?”
She smiles and nods. The walk back to the cars is quiet. The only sounds are the occasional cars along with the crickets. I follow her to her car, our hands grazing each other.
She opens her door, turning around as she stands outside. “Thank you so much for coming and for dinner.”
I lean in closer to her. Her breath hitches softly. “There is nowhere else I would have rather been.”
She stands straight. “Even with the goat rape?” She laughs, leaning in.
“Even with the goat rape.” I move forward just a touch more. “Want to hear a secret?” I ask her and she doesn’t answer, but I see her throat move as she swallows and nods. “If this were a date, I would end this differently,” I whisper to her.
Her eyes blink. She folds her lips then licks them. “Like what?” she asks, her voice so soft it’s almost like she didn’t say anything.
“Like”—I lick my own lips now—“I would hold your hand walking here. I’d open the door for you to get in, but before you get in I would lean in and taste your lips. I would kiss you gently at first.” I smile, thinking about it. “Then I would slowly lick your lips to have them open just a tad before I slide my tongue into your mouth. Our tongues feverish for each other. Tangled, wet, eager. The need to be in each other’s skin would make us forget where we are and who is watching. Because in the end it’s just going to be me and you.” I lean in, my lips almost touching hers, but instead I move to the side, kissing her cheek. “But I don’t want to ruin the friendship we have.” I step away from her, raise my head, and walk away. Take that. I smile at myself.