Enjoying the Chase, Page 9

  course, a lot of lust.

  “Hi. You’re early,” she chirped, leaning against the doorframe. I noticed with some annoyance that her eyes never left mine; she didn’t check me out even once.

  “Yeah, we get cheaper tickets for the movie if we go to an earlier showing,” I joked, shrugging as I stepped into her apartment without waiting to be invited.

  “Well then I’d better hurry and grab a jacket so we don’t have to overpay for our seats for the chick flick.” She accentuated the last two words and I couldn’t help but laugh. I’d admitted to her last night on the phone that I hated these type of movies. She’d called me ‘sweet’ again because I wanted to go with her even though I would be bored.

  As she started to walk away, I grabbed her hand and stepped closer to her. Her breathing faltered as I came a little too close for comfort. Her sweet perfume wafted around me, and I wanted nothing more than to lean in and press my face against her neck. Her eyes widened in bewilderment, showing her vulnerable, nervous side as I stepped even closer, so close that our chests were almost touching.

  “You look incredible,” I murmured, tracing my hand up her arm. A subtle shade of pink crept over her cheeks, and I smiled, proud of myself for making her blush. She looked even more beautiful when she blushed, and all I wanted to do was throw her on the sofa and have my wicked way with her. She didn’t step back, so I took that as a good sign and decided to push it a little further. “So, I was thinking. I don’t want us all nervous and scared about how the night’s going to end. I’m thinking we should just get the kiss out of the way now before we go, then we can both relax a little.”

  She paused. I groaned internally, thinking she was going to push me away, but she didn’t. Instead, she raised one eyebrow playfully and my dick instantly woke up and started to take notice.

  “Really? You’re scared about kissing me?”

  I nodded, playing along. “Terrified.”

  Her gaze flitted to my lips for a split second. The anticipation of it was killing me. “Well I don’t want you all scared of me, I’m not going to hurt you or anything. So if you need to get it out of the way now, then feel free.”

  A stupid grin stretched across my face as I lost all of my cool composure that I usually had around girls. I slipped my arm around her waist so that she couldn’t pull away. Her hand traced up my chest and looped around my neck, but her eyes never left mine. She looked like she wasn’t breathing; she was definitely nervous too, and that thought gave me comfort.

  As my lips touched hers for the third time, a little shiver of excitement ran through my body. Her lips fitted mine perfectly, and all I could think about was getting closer to her. Just as I was desperate to deepen the kiss, I pulled back. My lips were still so close to hers that I could feel her breath blow across them. She didn’t open her eyes as her finger drew a pattern on the back of my neck. I swallowed the ludicrous amount of lust that had built inside me from just one kiss and smiled. She looked lost. Her eyes were still closed, and her lips were pulled into a wistful smile.

  Oh yeah, I’m definitely thawing her out!

  “We should get going before you try to take advantage of me,” I joked, letting my arm loosen around her waist.

  Her eyes snapped open, her pupils shrinking instantly because of the light. She seemed a little bewildered. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea,” she chuckled, stepping back and dropping her eyes to the floor. “I’ll go get that jacket.”

  I nodded and reached into my inside pocket, pulling out the gift I’d bought for her in my lunch hour today. It was the book that we were talking about on the phone last night.

  “I didn’t want to get you flowers again because I thought that was a little cheesy, so I got you this instead. You said last night that you wanted to read it,” I held it out to her and shrugged casually.

  Her eyes dropped to the copy of Eat, Pray, Love that I was holding out to her. I hadn’t read it personally, but we’d started talking about the movie of it, and then she’d admitted that it was something that she was desperate to read. Her silence was stretching on and on as she looked at the book. I didn’t know what to think – maybe she didn’t like it?

  “If you don’t want to read it you don’t have to, I just thought… you know… er…” I stuttered nervously. Damn it, Nate, stop stuttering. Grow some balls!

  She tore her gaze from the book and finally looked up at me. “This is really, really thoughtful. I love it, thank you.” Her eyes were so soft and appreciative that it made my heart speed up.

  “Yeah, no worries,” I mumbled. And now I’m mumbling too. I’m doing so well with this date so far!

  Rosie took the book, brushing her fingers across the front cover, looking at me in awe as if I’d just bought her something remarkable instead of just a book. I smiled weakly, shifting on my feet, trying to think of something to say that wouldn’t make me sound like a raving lunatic. When she looked at me like that I started longing for things, things I’d never really thought about before – things like the word girlfriend, and exclusive, and mine.

  I was in real trouble with this girl. The player side of me that was just standing here wondering what colour underwear she had on, was terrified of this girl and the tender way she was looking at me. My player side was trying to force me to run from the apartment and head straight to the nearest bar so I could pick up a hot little treat for the way home. My player side didn’t like Rosie at all, but the rest of me did.

  “Are we ready to go?” I asked, wanting to break the deafening silence.

  She seemed to snap out of some sort of daydream as she blinked a couple of times and then nodded. “Yeah.” She picked up her jacket and purse before setting the book down on the table, still looking at me as if I were ten feet tall.

  When we arrived at the movie theatre we were told that the film we were going to see wasn’t starting for another hour, so Rosie suggested we eat first because she was hungry already.

  “So where do you want to go?” I questioned, wondering where we could manage to get a table at short notice, eat and still be back within the hour for the start of the crap-fest she was subjecting me to.

  She shrugged. “How about McDonalds?”

  I scoffed and raised one eyebrow. “McDonalds, seriously?”

  She nodded, seeming a little hopeful. “Yeah, I don’t eat junk food very often but I love it. Or do you not like it there?” Her teeth sank into her bottom lip as she regarded me nervously.

  “Muffin, there are two things you need to learn about me pretty quickly. One, I’m a guy, and guys eat anything. And the second thing you need to know about me is, when you bite your lip like that it turns me on.” I smirked at her as she giggled and slapped my arm playfully.

  “Of course it does. Damn, you’re like a freaking sex addict!”

  “I’m not, it’s just you. You’re making me like this with your feminine charm,” I teased, winking at her.

  She smiled back at me. “If you think me chewing my lip is using my feminine charm then you’re going to be really impressed when I actually do turn it on.”

  Wow if she isn’t already ‘turning it on’ then I’m done for.

  “Oh really? And might this be something I’ll get to see tonight?” I inquired hopefully.

  She narrowed her eyes at me and pursed her lips. “That depends. Are you going to let me steal some of your fries and finish your milkshake?”

  I grinned and shook my head. “No way.”

  She sighed dramatically. “Then no. I won’t be turning it on tonight.” She stuck out her tongue at me as I slipped my arm round her waist, laughing and leading her towards the exit of the movie theatre.

  “Baby, you turn me on without trying anyway. I’m not sure how I’d cope if you actually put some effort into it. I’d probably go into cardiac arrest from the shock of it. You wouldn’t want to be responsible for something like that, now would you?”

  She laughed and shook her head. “You’re too funny.”

>   I smiled. So far, this was the best date ever. Clearly, Rosie was perfect for me. She was beautiful, smart, funny, and flirtatious. I’d never met a girl that could hold her own against me.

  We continued talking while we ate. The more time I spent with her, the more I liked her. I definitely wanted to see more of her, this one date wasn’t nearly enough. I wanted to see how this progressed, to see if this would continue to blossom into what I pictured in my head. I felt like I’d be missing out on something great if I couldn’t get her to give me a chance. I could definitely see myself falling for her, and soon too if the way she seemed to take over everything and invade my brain was anything to go by.

  Just as she was finishing the last of my milkshake, her cell phone beeped with a text. She looked up at me apologetically. “Sorry, you mind if I get it?”

  I shook my head and waved my hand dismissively. I watched her face as she pulled her cell out of her purse and read the message. A small frown lined her forehead as her jaw tightened. She typed a quick reply before shoving her phone back into her purse and looking up at me.

  “I’m going to have to use the get-out clause for tomorrow night. Sorry, Nate.” She actually looked sad about it as she said it.

  What? No! I was so disappointed that I wanted to strop like a three-year-old child.

  “How come?” I questioned, trying not to let my disappointment show too much.

  She frowned and shifted in her seat uncomfortably. “Something’s come up. I thought I was free, but it turns out I’m not now. I’m sorry.” Her disappointed look made me feel a little better though. She didn’t look happy about having to cancel, which was encouraging and a sign that the date was going well for her too.

  “Is it just tomorrow night? Maybe we could meet earlier?” I suggested hopefully. “Maybe go for lunch instead?”

  Deep down I wondered if she realised that she’d woven a spell over me. She had to know I was desperate for her attention; she’d have to be blind if she didn’t!

  Her face brightened. “Yeah? Sure, I could do lunch.”

  The happiness I felt just because I got to see her again was ridiculous. “Great.”

  By the time we were done eating, we had to run to the movie theatre. I gripped her hand, laughing as we ran through the foyer. By the time we got to our seats, the movie was just starting.

  “Want some popcorn or something?” I offered, hoping she’d say yes just so I could miss a few minutes of the god-awful chick flick.

  “I don’t mind,” she whispered, pulling off her jacket and throwing it over the empty seat in front of hers.

  “I’ll go get some. You want anything else?” I asked, twisting in my seat ready to get up.

  Rosie picked up her purse, rummaging through it. “Get whatever you want. I’ll pay. You haven’t let me pay for anything yet.” She pulled out a twenty dollar bill, holding it out to me.

  I smiled at how adorable she was. “I got it. Put your money away, I’m trying to impress you,” I whispered, not even a little bit joking. The lights were already down so no one could see us, so I seized my opportunity and leant forward, capturing her lips in a soft kiss for a couple of seconds. When I pulled back, I smiled at her shocked face. “Be right back. Make sure you pay attention to the movie, you can tell me everything I missed when I get back,” I teased, pushing myself up and stalking out of the movie theatre, buying popcorn, a drink and a bag of hard candy that I liked.

  Once I had everything, I headed back in and I sat back down next to her again, handing her the popcorn and candy. “Wake me when it finishes,” I joked, settling in my seat and resting my head back, pretending to get comfortable.

  She threw a piece of popcorn at me. I laughed, laying my arm over the back of her chair. I tried my hardest to concentrate on the movie, but, to be honest, by the end I couldn’t even tell you what it was about. But I could tell you that Rosie didn’t seem to like lime flavoured candy, because she didn’t eat a single green one from the bag. That she twisted her hair around her index finger in a clockwise motion while she was engrossed in the movie, and that she cried at romantic parts. I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off her. It was the best movie I’d ever seen.

  When it finished, she bit her lip and looked at me apologetically. “You hated that, didn’t you?”

  I shrugged noncommittally. “Yeah, it sucked, just like I thought it would.”

  “Why did you suggest we come see it then?” she asked, as she pulled on her jacket and stood up.

  “Because you wanted to see it.”

  She smiled and even in the dim strip lighting I noticed the blush that coloured her cheeks. “That’s-” she started, but I cut her off.

  “Sweet, I know!” I rolled my eyes and took her hand, proudly leading her out of the movie theatre with an enormous smile on my face. Holding her hand as we walked was nicer than I thought it would be, kind of natural.

  By the time we got to her place and she let us inside, I was so excited I could barely breathe. Had I done enough to get her into bed yet? I sincerely hoped so because she was all I could think about and I desperately wanted to take it to the next level.

  Once I’d had my hands on her body, I’d either get over this obsession that I was fast developing and my life would go back to normal, or I’d want more. At this point, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to happen the most. Before the date tonight I would have hoped for the former because I didn’t want my life to change, but after spending another incredible night with her, I actually hoped that this would continue. I hoped that after we’d done the deed I’d still want to hang out with her because she was an awesome girl.

  We sat on the sofa still talking freely; everything just seemed so easy with her. I didn’t feel the need to put on an act or try to be something that I wasn’t, she seemed to accept everything at face value and actually be interested in me, instead of what I looked like. I loved that she was intrigued by me as a person; it didn’t usually work that way with girls.

  While we were talking, some of her hair fell across her eyes and before I could stop myself, I reached out and tucked it behind her ear so I could still look into her eyes when I talked to her. Her breath seemed to catch in her throat as she bit her lip lightly making me so freaking horny it was unreal. It had been exactly two weeks since I’d had sex now, and if I didn’t get some soon then I was going to die. Alright, that was a slight exaggeration, but it was certainly a long time for someone like me to go without.

  I needed to kiss her. My mouth was already watering at the thought of it. As I bent my head to hers, I watched her closely for any signs of her not wanting it, but all I saw was passion and lust. My crotch rejoiced at the sight of her excitement, and I barely managed to stop myself from moaning out loud.

  I pressed my lips to hers softly, giving her a chance to pull away. She didn’t though; instead, her arms wrapped around my neck and she kissed me back. One of my hands found her waist, pulling her closer to me, as my other hand cupped her cheek, feeling her soft skin under my fingertips. As she pulled back and looked up at me with those sultry eyes, I gulped and brushed my thumb across her full bottom lip. The urge to suck that lip into my mouth and bite down on it was so strong that I couldn’t fight it. I leant in, pressing my lips against hers again, loving how her hand tightened into the back of my hair.

  As I nipped on her bottom lip, she gasped, and I took my opportunity to deepen the kiss. When my tongue touched hers, she moaned into my mouth. My arousal spiked immediately, turning me on so much that my jeans were starting to pinch across my crotch. I kissed her deeply, exploring every inch of her mouth, wanting to memorize it all.

  Still needing more, I slid my hands down her back, moving forward more so that she had nowhere else to go but lay back on the sofa. I shifted fluidly, following her movement, hovering above her, never once allowing my lips to leave hers. I was so excited that my dick was actually throbbing in anticipation.

  My mouth expertly trailed across her cheek, nibbling on her jawline bef
ore peppering kisses down the side of her neck, sucking on her creamy skin. When she let out a sexy little moan, I smiled knowing that I would make her moan a hell of a lot more than that before I was done with her.

  Just as my hand slipped under her sweater and headed up towards her chest, I pressed my crotch against her hip, desperate for some relief. She gasped and her fingers dug into my shoulders.

  “Nate, stop… shit, you need… stop,” she mumbled breathlessly, pushing on my shoulders gently.

  Stop? Oh, come on, seriously? I looked at her curiously, trying to figure out what I had done wrong. Clearly, she was going to make me wait longer than a second date. I had kind of hoped I’d at least cop a sly feel though. Disappointment settled in my stomach. My aching crotch was trying to force me to beg her, to throw myself at her feet and beg for one night with her.

  “Sorry, that was way too fast for me,” she mumbled, still panting lightly.

  “It was?” My voice was so thick with lust that it was almost embarrassing. I was still on top of her, still pressed against her, and it wasn’t helping me calm down in the slightest. The fact that she felt so right there was doing nothing to help me in this situation at all.

  “Yeah, I told you I don’t sleep with guys unless I’m in love with them. That was just… too much. Sorry.”

  She looked at me apologetically, the death grip that she had on me while I was kissing her was loosening now, so I knew the moment was completely and utterly over. I’d blown it, crashed and burned, and now she probably wouldn’t want to see me tomorrow because I rushed it.

  “You really don’t go with a guy without being in love first?” I asked curiously. How long did it even take for a girl to fall in love? A couple of weeks? A month? Could I wait that long for her?

  She shook her head. “No. Look, I’m sorry if you thought I was kidding around and that you’ve wasted your time with me, but I was being serious. I’m not putting out anytime soon.” As she spoke, her big brown eyes didn’t leave mine.

  I didn’t quite know what to do or say. I wanted her, but I’d never even tried to wait for a girl before. Was she worth waiting for? I looked at every inch of her face trying to decide. Player Nate wanted to strut out of the apartment and never look back, but for some reason I couldn’t get up. I couldn’t force one inch of