A Single Date (Dating Just Got Serious) Read online

“I was impressed the moment you told me about the teddy bear.”

  “You’re easy. I could have made that up.”

  “But you didn’t. Now it’s my turn to impress you.” She dropped her purse on the floor and slipped her left shoulder out of her dress, then her right one. She shimmed the dress over her breasts and past her hips until it landed in a heap around her heels. She discarded the dress and the shoes with a quick kick. The gesture was so smooth and quick he couldn’t look away.

  Standing in front of him in nothing but a thong and willingness, his brain went numb. Her creamy skin glowed from the city lights coming through the big window. He slipped off his jacket, unbuttoned his shirt, and slipped off his shoes and socks. He lifted her into his arms and carried her upstairs.

  “Aren’t you going to turn on any lights?” Her question was both a whisper and a giggle.

  “No. I have a recurring dream about what I want to do to you. I can do them with my eyes closed. But believe me, they’ll be open, because I want to see every glorifying second with you.”

  He placed her in the center of the king-sized bed like he was handling a delicate piece of priceless crystal. She watched as he stripped out of his clothes. From the nightstand he removed a box of condoms.

  She reached for him and pulled him down on top of her. “You’re taking too long.”

  He silenced her with a kiss. Her tongue was eager, circling his with so much intensity, his body hardened, threatening to explode. The palms of her hand caressed his back as he shifted to taste her earlobe and her neck. Just a hint of her of cologne lingered behind, but her sweetness was enough to fuel his desire. Never had his body responded with such fervor. Controlling his eagerness was difficult, but he wanted the night branded on them like a song on continuous play in their heads.

  She pressed her lips against his chest, searing like a torch as she glided lower. Her touch was so light and gentle he had to open his eyes to match the reality to what he was feeling. He cupped her full breasts, squeezing each one with just enough pressure to make her moan. She slipped out of his reach to plant lingering kisses along his torso as she moved down his body.

  Her mouth surrounded his throbbing member. With a strong pull, she drew it deeper. Afraid he might bruise her delicate flesh, he released his hold on her breasts and grabbed the sheet instead. A blistering heat enveloped his body with every tug and twist of her tongue. She wrapped her tongue around him like she was sealing a delicate package.

  Weeks ago when they first met, his impression of her had been so different from the passionate person he was falling in love with now. Just knowing she wanted to share a future with him was enough to make him happy, but he wanted more. A family. A life. Forever would be a beginning. Plans of introducing her to his parents were already on his agenda.

  He pulled her away before she pushed him over the edge. The dark look glowing in her irises spoke to her passion, too. He traced his tongue over each nipple while she groaned and rotated her hips. Each seductive sway enticed him closer to the brink of bliss.

  “Enough, Drew,” she pleaded.

  He reached for the condom on the bedside table and drew it on. He eased into her slick center, trying to stretch the moment into hours. The tempo of her hips picked up speed and nothing he did seemed to slow her down. They locked eyes just as his feelings flung him into the universe.

  “Do you ever plan to let me go?” he asked moments later when her legs still held him in place.

  “I don’t think so.” She ran her finger through his hair, tugging on the ends. “I hope you’ll never let me go.”

  “It has taken me too long to get you to wade into this relationship.” He held her tighter. “This is real for me, Yani. I love you.” The words slipped out. Wearing his game face should have been so easy, but with her none of his negotiating techniques worked.

  “I think you’re supposed to say those words before we make love, not after.”

  He held her gaze. “At least I said it.”

  She placed her warm soft hands along his face, and kissed him. “I love you, too, Drew. But I think you already knew, didn’t you?”

  “A man can hope.”

  “I need you to do me a favor.” She cradled his face.

  He nodded. “Anything.”

  “When we go to Phoebe’s and Cory’s wedding, please let me introduce you to my parents as my carpenter.”

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Jacki Kelly has written dozens of short stories and several books. She lives in the North East with her husband and one loveable dog. She loves hearing from her readers so please contact her.

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  EXCERPT FROM THE DATE ME

  Chapter One

  Cat Preston circled the huge kitchen island of Drew’s Philadelphia penthouse. Each trip around the spotless quartz counter was designated with an invisible period made with her index finger, before beginning the next useless loop. Not the most productive way to spend a Saturday morning, but going ballistic on her past lovers wasn’t an alternative for now.

  Two months was a long time to take up residence in someone else’s home, but when her life disconnected from gravity and flung her against the cold, hard universe this was the softest place to land. Surrounded by friends and sharing their laughter blurred the pain. But Yani and Drew were getting more serious. Now it was time to move on. No matter how delicate they tried to handle her, she was getting in their way. Just because her love life ended up in a muddy ditch didn’t mean she should ruin their chance at happiness. Nobody liked a third wheel and even if they were too polite to say so, she knew it.

  The gentle pulling of the elevator cables sounded as she marked her fourth lap. They were home. If she didn’t tell them tonight, another month might tick by before she gathered her courage again. Living in the elegance of Drew’s penthouse had been the balm she needed to patch her heart, but now she was fine and it was time to prove it.

  The elevator opened into what Drew called a foyer. Yani stepped off first, like a graceful swan on parade. Since accepting her feelings for Drew, she floated unfazed through things that used to send her screaming to the phone. Her face was lit with a permanent smile. Jealousy poked at the hole in Cat’s heart. It hadn’t lessened much in the last two months but at least the sharp edges were wearing smooth. Drew stepped off the elevator behind Yani and even though his hands were quick, Cat saw him grab Yani’s butt. It was another indicator that it was time to give these new lovers some privacy.

  Cat cleared her throat but couldn’t look away from their playfulness. “Hey guys, do you have a minute? I’d like to talk to you.” She wrung her fingers so tight her pinkie ring dug into her flesh.

  “Sure. We weren’t expecting to see you downstairs so early.” Yani threw Drew a questioning look over her shoulder.

  Cat sat on the edge of the white velour love seat and motioned for them to sit on the matching sofa.

  “What’s on your mind?” Drew draped his hand on Yani’s knee. Robby had never touched her in such a loving way. That should have been a sign.

  “First, thank you both for letting me crash here while I got myself together. You took me in like a stray dog. I know my timing was awful, but I had to get out of my apartment. If I had stayed another moment I would have done something regretful.”

  “It wasn’t a problem,” Drew said.

  Cat put up her hand. “Let me finish before I chicken out, again. I know it’s time to move on. I should have left a month ago, but this place is so fabulous I decided to enjoy the treat. Anyway, I think I may have found a p
lace. It’s small and there’s no elevator, but it’s in a nice area.”

  Drew tilted his head and lifted his eyebrow while staring at Yani.

  “Cat, Bryant Construction just renovated a cute brownstone that is a few blocks from here. As we were renovating I had you in mind, but Yani and I agreed to wait until you were ready before telling you about it.”

  “Yeah, Cat. We didn’t want you to think we were in a hurry for you to move.” Yani added.

  “That’s nice of you two, but you’ve already done so much. I can’t let you do anymore.” Cat shook her head.

  “Actually you’d be doing me a favor. The longer the place sits empty, the more likely it might draw the wrong attention,” Drew said. He removed his hand from Yani’s knee and positioned his elbows on his thighs. He’d shifted into business mode with such ease Cat almost missed the transition. “At least take a look at the place. You’ll love it.”

  “I really can’t ask you guys to keep helping me. Either I was blind, numb or both not to see what Robby was doing under my nose. I think I didn’t want to admit to two failed relationships. I was in shock when my life spun out of control. But now I’m grounded.” She took a deep breath. “Anyway, the place I looked at will be ready at the end of the month. So, in less than twenty days you can have your privacy back.”

  “Cat you don’t understand. Drew changed the place just for you. He even painted the master bedroom the brightest yellow he could find, since it’s your favorite color. It also has a private patio. You’re going to love it. And he’s not giving it to you. You’ll lease it for however long you want.” Yani was one of her best friends. She was always so supportive. It wouldn’t hurt to at least take a look.

  “You can see the place this morning. We won’t even go with you to look at it so we won’t bias your opinion. What do you say?” Drew jumped up before she could object again. “Let me call Jeremy. He can show it to you this morning.”

  Hearing Jeremy’s name was like having her heart pulled out of her chest with a pair of rusty pliers. Her temperature spiked several degrees. If life gives everyone one great love then, Jeremy had been hers. He’d filled every empty spore of her heart, making her laugh at the silliest things. And then one day he announced he was going back to his old girlfriend. To marry her. The news was so unexpected it punched a hole in her soul the size of a meteor. Robby was the rebound guy. Robby’s betrayal hadn’t hurt as much as Jeremy’s, but in her weakened state she’d ended up on the sideline of life.

  She couldn’t say what she wanted to her friends. How do you scream at the world that your life had been tossed off course and you can’t find your way back?

  Cat examined Yani’s face. If only life was as simple as she made it appear. Drew and Yani were as perfect as yin and yang. The flicker of hope behind their eyes was enough to coat Cat’s world in a blissful state of harmony. But she smelled trouble and this stench had Jeremy written on it.

  DATING JUST GOT SERIOUS!

  Read the series

  Blind Date

  A Single Date

  Date Me