Ripping Pages by Rachel Rae Page B

and pulled me to him—oh so slowly. He licked his lips as his eyes darted from my eyes to my mouth. My breathing picked up, and my stomach was fluttering. He smelled so good. Like Chinese food, beer and soap. He brought his lips to mine and gently licked my bottom lip. A moan escaped me as he bit and sucked on it ever so lightly. I opened my mouth, and his tongue slipped in to tangle with mine. He groaned, and his tongue grew more urgent inside my mouth. His hands moved from the back of my neck to the small of my back under my shirt. He started rubbing circles there as he kissed me. His lips moved from my mine to gently suckle and kiss my neck. I moaned embarrassingly loud. He edged from my neck to my collarbone and placed small kisses all over it. I was getting so worked up by just this little bit of action that I was sure, if we kept going, I would give up the goods. No. Way.
    I placed my palms on his chest pushing him away gently.
    Breathlessly, I whispered, “Van. I can’t do this. I'm sorry.”
    He instantly backed up looking apologetic, and a little hurt. “I apologize. I thought you…”
    “I did—I do. It's just—I don’t really know you, Van. I thought we were going to get to know each other.”
    “You're right. I'm sorry. I got carried away. You just looked so fucking sexy, and I just wanted to get lost in you.”
    “It wasn’t just you,” I smiled.
    He smiled a smile so perfectly sweet that my womb contracted, and I instantly wanted to punch myself in the face for stopping him.
    He gently kissed me on the forehead, before getting up and carrying the trash from our dinner over to the kitchen.
    I was suddenly very tired.
    He walked back over to the couch as I yawned a huge yawn. He lightly put a hand under my knees and one around my waist and hoisted me up, carrying me as if I were something precious. We rode the elevator as I laid my head on his shoulder. I wanted to glue myself to him just like this. He smelled so good. He was so warm and strong. I was seriously getting in over my head. I barely knew this man.
    When we got to the second floor, he opened the door to the guest room and, ever so lightly, he placed me on my feet next to the bed. He pulled back the covers and motioned for me to lie down. I did, and as I placed my head on the pillow and got comfortable, he covered me up and leaned in, kissing my forehead, then giving me a small kiss on the lips. He walked to the door and switched off the light and whispered, “Goodnight, Sweetness,” as he closed the door behind him. I was out before I could even admire how adorable that was.
     

     
    I woke up, and I was startled as I remembered where I was. The guest room was as sparse as the master bedroom. All that stood in the plain room was the king sized bed I was very comfortably wrapped up in.
    I instantly replayed last night in my head. That kiss was more than amazing. My heart ached at remembering the tender way he carried me to bed, and tucked me in. I laid there for a minute playing it over and over in my head, second for second.
    I went into the guest bathroom, remembering to bring my clothes with me this time. I took a quick bath, and wrapped a towel around myself. I put on a little bit of makeup so I would look half-presentable and then I put on the only clothes I had brought with me when I threw my bag together. My favorite low-rise jeans, my best-loved t-shirt, and some flip-flops and then walked downstairs. Little nervous bubbles played in my stomach as I rode the elevator down to the main floor.
    I saw Van sitting at the counter eating a huge, and I mean like, you could fit four full sized salads in it, bowl of cereal filled to the brim. What was it with guys and cereal? James always ate cereal. Anytime of day. And here was Van munching on some cocoa puffs like there was no tomorrow. For some reason though, seeing Van in his gray pajama pants hanging low on his hips, bringing out the intensity of gray in his irises, barefoot, and