We ate away in silence. It was a comfortable silence, though, and nothing like that not-knowing-what-to-say awkwardness that I’d experienced on dates before.
Bronson wiped his lips. “That’s one good steak.” He gazed up at me. “I’m glad you like eating.”
I laughed. “You’ve met women who don’t?”
“Yeah. The skinny ones. They have a weird relationship with food. I love food, and I love sharing it.”
“Me too. Cassie’s got that problem. I don’t think I’ll ever be skinny.” I turned my mouth down slightly. I’d always seen myself as fat. Especially in junior high where I became the butt of everyone’s joke, literally, given my big ass.
“Ava. You’re a woman. In every sense of the word. Believe me.”
I took a deep breath as his heavy-lidded gaze added sexy promise to the type of compliment I’d never tire of hearing.
Bronson’s apartment was clean and ordered, which pleased me for some strange reason. Maybe because, being naturally untidy, I presumed that it fitted neatly with that cliché of opposites attracting. Not that I needed any further justification for being drawn to Bronson.
Breathing in the cool night air, I stood on the balcony and studied the view of the bay. Twinkling with a blur of color reflecting from surrounding city lights, the bay resembled a modern art painting. As I feasted on the sky, I caught sight of a shooting star and gasped in wonder. It was like a celestial orgasm: short, sharp, and exciting. Analogies aside, the cosmic omen showered me with hope and magic.
One thing was for certain, Bronson’s apartment was a far cry from my little shoebox excuse for an apartment, which I was planning to move from soon. The money Aggie deposited weekly into my account had me saving madly for a new apartment in which I didn’t trip over the toilet to shower.
I remained on the balcony to give Bronson privacy as he took a call. Explaining that he had a meeting in the morning, he apologized for having to take it. Not that I minded. I’d crashed his evening, after all. Still, I was glad I’d listened to Aggie and called him.
My heart raced with every stolen glance. I couldn’t get enough of him. Each time I looked, I saw something different in that handsome face. Bronson could have starred in Hollywood as an action man with that body or as a brooding, mysterious lover with those dark, swarthy features.
After dinner, we’d taken a walk through the park.
I couldn’t say what startled me more, the Swiss army knife Bronson pulled out, or the fact that he went over to a tree and carved a heart with our initials into it.
We belonged together, he told me, causing my breath to hitch.
The impetuosity of that action, considering we’d only just met, shocked me. However, my heart saw it differently, for I was so hopelessly attracted to Bronson that I fell into his arms and surrendered my mouth to his.
The hasty nature of our connection had my sensible side in a spin, but I’d never experienced anything like it before. Even though we hadn’t even slept together, it felt like I’d known Bronson forever.
There was this inexplicable familiarity about him, the way his eyes shone with belief and sincerity, along with that faint uncertain half smile that he reverted to naturally.
Bronson held me, and as I leaned against the tree, a tear touched my cheek. That simple act of carving our initials seemed so innocent and pure, but yet as I drank in his hooded gaze and felt Bronson’s hard arousal against me, it was anything but innocent. His moistened lips took to mine with a ferocity of need as his tongue penetrated deeply into my mouth. It was hot, dangerous, and if we didn’t go somewhere private soon, potentially obscene.
He pulled away. “As much as I want you here and now, there are too many people about. Will you come back with me?”
I nodded as if in a trance. A tingle of anticipation settled into my core, while my feet barely touched the ground as we moved along. Driven by an intense desire of the like I’d never experienced before, I would have followed Bronson into a pit of burning embers. Even hell.
After he ended his call, Bronson asked, “Can I get you something? I haven’t got wine. It’s only beer and bourbon.” He tilted his head in an adorable boyish way.