mind. I think I might get blue balls if I don’t get to feel her lips pressed up against mine before I have to say goodbye and this perfect evening ends.
My stomach is tied in a damn pretzel, and my hands are fidgety. Zero chance of getting laid tonight, and I’m more nervous than I’ve ever been. Who the hell am I? I think I might be infected with something.
I mean, she definitely seems into me. One hundred percent. Every sign is there. Any other woman I’d have probably kissed already and be headed to a hotel room instead of her apartment, but this is not any other woman. It’s Mary.
I get out of the car and open her door. She takes my hand and doesn’t let go. All great signs. The stars and planets are aligning. My heart pumps with every step we take toward her door.
Shit, I think this is gonna happen. It’s really gonna happen.
She smiles at me. I smile back.
Ten feet.
Five feet.
We’re almost there. Our footsteps rumble like earthquakes in my mind. Each one loud and pronounced, moving in slow motion.
I’m doing it. Fuck it. I’m going to make a move on Mary Patrick.
I think.
Mary Patrick
I’ve never experienced anything like this walk to my door. This date went about a million times better than I could’ve ever imagined. I glance up at Rick; there’s something so different about him now. This whole whatever we’ve been doing has always been like a cartoon or something, unhinged from reality. It’s never been real life.
Not now, though. Not with the butterflies racing through my stomach, the adrenaline pumping through my veins, the sweat clamming up my palms. He’s dead serious, has a look of determination on his face, and with each step, time slows down a little more.
My brain has been so active, it just now dawns on me that he’s going to kiss me. At least, I think he’s going to. Judging by the way the entire date went, it’s the next logical progression of events.
Oh boy.
My stomach flutters like it has never fluttered before. I could almost float to the door, I think.
And then what?
Oh no.
What if he wants more? Are we supposed to do more next? I’ve never dated a man like Rick before. It seems like we might.
Cue my brain going into a frenzy. I should not want this man as bad as I want him right now. It feels so wrong, but every step I take with him, my toes and fingers feel numb. Lightning flashes through my limbs, intense, blissful electrical charges. It’s all landing right between my thighs. There is only one truth in this world right now. I want Rick Lawrence, and I want him bad, more than any man on the planet. I want those strong hands to grip me by the hips, I want him to run his fingers through my hair, I want to feel his tongue against my neck.
Most of all, I want a sign from him that says he wants me, in a physical sense. It’s all been mental so far. My body screams for his touch and it feels so wrong, but so right too. So right.
You have to say no if he wants more. It’s way too soon to hand that over to him. What if that’s all he wants?
Shut up, brain!
My body is buzzing right now. Warning signs flash in my brain. I’m surprised I can even walk, and my legs feel wobbly.
We don’t say anything the whole way to my door but share several looks along the way. Finally, after an eternity, I stop in front of it.
Rick looks down at me and his eyes are hungry, like he might devour me. It’s just—intense, smoldering. My neck heats up and I get a little dizzy.
“I had a great time tonight, Mary.”
Of course, his voice sounds ten times sexier than usual. Everything about him was different until I agreed to this date, until I actually gave him a chance. Now, I have something, some kind of potential, right in front of me and I don’t want to lose it. Even if it’s reckless and stupid and I don’t have time for any man, let alone this man. I don’t want to deny myself this opportunity and wonder what would’ve happened.
It was the best night of my life! Don’t you dare say that to him. He doesn’t need extra encouragement.
“It was—nice.”
His smile fades a little, and all I want to do is make him