The Duke's Runaway Princess Page 0,35
countered.
“My idea sounds like more fun.”
“Your idea sounds more dangerous,” she mumbled.
Derrick chuckled and pulled her closer, putting his arm around her waist. “I think you need to live on the dangerous side once in a while.”
They walked to the cinema, a smallish building that showed only two movies at a time. Normally, they were a little out of date, not able to get the biggest releases on the opening weekends. But it was an intimate setting that most of the people enjoyed. If they wanted to go to a first run movie, they probably weren’t living in Willingham.
There were only three restaurants in the village. The coffee shop counted as one because it had baked goods for breakfast that could also be purchased all day long. The diner served a wholesome, family style meal that most of the residents used for lunches or a fast dinner. But there was also a small café that served a very good lunch and dinner with various entrees during the week. Since tonight was Saturday, the specialty was Italian, and they served a very good fettucini alfredo with either shrimp, chicken or vegetables. Zarah ordered the pasta with the steamed vegetables while Derrick ate the chicken meal. The garlic bread was loaded with butter, the wine was extremely good and the pasta was thick with cheese.
She sat nervously across from him, prepared to be nervous about being out with Derrick, but his charming personality simply wouldn’t allow her to be anxious. He engaged her in various arguments that had her laughing at his ridiculous stances on subjects as far reaching as the Chinese economy to the various chocolates served in Switzerland versus Belgium. By the time dessert was served, a thick, creamy, decadent cheesecake with a chocolate and strawberry topping, Zarah was laughing at anything he said, knowing that he was just trying to keep her relaxed and enjoying the night anyway.
The movie was funny and light and she almost forgot about the fact that Derrick held her hand throughout the whole show. She loved the intimacy of the smaller theatre and the way he possessively kept on touching her. It made her feel special and wanted, even though he appeared to be watching the movie the whole time.
On the walk back to her apartment, Zarah was nervous, knowing that Suzanne wasn’t home and they had already gone much further sexually, than she was ready for. Would he expect something more? Would he want to come inside?
“Hey,” he said and stopped in the middle of the street.
Zarah turned to face him, looking up at him nervously.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She took a deep breath and looked down at the middle of his chest. “I’m nervous about what you’re going to expect and what I won’t be able to deliver,” she finally said.
“I expect to kiss you goodnight at your doorstep. And I expect to see you or talk to you tomorrow and I’m very much hoping you won’t continue to hide from me like you have over the past several days.”
Hearing those words, Zarah breathed a huge sigh of relief. “That’s all?” she asked, a small smile starting to form on her face.
The sound Derrick made was half a groan, half a laugh. He wanted this woman more intensely than he had ever wanted any other woman. But he also wanted her to make the choice of her own free will, and to do so consciously, without the heat of passion clouding her judgment. He wanted to wake up with her in his arms and not see the regret in her eyes. So if it meant going slowly, he was more than willing to do that for her. It might kill him, with a slow, tortuous death, but he’d love it the whole time.
“That’s all,” he replied firmly, taking her hands and placing them in the middle of his chest, then bending down to gently kiss those incredibly enticing lips.
Zarah couldn’t believe the relief that surged through her body with his reassurance. “That would be very nice.”
“What? The kiss or not hiding from me?” he teased.
She laughed and bent backwards to look up at him. “Since the hiding thing isn’t actually working, it would be nice to kiss you and know that it won’t go any further than that.”
Derrick just about punched himself. He hadn’t meant to reassure her that they wouldn’t go any further. He definitely meant to take this woman to bed and make love to her until she couldn’t move any