‘I thought you’d be pleased, at least you can’t accuse me of being too flirty, or tarty, or—’
‘I have never accused you of being tarty!’
‘Close!’ I say, as he drops me off outside my place.
‘How about I do some major grovelling, and throw in a free lesson to make up?’
I roll my eyes. ‘They’re all free!’
His cheeky grin is back. ‘Top tips not revealed in my normal curriculum?’
‘You’re incredible!’
‘So I’ve been told. Not usually before the advanced practicals though.’ His chuckle sets up a warm glow right at the base (and I mean base) of my stomach.
I shake my head and try to keep a straight face, but it’s difficult. I’m buzzing – on a dangerous high, no substances involved. Who knew a normally sane person (me in case you wondered) could be this high on nothing but hormones and happiness? Not wise.
‘An hour is fine. I’ll see you there?’
Chapter 20
Okay, I must be totally bonkers. I agreed to getting showered, changed and return to ground zero in an hour after the day I’ve just had.
Today has been a day of many ups and downs (in all senses of the words), and it’s got me in more of a turmoil than a ride at any theme park could. And I do mean any ride.
I mean, I’ve been up a scary wall, and down several times (result!), chatted up a guy and got myself a date, practically sucked Noah’s tonsils (still making me feel hot and bothered), and been invited to his sister’s house (giving me palpitations).
But how could I say no to a Saturday night date, even if it isn’t a proper date? At least I can gaze into a man’s eyes, let his gorgeous rumbling laugh bring out goose bumps on my arms, and remember how his firm, dry lips felt against mine.
Has to be better than an evening in with a packet of crisps, doesn’t it? Okay, more dangerous, but hey, maybe that shows how far I’ve come. I am willing to face the fear and do it anyway.
I’ve never forced a kiss on anybody before, not even Robbie. Maybe it has unleashed a new, more powerful side of me that has lurked deep down waiting for its moment. Maybe this is the start of the new me!
Or maybe I just want a night out.
‘Busy day!’ Noah grins.
‘That has to be the understatement of the year!’ Oh boy, am I in trouble. Just seeing him has made my pulse rate go into overdrive and my vocal cords to switch to gushy mode.
He’s too cute. I think kissing him has released some kind of sex hormone in me that is making me want to jump him. I’m on some kind of adrenalin rush that can only have one satisfactory conclusion.
‘Drink?’
‘Large one.’ Maybe alcohol will calm me down, take the need to hang on his every word, hang on his arm, hang on his body, away. Or, oh my God, it might just dissolve the shred of inhibition that is remaining, and I will ignore my latest rule. The only rule that is important tonight – no making moves without an invitation.
‘Are you okay, you look …’
‘Fine, fine, I’m fine. Just a bit … tired.’ I finish lamely.
‘You don’t look tired.’ He gazes straight into my eyes. ‘You look incredibly sexy.’
‘Oh!’ I squeak. Taking the drink that he pushes my way and taking an unwise gulp. Unwise because it burns its way down my throat and makes me splutter. Unwise because I need a clear head or I will forget my new rule.
‘Here.’ He takes the glass from me and puts his hand between my shoulders. Oh boy is it warm. ‘Better?’
‘Much.’ Don’t gaze back into his eyes, don’t.
‘Let’s make tonight all about how it should feel.’ He puts his hand over mine.
Help! ‘Let’s not!’
Oh gawd, that chuckle. I have unleashed that dangerous chuckle. His eyes are alive, I can’t not look into them.
‘I want you to let go of your inhibitions like you did at the top of that wall, like you did,’ he leans in closer, ‘when you saw Gavin.’ His finger traces a line down the back of my hand, and I tense. ‘I’m not going to mention him again. This evening is all about …’ he’s even closer. The light citrus-hint of aftershave surrounds us. ‘This evening is all about desire.’
Oh boy I want to kiss him.
‘Right.’ He snaps back into his seat and jolts me back to reality. ‘Let’s get down to