You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This (9 page)

 Tingles ran through her belly and lower, between her legs, as she followed him into the room. He kicked the door shut behind them and scooped her up into his arms. “There. We practiced a lift,” he murmured against her shoulder. He tossed her onto the bed. “And a jump.”

“I didn’t jump. You threw me.” She rolled up onto her hands and knees and stuck out her tongue. “Now that you have me here, what do you plan to do? I don’t think we can dance on your bed.”

“Not vertically, anyway.” He quickly stripped off his polo shirt and khaki pants, leaving only a pair of royal blue boxer briefs with a blatant bulge at the front. “I think you know what I plan to do. I told you I want you.” He ran a finger over his cock. “Do you see how much?”

“I see.” She crawled to the edge of the bed and reached for him. “Come here and let me show you what I can do with that.”

Lust shone in his eyes as he stepped forward. Grasping his waist, Erin pulled him closer and licked the skin beside his navel. He moaned softly. “Have your way with me, woman.”

“Then take these off.” She snapped the waistband of the briefs. “I want to see you naked and begging me to suck you.”

“Pretty demanding, huh?” He yanked off the briefs and cupped a hand over his cock. “Oh, dear, I’m nude and you aren’t. Whatever are you going to do with me?”

She laughed and pulled his hand away. Without a word, she licked the tip of his cock, eliciting another low moan from him. As she lowered her mouth over his shaft, she lightly squeezed his balls with one hand.

“Fuck!” He twined his fingers in her hair. “Oh, God, Erin!”

She glanced up at him and smiled without releasing him. He gasped, and his eyes slipped closed. Small noises of pleasure escaped him, and the power rush from bringing him so much pleasure only heightened Erin’s arousal.

Stroking his balls and the base of his shaft with one hand, she licked up and down the length of his cock. Her other hand stole between her legs. She pressed her fingers against her clit and moaned softly, then glanced up to see Stefan watching her.

“That’s fucking hot,” he murmured. “Seeing you play with yourself while you suck me.”

He smiled down at her with such longing her heart ached. I love him.

The realization hit her with such force she wondered how she had ever doubted her feelings for him.

“I love you,” he said, echoing her thoughts in a tone of wonder. “Erin—” He gasped again as her fingertips brushed his balls. “Now’s not the time to talk.”

He tugged her hair until she released him. Glaring at him, she rocked back on her heels. “Sorry to take your toy away,” he said. “I want to play now.”

“I was having fun,” she protested. Desire rushed through her, sending more moisture between her legs. Even though she’d enjoyed touching and sucking him, she wanted his touch now. She wanted him to make love to her, for the two of them to be completely joined now that they knew how they felt.

He pushed her gently onto her back and yanked off her slacks and panties. She didn’t protest, just lay there and allowed him to strip her. The intensity in his eyes as he looked down at her tightened her pussy. Lying half-naked in front of him, she was completely vulnerable, and that turned her on more than she would have imagined.

Grasping her ankles, he pulled her legs apart and looked down at her triumphantly. “Now you’re where I want you.” He dipped a finger into her wetness. She shivered. “Yeah, that’s what you want,” he said.

“I want you.” She looked into his eyes. “I love you.”

His eyes widened, then he smiled. “That works out well, then.”

He knelt on the bed between her legs and ran his finger from her opening to her swollen clit. She sighed and closed her eyes to savor his touch. Pleasure built in her, a heaviness in her belly that she knew signaled an impending explosion if Stefan touched her just right.

And he did, pressing a finger firmly against her clit while slipping another finger inside her to stroke her sweet spot. She writhed in delightful discomfort as he increased the pressure, sending jolts of pure arousal through her. She grew even wetter.

“Very wet,” he murmured. Looking into her eyes, he withdrew his finger from her and stuck it in his mouth. “Tastes good.”

She shuddered and closed her eyes for a moment. Watching him taste her brought her right to the edge. “Fuck me,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite hear that.” He leaned over her, his breath warm against her face. “Say it again.”

She opened her eyes and stared into his. “Fuck me.”

“I hoped you’d say that.” He tugged at the hem of her shirt. “I’m naked. You’re not. If you want this inside you, take off the rest of your clothes.” He stroked himself. “And hurry, because I don’t really want to wait.”

“Then fuck me like this,” she ordered, reaching for him. He dodged back, and she pretended to pout. “Why do I have to be naked?”

 “Because I said so.” He took hold of the bottom of her shirt in both hands. “I could just rip this off, but then you might not have anything to wear tomorrow.”

“I brought clothes.” She sat up and quickly removed the shirt and her bra. “That shirt is my favorite. I’d rather have it in one piece.”

“Ah, so you just wanted to save your shirt,” he teased.

“I just want you.”

Again she held out her arms to him, and this time he moved forward, straddling her outstretched legs. She ran a finger up his cock, grinning when his eyes rolled back. My man.

The phrase startled her, but she liked the sound of it. Stefan was hers. He loved her, and she loved him. Dancing with him all those months had built something between them that neither had dared acknowledge. Now that they finally had admitted it, they had no reason to hold back. They knew each other, had touched each other as intimately as two people could with their clothes on and without clothing.

She was ready now for what he’d wanted from her, yet she didn’t know how to tell him.

After the competition,
she promised herself. After tomorrow, we’ll talk about us.

“You’re looking way too thoughtful.” Stefan lowered his head and blew a raspberry against her abdomen. She laughed and swatted the side of his head, and he leaned back again with a grin. “That’s better. We’re in bed together, naked, about to fuck. You shouldn’t look so serious.”

“Then do something about it,” she challenged.

Quickly, he took a condom from the nightstand and rolled it onto his shaft. He knee-walked forward, pushing her legs back toward her chest. With one hand, he kneaded her breast, his thumb stroking her hard nipple. She moaned and pushed against him, trying to maneuver herself onto his cock. Her pussy ached to have him inside her and tightened as if he’d already entered, and she let out another small noise.

Looking down at her, he positioned himself at her opening. Slowly, exquisitely, he eased inside. She gasped and raised her hips to take him deeper, but he held back. “Patience,” he said softly. “I want this to last.”

She didn’t argue, just lay still and let him enter her at his own pace, savoring the sensations within her as his cock filled her. The mounting pleasure shook her with small tremors, and her pussy clenched around him. He pressed his finger against her clit. “You’re so close,” he whispered. “Aren’t you?”

Unable to speak, she just nodded. He rubbed her swollen nub and began a slow rhythm of thrusts in and out of her. “Come for me, Erin. Let me feel you come.”

The friction of his finger and cock sent her spiraling upward. Her entire body tingled and shivered under his touch. The overwhelming pleasure Stefan brought her wiped all thoughts from her mind.

The explosion hit hard. She bucked against him, trying to thrust harder but unable to in the position he held her in. Pleasure burst through her in waves, shaking her and rocking her against the mattress. Stefan pressed more firmly on her clit, and she cried out and yanked his hand away.

The waves continued to hit her. Stefan held still now, looking down at her with a mixture of lust and pride. Her pussy contracted around his shaft, and feeling his cock within her brought another jolt of ecstasy.

Her breathing grew heavier, and her arms fell to her sides. Gasping, she stared up at Stefan, who bent to kiss her. “I felt you,” he murmured.

“You said you wanted to,” she panted. She swallowed hard and tried to take more even breaths. “Rest for a second, please?”

 “Sure.” He withdrew from her and lay beside her. “When you’re ready, climb on. I want you on top.”

She nodded and snuggled against him. He put his arms around her. Contentment filled her, and she wanted to lay with him like that for the rest of the night.

After she did for him what he’d done for her.

When her breathing slowed again, she straddled him. He grinned and put his hands on her hips. “Ready for more, I see,” he teased.

“Ready for you to come now.” She sank down onto his cock and rocked slightly. He closed his eyes for a moment and hissed out a breath. “I’ve had my fun. Now it’s your turn.”

She rode him slowly at first, until his hands gripped her firmly and pushed her to move faster. He thrust upward into her, speeding their rhythm, and she allowed him to set the pace because she wanted him to finish. Wanted the excitement of watching his face as he came.

He pulled her down against him and his breathing grew louder in her ear. Suddenly he cried out and spasmed inside her, arms clutching her tightly. He panted and then let out a loud grunt as he thrust into her again. Shocks rocked him, and Erin lay against him listening to his breathing as he bucked beneath her.

Finally, he let go of her and exhaled a long breath. “Whew. Thank you.”

She propped herself on her hands and smiled down at him. “Thank you.”

“That was good.” He tapped his head with a finger. “Blood not here yet. Can’t talk.”

“You caveman?” she joked. She kissed his forehead. “I love you.”

He smiled. “I love you too. Off, please.”

She carefully moved off him, and he rolled off the bed. “Be right back. Clean up time.” He grimaced. “If we’re in a relationship, we’re going to talk about not using these damn things anymore.”

“Later,” she said. Now was not the time to discuss something so serious.

“Later,” he agreed.

He left the room and came back after a couple minutes without the condom. “All washed and shiny,” he announced, lying down again.

She laughed. “Shiny? I don’t think a shiny penis is necessarily a good thing.”

“Okay, maybe not shiny.” He pulled her to him and kissed her. “Go clean up and then come back here. I want to lie here and be quiet with you for a while.”

“What about rehearsing?” Immediately she wanted to kick herself. They’d just finished making love and her brain had already returned to the competition.

He grinned. “Leave it to you to be all businesslike. We’ll wake up early in the morning and rehearse. You’re staying, yeah?”

“I’m staying.” She stood. “I’ll be right back.”

In the bathroom, she quickly showered, then returned to the bedroom. Stefan lay on his side, wearing a clean pair of briefs and nothing else, eyes closed. “Come here,” he said without looking at her.

He turned onto his back. She found her panties and shirt and put them back on, then lay beside him, her head on his chest. He embraced her, and she snuggled closer to him. Warmth enveloped her, from his body and from his love.

“I love you,” he murmured, again speaking her thoughts.

“I love you too.” She looked up just as he aimed a kiss at her. Their lips touched only briefly, but that slight contact filled her with something she couldn’t name. “So we’re going to sleep?”

“We’re going to lie here and speak softly to each other, and eventually we’ll sleep,” he replied. “Thank you for staying, Erin. It means a lot, and I hope this won’t be the only time you stay.”

“It won’t be.”

Snuggling closer to him, she closed her eyes and drifted off before either of them spoke again.

In the morning, Erin opened her eyes and blinked a few times at the unfamiliar wall beside her. She turned onto her side facing the room’s windows and the dark green shades which covered them. Her room didn’t have dark green window shades.

Right. Stefan’s.
She turned over and smiled at the sight of Stefan on his side, eyes closed and mouth slightly open. A piece of his hair stuck out almost perpendicular to his head.

She debated waking him and decided to let him sleep. A digital clock sat on the nightstand, and she raised herself onto one elbow to see the time. Only six. I should go back to sleep myself.

No matter how tired she felt, once she woke in the morning she rarely managed to go back to sleep, even in her own bed. In an unfamiliar bed in someone else’s room, she was surprised she’d managed to sleep this long. And so soundly. She’d slept better with Stefan than she had on her own in quite a while. She decided not to think about what that might mean.

At least she’d stayed. She didn’t know whether to be proud of herself or amused that she thought staying was worth being proud of.

Quietly, she slipped out of bed, picked up her overnight bag, and went into the bathroom. After a long, warm shower her body and mind caught up to each other in the being awake department. With a silent prayer that she wouldn’t spill anything or lean against anything dirty, she put on the outfit she’d chosen for the competition and went into the kitchen to try to figure out Stefan’s coffee maker.

An hour later, when Stefan stumbled out of the bedroom, Erin was on the couch with a cup of coffee and a slice of toast. Stefan’s errant piece of hair now stuck straight out from his head, along with a few other strands that had decided to do their own thing. Erin grinned. Even with bedhead, the sight of him melted her heart.

“Morning,” he mumbled, plopping onto the cushion beside her. “That coffee?”

“There’s more in the pot if you want a cup,” she offered.

He shook his head. “No coffee till I shower. Got to keep routine.”

She chuckled. “Did I throw off your routine?”

“Only in the best ways.” He smiled. “Wish you’d still been in bed when I woke up. Would have been nice to see you beside me.”

“Should I go back to bed?” she teased.

He gave her a considering look, then shook his head. “I need a shower and coffee, and we need to find something to do until the competition.”

“Rehearse?” she suggested. “You know, like we didn’t do last night?”

“Oh, yeah. That.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Shower and coffee first. You’re ahead of me in the caffeine department.”

“Sounds like a plan.” She kissed his cheek. “I liked waking up beside you. I’m glad I didn’t go home last night.”

“Me too.” He put his arm around her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. “Careful. I have morning breath and I probably smell a little funky.”

“You smell like you.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Later today, I’d like to talk more about where things are between us and where they’re going. I still feel like we’re moving a little too fast, but it feels more comfortable than before.”

He smiled. “I’m glad to hear that. I’ll be back in a couple minutes, okay?”

“Sure.”

He went into the bathroom and the shower started. While he was out of the room, Erin wandered over to the wall to look at his awards and pictures again. One of the pictures of Stefan and Emma drew her eye. The girl looked a lot like her brother, and in the photo she smiled up at him with utter admiration. Stefan had his arm around her and smiled down at her, apparently ignoring everyone else who stood nearby. Erin wished she’d had a chance to meet Emma. Anyone Stefan loved that much had to be a good person.

When Stefan left the bathroom, Erin hurried into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee, which she handed him when he returned to the living room. He sniffed it and smiled contentedly. “Ah, caffeine. Thanks.” He kissed her forehead. “Let me drink some of this and then we’ll start, okay? I think just a couple more times going over the routines should be enough, and then we’ll have time to relax before we leave. I have to be there early to make sure things are set up, so we’ll go around eleven or so.”

Erin nodded and took a sip of her own coffee. I haven’t competed in months, and he thinks I’ll be able to relax?

After Stefan pronounced himself sufficiently caffeinated, they shut off the TV and moved the coffee table into the kitchen to give themselves room to dance. Stefan turned on the song they’d chosen for their competition piece, and they began moving through the steps that had already become nearly second nature for Erin. Despite her nervousness, she knew she’d be fine once the competition began. Anticipating had always been worse than the actual events.

They worked on that routine for a while, then changed to the tribute piece. Erin’s eyes misted as she focused on the words and music of the song, and she thought she saw a tear in Stefan’s eyes as well. This would be the more difficult routine to perform. It would also be the one truly worth the effort.

“Time to get ready,” Stefan announced once they’d gone through both routines a few times. “It’s ten thirty. Are you still nervous?”

“Just a bit.” Erin smiled. “I think we’ll be fine. I just want the routines to be great.”

“They will be,” he assured her. “I’m going to change. Is that what you’re wearing?”

She looked down at her knee-length grey satin skirt and black velour top. “That’s the plan.”

“Good. You look gorgeous.” He kissed her cheek and went into the bedroom.

A few minutes later, he returned to the living room wearing charcoal grey slacks and a white button-down shirt. Erin grinned her appreciation. “Good choice. Every woman there will have her eyes on you.”

He put his arm around her. “They can look. Only you can touch. You ready?”

“I think so.”

“Don’t worry.” He steered her to the back door. “We’ll be fine.”

In Stefan’s car, they drove to the event hall where the competition would be held. Several people bustled around the large room, decorating the walls and beams with streamers and testing the lights and music systems. “Decorations?” Erin asked. The competitions she and Scott had done hadn’t usually included streamers.

“It’s a festive occasion.” Stefan grinned. “We like to have the place look nice. Remember, the emphasis is on raising money for cancer research, not on the competition. So if people want to decorate the place, who am I to stop them?”

A short woman with glasses and curly dark brown hair hurried over to them and embraced Stefan so tightly he gasped. “Thank you,” the woman murmured. “I’m so glad you called when they wanted to cancel this. It would have meant so much to Louisa that you went to bat for her.” She let him go and smiled at Erin. “Hi. I’m Theresa Golding.”

“Erin Jeffries.” Erin held out her hand, and Mrs. Golding shook it. “I’m glad to meet you. I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter.”

“Thank you.” Mrs. Golding touched manicured fingertips to the corners of her eyes. “I promised myself I wouldn’t break down here. Stefan, is there anything you need me to do?”

“Not a thing, as far as I know.” He took her hands. “Sit down and relax, okay? I just got here and haven’t checked with anyone else yet, but I’m sure everything’s under control.”

She nodded. “Thank you.” As she walked away, her shoulders shook.

Erin squeezed Stefan’s hand. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” He sighed. “Yeah, I’ll be all right. Seeing her like that reminded me of how much losing Emma hurt. I know what she’s going through right now.” He turned and studied her. “You’re beautiful, have I mentioned that? I have the best-looking partner here.”

“Others might disagree,” she joked.

“Yeah, well, I don’t care what others think.” He kissed her. “I need to find out if anything else has to be done.”

She followed him across the room to the DJ’s table, where he started a discussion with two men about the music cues. Then he talked to some of the decorators. Through the conversations, Erin listened and wished she had something helpful to do.

Just before one o’clock, Stefan brought Erin backstage, where several other couples had already gathered. “Don’t be nervous,” he told her, holding her hands in his. “I’m here, we know the music and the steps, and this is just for fun anyway. We’re doing our competition routine first, so we’ll be able to take a break before the tribute. All set?”

Erin nodded, though her heart pounded and the butterflies in her stomach tried to beat their way out. “All set.”

Out on the dance floor, a male voice spoke into a microphone. “Thank you all for coming!” The crowd immediately quieted. “I’m glad to see so many people here,” the man continued. “Looks like we’ll bring in a good amount for cancer research today!”

People cheered and clapped, then went silent again. “Before we begin, I’m sorry to announce that this past week, we lost one of the organizers of this event,” the man said. “Louisa Golding has been part of this since we began holding the competition four years ago. Nearly seven years ago, she was diagnosed with leukemia. Sadly, this week, she lost her fight. We’d like to honor her now with a moment of silence, and some of our performers have prepared a tribute number for later in the show.”

A hush fell over the hall and the backstage area. Erin heard a few sniffles from the people around her, and she swallowed hard and squeezed her eyes shut to keep her own tears at bay.

After several seconds the emcee went on, “Thank you, and our condolences go out to Louisa’s friends and family. Now to begin. First on our program is another event organizer, Stefan Webber, and his partner Erin Jeffries.”

Stefan smiled at her, and Erin took his hand and allowed him to lead her onto the floor. The first notes of their competition song played.

Without needing to think, Erin followed Stefan in the steps. Even when he varied slightly from the routine they’d rehearsed, she didn’t falter. Her body moved as if on its own. With her eyes on Stefan, she nearly forgot about the people watching them.

Competing with Scott had been like this. Just dancing, not really caring where they placed, only enjoying the movement and the music.

She’d missed this after Scott’s accident, and even though she’d worried and argued with herself about competing again, she was grateful to Stefan for asking her. Now she had back what she’d lost.

The song ended, and applause filled the air. Grinning from ear to ear, Stefan took Erin’s hand. They bowed, then hurried backstage, where he pulled her into his arms and spun her off her feet. “That was amazing! Even better than when we practiced.”

Smiling, Erin kissed his cheek. “I can’t even say how wonderful it felt to be out there. Thank you.”

“Thank you for agreeing to partner with me.” He set her down. “You’re incredible.”

“So are you.”

They stood near the curtain, watching the other competitors, including a few members of their class. The atmosphere became one of pure joy, both backstage and in the crowd, and behind the scenes the dancers chatted softly and congratulated one another.

The competition lasted nearly two hours, including a short intermission halfway through. When everyone had done their routines, the emcee returned to the middle of the dance floor. “As I announced at the beginning of this event, we lost someone dear to us earlier this week.” The crowd went silent again. “In addition, this is the first event in over a year for one of our dancers, who lost her competition partner to a car accident last year. To honor Louisa Golding and Scott Fulton, Stefan and Erin have put together this routine.”

Again Stefan led Erin onto the floor. At the first note of the song, her eyes watered, and she fought back the tears. Stefan’s eyes mirrored her sorrow.

Then they began to move through the steps they’d rehearsed, and the sadness didn’t matter. They lost themselves in the dance, in the music which flowed through them. Images floated through Erin’s mind of herself dancing with Scott and her tears began to fall. All the times she and Scott had danced together, whether in class, in competition, or just in fun. Closing her eyes for a moment, she said goodbye to him.

When she looked at Stefan again, she saw the same love and joy shining from his eyes that she knew filled her own. He pulled her close to him and bent to press his lips against hers.

“You shouldn’t kiss me like this,” she murmured. “We’re dancing.”

“Vertical expression,” he reminded her in a whisper. He twirled her to arm’s length, then pulled her back. “Dancing is about showing what we feel. And I feel like I love you.”

“I love you too,” she said softly.

He kissed her again as the last notes of the song faded. The applause began, and still they kissed, lips touching softly, embracing each other. Finally Stefan released her and they stared into each other’s eyes.

I’m in love with him.
They turned and bowed to the crowd. Erin barely noticed them. I don’t just love him, I’m in love with him. And he’s in love with me. When did that happen?

Stefan led her backstage to the sound of continued applause. “Thank you.” Tears trickled from the corners of his eyes, but he smiled. “You’re a wonderful dancer.”

“I think we need more practice,” she teased.

He chuckled. “Yeah, I think we can do that. Maybe tonight?”

“Yeah.” She hugged him. “I’m glad you talked me into this.”

“So am I.” He briefly touched his lips to hers as the crowd chanted their names. “We’ll talk more later. Right now, I think they want us back out there.”

“Yeah.”

Hand in hand, they walked back onto the dance floor.

About the Author

Karenna Colcroft is the naughty alter‐ego of a sedate teacher and mother of two. She has been writing since she was five years old, and has a particular soft spot for sappy romance stories. Karenna lives in the northeastern United States with her two children, assorted cats and fish, and the love of her life.

Website: http://www.karennacolcrof
t
.com

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