Toni Braxton’s smoky voice filled the room as Brad pulled Alicia closer as they swayed to the music. Tonight was turning out so much better than he thought it would. Alicia had opened up to him some allowing him a glimpse into her past.
She never really talked about her family much. All that he knew was that she was the younger out of three siblings and her brother and sister moved away from home right after graduation.
Alicia’s ability to start opening up toward him was wonderful, and he knew that her sharing her emotions with him was essential. It was going to be the first key he needed to crack open the door to her heart.
He was able to see how his romance with Alicia wasn’t going to take off like a rocket the way Zack’s did with Traci, However, his relationship wouldn’t have the secrets or lies that almost ruined everything between Richard and his wife Dawn.
No, his connection with Alicia was different and he didn’t care because it was his life and not theirs. After years of working towards something; it was beginning to happen for them. Alicia was a different woman with different needs…which by the way he planned to address every way that he could over time.
Burying his nose below Alicia’s earlobe he breathed in the sexy scent of lavender or maybe jasmine there. The fragrance was like her signature. Even after spending hours on the tennis court with him, it was constantly present on her skin. It was so much a part of her personality.
“You smell so good. I could stay like this for the rest of the night,” Brad whispered against Alicia’s skin.
“I could too. I have to admit I’m having a good time.”
Good time…that’s all Alicia was having with him? Well, he would have to do something to bump up her adjectives about their date. He didn’t like his dating skills being called only good.
Tilting her head up, he ran his thumb over her glossy lips. He had been fighting the urge to kiss her again since dinner. The aching need hadn’t stopped and neither had his growing erection. As close as they were dancing, he was surprised Alicia hadn’t felt its presence.
“Brad, what’s wrong?” Alicia asked, concerned.
He didn’t answer her, but captured her lips in a hot kiss before she had time to react or get it in her silly mind to drive him away. He was ready for the worst, but shockingly Alicia kissed him back with an equal amount of passion. Her mouth sucked at his tongue the moment he slipped it into her mouth.
Brad grabbed Alicia’s ass lifting her up, so she could wrap her legs around his waist. Without breaking their kiss, he carried her across the room and laid her down on the plush dark brown couch.
“You feel so fucking good beneath me,” he moaned by the corner of Alicia’s swollen lips. He was dying for a look at her breasts. Their brown full perfection had been tempting him since Alicia greeted him at the door wearing this short temptress dress. It was made to send a man’s blood pressure up to the next level.
Did Alicia really expect him to keep his hands to himself with her looking so good?
“Do I really?” Alicia asked as she ran her hand down the front of his shirt.
The feel of her soft hands on his body sent blood rushing to his hard cock. Shit, maybe this make out session wasn’t such a good idea after all. He wanted to show Alicia how much he cared about her and seducing her into bed on their first date wouldn’t do that. He wanted to be different than her previous boyfriends.
Dropping his head against her forehead, Brad took a deep breath and blew it out trying to refocus his thoughts away from making love to the sexy and desirable woman in his arms.
“Alicia, I should leave.” The words were spoken in agony, but Brad knew it was the right thing to do. “I don’t want to rush you into anything tonight.”
Brad took one last whiff of Alicia’s perfume before rolling off her body. Damn, he loved the desire he saw lurking in her eyes. It gave him hope that everything he was going through wasn’t for nothing. If Alicia responded to him like this, there was hope for them to have a real future together.
“Why are you leaving?” Alicia asked looking like a woman who was begging her man to make love to her.
Shit! Why wasn’t he doing what both of them wanted? No. He wasn’t going to win her body over with sex. He wanted her heart in love with him as well. Yes, she was attracted to him, but he desired more than that. He deserved to have everything that his brothers had with their wives.
Standing up, Brad ran his fingers through his hair calling himself a million kinds of stupid. Instead of leaving her, he should be back there kissing her senseless, but he knew that Alicia had been crushed by Max and he didn’t want to push her. He was madly in love with her and pushing her towards a rushed relationship isn’t what he wanted to do…not with Alicia.
“I’m leaving because you aren’t ready for us to make love yet. I won’t force you into something that will ruin your memory of tonight.”
Grabbing Alicia by the hand, he pulled her up and against his body. “Don’t get me wrong. I want to strip this beautiful body of yours naked and make love to you until I’m the only thought imprinted in that smart brain of yours, but I’m going to hold off for a little while longer.”
Before Alicia could utter a sound, he recaptured her mouth for a quick hot kiss and then stepped back. Turning on his heel, Brad opened the front door. “Lock this as soon as I leave.” He went out closing it behind him leaving a stunned and sexual frustrated Alicia staring at a closed door.