Chapter Fifteen

 

<><> Chris <><>

 

I’m doing everything in my power to calm the fuck down, but it’s no use. Miriam smells and tastes too good to be true. She kisses like an expert, though I know she’s not nearly as experienced as the other girls I’ve been with. Still, this feels so right.

I pull back a little and control my urges. This is new territory for me, this holding back thing, and it’s really difficult, not to mention painful. All I want to do is go all the way, but I know Miriam isn’t like that. I know she has standards and I respect that. I need someone to pull in the reins for me, and yet she seems really into this. How do I show her that I want to take things slow?

“Miriam, I…” I mumble, but her lips are back on mine and her tongue is in my mouth. “Wait,” I say, facing her.

“Sorry,” she says, breathing heavy. “Is something wrong?”

Man, this is the ultimate test in my willpower. “No, no, you don’t get it. I want you so badly I’m going insane. It’s just that I want this to mean something to you.”

She kisses me again, deep, and then kisses over to my ear. She sucks my earlobe and I swear I groan out loud. The rain pours down and this is so damn hot.

“You have no idea how much this means to me, Chris,” she whispers. “But you’re right, I’m scared.”

I hug her tight, wanting to get as close as possible because she’s so amazing. Running her hand through my hair, she brings her mouth back to mine and we make-out, pressing our bodies against the jagged stone wall like our lives depend on it. Her chest is smashed against mine, her proximity turning me on. I’m not used to kissing such a tall girl and it’s great not to have to hunch myself over just to reach her. Miriam and I just seem to fit.

As if we both sense the need to slow things down, our kisses turn into soft ones and we open our eyes as we kiss each other, laughing and smiling and loving every minute together. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you since the day we met,” I say.

“You mean when you thought I was Jacinta?” Miriam smiles this flirty little smile.

“I didn’t care what your name was, I just knew I had to meet you…and that I had to kiss you.”

“Well, you got your wish. And I got mine.”

Although it’s painful, I know stopping is the best thing for us because in a few minutes, stopping wouldn’t be an option. The wall of the bridge would be as good a place as any to me. I get the feeling Miriam’s thinking the same thing as she casually walks toward the bridge opening, stretching her arms up and almost touching the stone arched ceiling. I fight back the impulse to grab her and pull her back into my arms, to stay under this bridge for longer. As she walks ahead of me, I notice her long dark hair curl naturally at the ends in the humidity. Her hair is a great feature. As her head turns slightly, I catch a glimpse of her pretty profile and it sets my body racing. What is it about this girl that’s giving me heart palpitations? She’s such a natural beauty. Stopping at the opening, with the rain still coming down in sheets ahead of her, she turns and holds out a hand and smiles. “Lets run for it.”

I grab her hand and run, pulling her along with me into the pouring rain. We run as fast as our legs will take us, screaming and laughing and trying our best to avoid getting wet. By the time we reach the Bronco, we’re soaked right through to our skin and there’s no point in finding shelter anymore, so I stop and pull her into me, kissing her deep as the rain trickles down our hair and faces. It’s wet and hot and totally sexy, but innocent too. I’ll never forget this. She grabs onto my soaked tee shirt, running her hands along my stomach. Her touch is like fire, all warm and intense. Again, I’m tempted to take things further, but I hold back and really enjoy this moment.

I open the door for her and she jumps in, her light laughter instantly stopping when I shut the door and sprint around to the driver’s side. As I get in, she leans over and kisses me slowly, deliberately, and holds my stare all serious. “Thank you. I needed that,” she says.

“I did too. You have no idea how much.”

I start the engine and pull away from the curb, knowing Miriam and I have entered another level of intimacy and it’s so exciting, yet at the same time I’m paranoid that I’m going to do something dumb to screw this up. I’m charged with nerves and anxiety over it. I take a few slow breaths, willing down the oncoming panic attack that I’m sure is coming. I can’t lose this girl. I’m in too deep now. That sure was some icebreaker to smash the sexual tension. The problem is, now I want her more than ever.