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Dinner was everything she could’ve ever hoped for. When they arrived at the restaurant, she was worried because of how long the lines were, but when David took her hand and went straight to the hostess stand, she couldn’t believe it.
“Reservation for two. David Clarke.” The hostess gave him an alluring once-over before grabbing two menus and taking them to their table.
“Is there anything I can get for you before your waitress comes?” she asked suggestively. Carrie was pleased when David barely spared her a glance before shaking his head and turning his attention back to her.
The hostess waited a few more seconds like she expected David to change his mind about her offer. When he didn’t say anything else, she huffed softly before leaving them alone.
“What?” David asked when Carrie just lifted one eyebrow in disbelief.
“I didn’t think that actually happened in real life,” she explained.
“What are you talking about?” He seemed genuinely confused about where she was going.
She narrowed her eyes. She couldn’t believe that he hadn’t noticed a good-looking blonde looking at him and pretty much offering herself up as the entree.
“You seriously didn’t notice that girl hitting on you?”
“Oh, that.”
“Yes, that. Did you not notice her?”
She was pleased that he hadn’t, don’t get her wrong, but she felt like it was too good to be true. She had to remind herself that this was David; he wouldn’t lie to her about something like this.
“I did,” he answered. “But playing hockey for the university meant that a lot of women tended to throw themselves towards me, so I guess I’ve become somewhat immune to that kind of attention.”
“I guess that makes sense,” she told him with a smile to let him know that she wasn’t at all mad at the brief mention of his past. He was here with her now, and that was all that mattered to her.
“Did you expect me to hit on her or something?” The joking glint fell out of his eye as realization hit him. “Did someone do that to you? Do I need to go kick someone’s ass?” She could tell by the threatening look that came over his expression that if she did give him a name and told him she was fine with him doing just that, he would be gone. He would be out hunting.
“I haven’t been on many dates before. It’s kind of difficult with John as my older brother. Most people take one look at him and run in the other direction. However, there was one guy that I was hanging out with at a party my senior year who would check out women right in front of me.” She wrinkled her nose as she recalled that particular humiliation. “It didn’t hurt too bad, though. It wasn’t, like, I was in love with him or anything.”
“What’s his name?” he all but growled.
There were some women that hated the possessive streak, but she had to say that this side of David gave her goosebumps and sent a rush of pleasure down her spine.
“He doesn’t matter. He never did.”
“Damn right,” he told her just as their waitress came up to their table. Carrie expected her to have the same attitude as the hostess had, but she didn’t even spare David a second glance before asking them what they wanted.
They placed their orders and were soon left alone again. Carrie appreciated the waitress’ brisk behavior.
“Is work getting better?” she asked him.
He nodded. “Much, but I know I’m not cut out to be a divorce lawyer. When I get into law school, I’ll look into adoption classes like you said. I think that would be the best fit for me. Somewhere I can actually do some good in the world.”
“Really?” she asked him.
“Really.”
She was pleased to know that her opinion and thoughts meant that much to him. He’d remembered what she said and took it to heart. Other than Asher, Lex, and her brother, there weren’t many people that she could trust one hundred percent who would ask for her advice and mean it.
They talked about each other’s childhoods for the rest of dinner. She learned things she’d never known about how it was growing up with his older sister and memories of vacations they’d taken when they were children with the whole family.
She told him about some of her best memories with her own family before her parents were taken from her far too early. They used to go to a cabin near the mountains every Christmas. John tried taking her once after they passed, but it just never felt the same. They’d never gone back since. She didn’t want to linger on those thoughts for too long, though. They were always able to put her in a depressed state of mind for hours.
Instead, she lingered on the great memories. Of waking up over the weekends to her mom cooking them pancakes and waffles. Of filling their stomachs with great food every Thanksgiving. Of how her dad would take her out to a special lunch every first day of school up until her senior year—her first without her father. It was really nice to be able to talk about her parents to someone, to open up about some of the pain and grief that still felt like it was going to suffocate her.
She was saddened when the waitress left them with the bill. She didn’t want this night to end.
He must’ve been thinking the same thing.
“Can I take you somewhere else?” he asked when they were heading towards his truck.
“Sure. Where are you thinking?”
“It’s a surprise.”
She rolled her eyes playfully, but, with his assistance, hopped into his truck. Once he got in and started the engine, he pulled out of the parking lot and drove out towards the edge of town.
“Are you planning on taking me somewhere secluded to kill me?” She laughed.
He wiggled his eyebrows playfully. “You got me.”
She enjoyed watching the scenery pass them by as they drove up a winding road that she wasn’t familiar with. When they got to a dead end, he pulled the truck around before backing into a spot. He helped her out before unlatching the tailgate and, once again, helping her step up into it.
“I’m sorry I don’t have a blanket or anything; I didn’t think about this when I planned the date.”
She sat against the edge of the truck and gave him a wide smile.
“It’s perfect. Are you going to be joining me?” she asked him. He was just standing on top of the tailgate as if he was nervous about getting any closer to her.
He gave her a winning smile before sitting next to her. “So what do you think?” He gestured in front of them, and that’s when she noticed the view.
The hill they were on had an amazing view of the city at their feet. She could almost pick out the university from their vantage point. With how late it was, the city lights showed like fireflies in the distance. The cars that were driving around sent flashes of white and red lights. From where they were sitting, the sounds of their city were faint. It felt like they were the only two people left on earth.
“It’s beautiful,” she said reverently. “How’d you find this place?” She was fine with his past, but there was something about this area that felt special. She would’ve been heartbroken if he’d said that he’d brought other women out.
“Sometime during my freshman year, I couldn’t sleep, so I drove and drove. Somehow, I ended up here.” He took a deep breath. “Now I come whenever I need a moment to clear my head.”
“Have you...” She couldn’t seem to get the question out. She didn’t want to seem like an unreasonably jealous girlfriend, but he seemed to read her mind anyways.
“You’re the only person I’ve brought out here.”
Her heart soared at those words.
“Well, you sure know how to impress a woman.” She felt like she was floating. There was a chance she wouldn’t be touching the ground any time soon.
“For you... I’d do anything.”
She sighed dreamily. “God, David. When you say things like that... it makes me feel like I’ve known you intimately my entire life. We’re not even dating, but it still feels like you know me better than anyone.”
“I feel the same way about you. There are things you know that I’ve never even told John.”
“I’m honored that you trusted me enough to tell me those things.”
They were quiet for a few more moments before he started to chuckle next to her.
“What’s so funny?” she asked with a smile.
“It just sounds so juvenile,” he told her. When she waited patiently for him to continue, he gave her a bright smile that could light the city below their feet for months. “I don’t want this night to end. I want to see you during the week, and next weekend, I want to take you out again. I know that this isn’t going to go away and it feels really sudden, but I’ve just got to know... will you be my girlfriend?”
She felt her heart skip a beat. She’d been waiting for so long for this question. She’d imagined it a million different ways, but there was something about this moment with him that made it perfect. Better than she could’ve imagined.
“Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend.” She was damn right cheery as she said those words that she’d never thought she would ever say.
He brought his hands up to her hair and pulled her face closer to his so he could claim her lips in a breathless kiss. It didn’t go farther than that, but that wasn’t without trying on her part. He broke away laughing when she tried, for the second time, to unbutton his shirt.
“I’m trying to be a gentleman here, Carrie, and you’re making it extremely difficult.”
She grinned into the night as she leaned forward and nipped at his neck. “What if I don’t want you to be a gentleman?”
He groaned as she felt his willpower fade away. “Fucking hell, sweetheart. I should be calling you my little minx because I don’t think there’s anything sweet about you, is there?”
She just shook her head as her lips kept trailing up and down his neck. When she heard him gasp, she felt a strange feeling of pride flare inside her chest, knowing that it was her who was making him feel like that.
“You make me want to be anything but sweet,” she told him deviously.
His hand moved from her hair and drew a path over her chest till he got to the bottom of her dress.
He paused before giving her one more warning. “If you don’t stop, we’re not going to make it farther than right here, minx,” he growled the last word out.
Stopping was the last thing she wanted to do. She trailed her hand down, not stopping until she was directly over his bulging crotch. Not even a full second after she put pressure on him, he hauled her body over his so she was straddling him.
“God, you make me crazy, my little minx. I’m not sure if you deserve my cock. What do you think?”
She gasped as she leaned forward to take his mouth with hers. She could come with just his words alone. A sharp sting on her backside made her gasp as she pulled a few inches away from his lips.
“Answer me,” he demanded.
It took her a few moments to remember what his question was.
“I want you, David. All of you,” she panted.
“What do you want, minx?”
She couldn’t imagine feeling content enough with anyone else to confide in them some of her darkest desires. With David, however, it was easy.
“I want you to fuck me.”
At her words, she felt his chest rumble with another growl. He didn’t hesitate any longer. He pulled her dress off her, but before she could feel the cold breeze on her exposed breasts, he was feasting on them. She had a hand in his hair as she rolled and moaned in his lap.
As he was lavishing all of this attention on her nipples, his hand found its way inside her red lace panties. He got even harder when he felt how wet she was for him. She could tell that he was too excited because instead of waiting the few seconds it would’ve taken her to slip her underwear off, he ripped through them with just his fingers.
Fuck, that was hot.
“My little minx is all ready for my cock, hm?” Before she could answer his question, his lips left her breasts and kissed a hot path up to her neck where he bit down on the junction between her shoulder and her neck.
She gasped his name as he thrust two fingers inside her. She was loud as she shouted profanities out into the night air, but she couldn’t care less about the possibility of someone catching them in the act. Only a swift act of God could get in between the two of them right now.
She couldn’t stand it any longer. She tore his shirt over his head and helped him divulge his pants, but before she could throw them too far, he reached into his pocket for his wallet. He pulled out a condom and gave her a devious smile.
“Always be prepared,” he told her before sliding the latex over his hard shaft. He guided her over himself and, before sliding inside her, he made sure they were looking into each other’s eyes. It just made the whole experience that much more emotional for Carrie.
No words were said as he thrust to the hilt inside of her. They were as close as two people could be, but she still wanted him closer. Their lips crashed against each other, tongues battling and teeth clashing. It wasn’t a sweet kiss by far, but it was exactly what she needed and what the moment called for.
It took only a minute for her climax to start winding up inside her. He must’ve sensed it because the moment she tensed up, he brought his hand down to right above where they were connected and flicked her sensitive clit. It was just what she needed, she thought as fireworks went off inside her. She went limp over him, but he didn’t seem to mind as he placed his hands on her hips and controlled her body like he owned it. He moved her up and down and all around his cock until he stiffened with his own release.
They were both breathless by the time she came to.
“Holy shit,” she whispered. Talk about an out-of-body experience. Suddenly, she wanted to send a thank you note to every woman that came before her. They all taught him something, and she was pretty sure she was now ruined for any other man.
He just laughed at her words.
She sobered up as a thought hit her. “Is it always like this?” She knew that no experience with a man before him had even come close, but was it the same for him?
He shook his head. “No one has even come close to how you make me feel.”
~~~
THE SMART THING WOULD’VE been to have him drop her off at her dorm before she could grow any more attached to him, but she was quickly learning that with him, she seldom did the smart thing.
“Do you want to stay over tonight?” he asked her as they were driving back towards the city half an hour later.
“I don’t have anything to wear.” She gestured to her tight dress that wasn’t really suitable for sleeping.
“You can wear something of mine,” he offered with a soft smile, so at odds with the side of him she’d been with just thirty minutes earlier. She loved it.
The thought of wearing his clothing again made her feel hot. She remembered how he’d given her his clothing to wear when she’d stayed the night after that disastrous party; she’d love to replace that memory with a better one.
“I’ll stay over.”
He grinned at her like he’d just won the lottery, which was a fitting description for them except it was the other way around. She was the lucky one in this new relationship. She had no idea what she’d done in a former life to be granted this chance with David, but she wasn’t going to turn it down.
Never.
While they were driving, Carrie took out her phone to send a message to Lex to let her know she wouldn’t be coming back to the dorm tonight and then shut her phone off before she could text her back. She could deal with that tomorrow. Tonight she wanted all of her focus to be on David.
When they got to his place, he let her borrow a toothbrush and gave her a shirt of his to wear. As she slipped it over her head, she was pleased to note that it smelled just like him—that distinct smell that was all David.
When she walked into the bedroom after wiping her makeup off in the bathroom, she felt her insides quiver at the look of him shirtless laying on his bed. He wasn’t even trying to be attractive, but he was seriously sex personified. There was no way that she would be able to last the night with keeping her hands to herself.