“Kiss Me”
It's 8 p.m. on a Friday night, and I’m sitting in a sunken black leather booth at 42nd Street Bar opposite the epitome of male hotness, Daniel Winters a.k.a. Sex on the beach.
I met him here because I didn’t want to go through the whole awkward doorway introductions, let alone subject him to Kate’s squealing and intense interrogation. I learned that the hard way a few months ago when Zander called to pick me up on the way to a gig and Kate acted like a horny schoolgirl during spring break. It was both hilarious and mortifying.
The bar’s pretty busy given it’s the end of the working week, but we were able to grab a small corner booth away from the crowd and noise. He returns from the bar, and I crack up laughing when he places my drink in front of me. Of course, he ordered me a Sex on the Beach. I’m starting to think he’s one of these people that gets an idea and runs with it. I wonder what other ideas he might have for tonight.
Taking the straw between my two fingers, I swirl it around the drink before slowly lowering my lips to the straw and taking a long sip. I can’t stifle my moan at the delightful taste. It’s like a fruit salad is having a party in my mouth and everyone’s invited.
“Damn, that’s good,” I murmur, looking over at him. He has the slightest smirk on his face.
“Sex on the Beach always is,” he says with a raised brow.
I can’t hold it in. I start giggling like a schoolgirl. He’s done it again; showing me that awesome sense of humor he’s got. If only I could get him to laugh again, then I’d be the happiest girl in the bar.
“Of course you would buy me that, wouldn’t you?”
“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, gorgeous.”
There’s something about the way he calls me gorgeous that lights a match inside me. I blush, but don’t break eye contact with him when I reply with a sassy shake of my head, “I wouldn’t know. Never tried it. There are some places that sand just shouldn’t go.”
“Is that a threat, or a promise?” he asks without missing a beat.
Now that makes my eyes widen. “It’s early days. Let’s see how it’s going after our third date,” I say with a wink, and his caramel eyes sparkle with excitement at that suggestion.
“We’re barely into our first, and you’re already planning our third date? You are an intriguing woman, Makenna Lewis,” he says looking straight at me, paralyzing me with his gaze.
“Well, my mama always told me to be well prepared,” I say with a fake southern drawl.
“That’s good advice. What else did she tell you?” he asks with a grin.
“Don’t talk to strange men on the L,” I retort as I take another sip of the magic, fruity party drink. I don’t know what’s in it, but I like it and the tingles it’s creating in my body are a welcome addition too.
He chuckles. It’s not the same deep belly laugh like on the train that almost made me come on the spot, but it’s endearing nevertheless. “She’s a smart woman, your mother. And what do you think about meeting strange men on the L?” he asks, taking a swig from his bottle of Millers. I can see a glint of amusement in his eyes, even in the dimmed lights of the bar.
“That sometimes it pays to take a chance.”
“I’m all for taking chances. It’s my job.” He points his thumb back at himself, “Stockbroker, remember?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right,” I murmur, taking another quick drink of the fruity wonder in front of me.
“So, are you from Chicago?”
“I’m originally from Louisiana, but my parents moved us all here when I was eight. I went to college in New York, but came back here after graduating and was lucky to get an internship at my firm.”
“Wow, so you’re a southern boy then?” I say with a grin.
“Yes, ma’am, born and bred. How about you?”
“Well, I was born here, and apart from six months I spent in Ohio when I was twenty, I’ve lived here all my life.”
Shit, please don’t ask! Please don’t ask!
“Ohio? Now that’s a bit of a change from city life. But you must like Chicago if you came back?”
“Yeah, I can’t imagine living anywhere else, and I’ve got a good job here now with lots of prospects. So yeah, you can say I like it,” I reply. I can’t seem to wipe the smile off my face when I’m around him.
“Sounds like you’re fairly settled then.”
“Definitely.”
“And nursing. You’ve always wanted to do that?” he asks, placing his arm on the table and leaning into it, giving me an awesome profile of his body.
“I’ve always been one for looking after people. I met my best friend Kate by punching the school bully when we were ten.”
“Wow, so I should watch myself around you then?” he asks with a sly grin.
“Yeah, buddy, or else you’ll be in big trouble,” I say, putting up my fists in a mock Rocky impression gone bad. I try to put on a tough face, but fail miserably when I start giggling.
“Hey now, no need to get violent.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “I could tell you were a tough nut the moment I met you.”
I raise my eyebrow at that. It seems Sex on the Beach thinks he has a talent for reading people.
“And what else could you tell about me?” I’m genuinely interested now, but the cynic in me wonders if this is just a line he uses on women to get them into bed.
“That you’re a beautiful, well-adjusted young woman with the most gorgeous blue eyes I’ve ever seen, and a smile that could bring any man to his knees.” Oh my God. Did he really just say that? Holy crap! It’s like he’s the professor of ‘How To Get a Girl’s Panties to Drop 101” and he’s giving every man a lesson.
I feel my breath quickening and my pupils dilate. Delicious Daniel is on his game and dammit, I want to play, naked, now! Damn Kate and her three-date challenge.
“All of that from one look?” I ask, my voice squeaking and giving away my interest.
“And more…”
I squeeze my legs together, trying to distract myself from the errant thoughts racing through my head right now. Well, two can play at that game. “Really? Are those glasses of yours armed with x-ray vision?” I say, my mind jumping into Mac overdrive. “Holy hell, you’re the real-life Clark Kent, aren’t you?” I lean forward excitedly, bouncing a little in my seat. I make a point of looking around to pretend that no one can hear us.
“Does that mean you’re wearing your spandex Superman suit underneath this hot get up, cause I have this fantasy where Superman does this thing with his…” I whisper to him, causing him to start choking on his mouthful of beer.
“I…. um…… shit, Mac, that’s all kinds of hot right there.”
I love that I got him all flustered. “Oh, shit, I’m sorry, my brain got a bit sidetracked,” I say innocently, adding a wink when he slowly starts to recover his breath and thoughts.
“That thought will be burned onto my brain for a while now, gorgeous, that’s the stuff dreams are made of,” he says huskily. He shakes his head, obviously trying to regain some composure.
“And how old were you when you came back from New York?” I quirk my brow. I’m dying to know how old he is.
“Subtle, Mac, very subtle,” he murmurs, taking another swig of his beer. “I’m twenty-eight, and I’ve been back in Chicago for around four years now.”
“Wow, that’s awesome.” I finish up the last of my drink, blushing when I accidentally slurp in the empty glass. “Oh my God, that’s so embarrassing.”
Daniel, being the ever-present gentleman, chuckles softly and grins at me like I’m the funniest person in the world. “Should I burp to make us equal?” he asks jokingly, totally snapping me out of my embarrassment.
“Ha, ha. Hilarious. You’re a funny guy, you know that?”
“I’m glad you think so. Do you like funny guys?”
“I think I’m starting to,” I say playfully, enjoying the banter we have going on. I’ve always had a thing for men who can go toe to toe with me. “Out of interest, do you always pick up women on the L?”
He flashes me his megawatt smile again, and I melt in front of him. “A gentleman never tells.”
Clean up, aisle three.
Taking a final swig of his beer, he moves out of the booth and stands beside me. Damn! Is he ending the date already?
Holding his hand out to me, he leans down into my personal space, whispering in my ear, “Come with me, Mac. I want to see the lights over the lake with you.” Is this man for real? I’m starting to think that he’s just a delicious figment of my imagination. I mean seriously, who would say no to that? Especially when it’s whispered in your ear.
“Sounds perfect,” I reply, grabbing my purse, trying to get out of the booth as gracefully as possible. I take his outstretched hand and he leads me out of the bar.
Once we’re on the sidewalk, I shiver. It has turned colder in the hour or so we’ve been inside the bar, and of course, I didn’t bring a coat. Daniel must feel it and stops suddenly beside me. I watch in a daze as he shrugs his coat off and holds it open for me. As I put my arms through the coat, he slowly pulls it up and onto my shoulders, gently stroking his fingers over my skin as he does. Wowzers. That move might just be as potent as his laugh.
I look up at him, finding his gaze warm and full of something I can’t quite put my finger on, but I want to find out. “Thanks,” I say shakily, locking my knees to stay upright. I want to throw myself at this man right now, but a) we’ve only just met, b) it’s our first date, and c) we’re standing in the middle of the sidewalk outside a busy city bar.
“You still want to see the lake?” he asks, looking down at me. His eyes drift to my lips. Shit, remember that damn three date rule. Kate would never let me live it down if I failed so easily, even if the only thing on my mind right now is jumping Daniel’s bones.
“Definitely,” I answer with a smile. Anything to stop me thinking about the two of us going straight to bed, sans clothes.
Something feels different about being with Daniel. I can’t explain it, but I know I don’t want the night to end. I want to spend more time with him, get to know him better. It’s not just his eyes and his gorgeous mane of dark brown hair that makes me want to grip it tight while kissing the life out of him. It’s also the way he carries himself and the way he treats me. He’s a true gentleman. I mean, he gave up his coat to me on a first date. I’ve never had a man do that before.
One thing is for sure, I’m going to have to keep some clear boundaries. I don’t do committed relationships and haven’t for the past four years. I like men and I like the physical benefits. I mean, who doesn’t? But Daniel seems to be affecting me way too much, too soon. I already know I’ll need to be careful with him.
“We’re here,” he says softly, knocking me out of my conversation with inner Mac.
I look around the waterfront and gasp at its beauty. I’m unable to tear my eyes away from the shimmering lights cascading across the rippling water of Lake Michigan. “It doesn’t matter how many times I see it, it always takes my breath away.”
“Some could say the same about you, Mac,” he whispers into my ear as he brings his body close behind mine. I sway back against him, turning my head his way.
“Daniel,” I breathe. He leans in and brushes his lips against mine, giving me one swift stroke of his tongue before pulling away. Far too soon for my liking.
“It’s like I dreamed...you taste as sweet as you look,” he murmurs as he moves in again. Without breaking our kiss, I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck. His hands snake around my hips and pull me in close against him.
Our lips caress each other, our tongues meeting in a soft, exploratory embrace. This kiss is soft and romantic, yet there’s an undercurrent that screams hot and heated. All I know is that I never want it to stop.
I glide my hands into the hair that I’ve been waiting to feel ever since I met him. It’s just as soft as I imagined. When he groans low and deep into my mouth, I melt against his body. With each stroke of my tongue, I’m consciously trying to make him lose control, but he soon reads my game plan and gently—slowly—ends the kiss. He touches his lips to my nose and then my forehead before tucking me into his side.
After strolling halfway along the waterfront and back again, I let Daniel walk me to the door of my cozy brownstone apartment. He leaves with a promise to call over the weekend and another gentle kiss full of promises and possibilities.
When I’m snuggled up in my bed after a mandatory debrief with Kate, that’s when my mind wanders, remembering how I felt while we walked around the lakeshore, Daniel’s strong arm wrapped around me, cocooning me against his body.
Is this what I’ve been missing out on? I’ve got hot sex, rough and hard sex, and adventurous spur-of-the-moment sex with my three friends with awesome benefits. But maybe there’s something to be said for comfort sex; cuddling, spooning, and soft never-ending kisses. Then there’s the seduction, the romance, and the prospect of long, lazy mornings spent in bed together. These are all the things that Daniel Winters seems to represent.
I need a delicious, comfort cuddler with Superman capabilities.
I need a Daniel in my life.
I just don’t know if he can handle all that I have to give.