More Than I Wanted(9)

I had a horrible habit of moving way too fast or way too slow, and was still trying to find that middle ground. I feared I’d jump in with both feet in this case and scare him away.

Heather coaxed me through some of my clothing choices over the phone. I finally settled on a pair of gray slacks with a black short sleeve sweater. I added a thin belt to emphasize my waist. The v-neck in the sweater showed off my other assets, while the slacks tapered the extra weight I carried in my ass.

When Austin showed up, I took a deep breath before answering. Standing in the hallway, I waited an extra minute so I didn’t come off too anxious. Finally opening the door, I smiled at the man before me.

He made casual look so damn good. Dressed in jeans and a gray t-shirt that clung perfectly to his body, I swooned quietly in my head. Those lips, those eyes… and dear goodness, those shoulders, he was sexy.

We exchanged the usual pleasantries. He told me I looked great and gave me a small kiss. I followed him out to his car and couldn’t stop grinning. It was almost embarrassing how big my smile was – my cheeks were all ready sore.

Getting in his car, I took note of tiny details. He’s not a neat freak, check, but not a total slob in his car. The music on was a classic rock mix, nothing too heavy, nothing too light. I felt comfortable with his driving, but wondered if he was keeping it in check because I was here. Did he normally drive fast and aggressive, or was he always this laid back?

I looked over at Austin and took in his profile. His nose was a straight line, angled perfectly. He was newly shaven, and his cheeks were free of stubble or even five o’clock shadow. I guessed he came in just under six feet tall, but not by much.

We made small talk until we got to the pub. Walking in was quite the experience. People came over to see him, shook his hand, caught up, and welcomed their friend home. He’d been a regular here, but hadn’t been back since he returned from his tour of duty.

Apologizing for the stream of interruptions, I told him nonsense, it was nice to see people appreciated him. I loved watching the interactions, and the genuine pleasure in his face and voice seeing old friends. A few beers were sent over, and when things calmed down I smiled.

“You’re quite the social butterfly,” I said.

“It’s been awhile. I come here time to time, but I’ve been gone.”

“Right,” I nodded. I asked a few more questions about his time away, and hoped I didn’t over step boundaries.

Austin was pretty open about some things, but he said there are other things you just keep inside and don’t talk about, or you talk to another soldier who’s been through it. It’s hard to relate to some of the stuff and lifestyle you’re living, and then come back and reintegrate into civilian life again.

He asked me about my running, and I over shared way too many details. I’m surprised his eyes didn’t glaze over. I really enjoyed talking with him, and hoped he felt the same way. I was fanning lustful flames inside, but had no clue where he was at there. He held his cards close, and wasn’t giving that away.

He had this sexy smile, and every time he’d grin, my heart beat a little faster. It was embarrassing how gooey I was feeling over him. I’ve had boyfriends in the past, but this was different. I was drawn to him, so absolutely smitten, that I was a little surprised how little control I had over it.

The tavern owner picked up our tab and shook Austin’s hand, exchanging a few words about his own old service days. It certainly wasn’t a romantic meal with so many people stopping by, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure if he was looking for a buddy or a girlfriend at this point. I just couldn’t read him. One minute he seemed warm and engaged, while the next he was in his own space.

As we got into his car, my mind went into overdrive. Should I invite him in; will it give him the wrong idea? Okay, so what if I want to give him that idea? Will he think I’m too forward? Maybe I should wait. Should I just give him a kiss and go in alone? Oh, who am I kidding, I want him to come in at least for a little while. My brain was racing, trying to figure out what I should do. Maybe I just let him take the lead and decide. I wonder if these kinds of thoughts are going through his mind.

After driving back to my house, we settled in the driveway. I invited him in, and Austin took me up on the offer, following me inside. It was when the door closed that I realized he was interested – at least for now. His hands were large and masculine, and all ready caressing my shoulder from behind as we walked through to the living room. His touch felt so nice, and I wondered where it would lead. I knew what I hoped for.

I turned to face Austin, and he scooped me in his arms thanking me for my company tonight. I looked into his eyes and got lost as he bent his head to kiss me. His lips were slightly parted, and as I tilted my head I sighed a little before kissing him. Our tongues grew more heated, our bodies pressed together, and feeling his arms wrapped around me I ached for more. His kiss left me breathless and wanting more; I think I could have stood there kissing him all night. There was something magical going on, some kind of wild chemistry, and I was in lust!