A smiled played at the corners of his mouth. "Butterflies-"
"We spoke about that one today," I interrupted, "so it doesn't count."
He clicked his jaw, and my God, it was sexy.
"Needles. They hurt and they draw blood."
"Why's that scary?"
"Because they draw blood, like vampires, leeches, and mosquitos."
"You think mosquitos are scary?"
"No. Just needles."
He waited, all smug-like, and I wanted to slap him with my breasts, which were currently targets for his sight. "You want my bra next, don't you?"
Elliot nodded. Slow. His eyes still fixed to my chest. I smiled and leisurely unclipped the red satin.
Cool air instantly teased my nipples, so I covered them and gave them a gentle squeeze. "It's cold in here."
"I can see that." He twirled some noodles, ready to eat. "You should keep doing that," he said, nodding toward my hands. "Keep them warm."
I watched him eat, my eyes zeroing in on his lips as they wrapped around his fork. "I bet your lips could keep them warm as well."
He choked while swallowing his mouthful. "They could."
Letting go of one nipple, I teased my finger across my bottom lip before dipping it to the button of my jeans. "I think I know why you're scared of storms," I said, standing and unfastening the zip. "Same reason I am." I shimmied them down my legs and removed them completely, dragging down my socks with my thumbs as well. "My guess is that water is, again, for the same reason?"
Elliot nodded, pushed his chair back and slowly made his way to my side of the table, his enlarged pupils dominating the blue of his eyes. I sucked in a breath, my breasts rising to meet his hard body as it pressed against mine, his hands settling on my hips and hooking the seam of my underwear.
"Cat?" I asked, my whisper desperate for an answer.
He smirked and glanced down. "Yes, please."
I lifted his chin with the tip of my finger. "Why. Are. You. Scared. Of. Cats?"
"I'm not. I just said that because you had a lot of layers of clothing on."
Before I could whack him, he lifted me up onto the kitchen table. I gasped, blood pumping through my body like a speeding train.
"Elliot, your noodles."
"Fuck the noodles. I eat them every few days."
My eyes widened, and I pouted, the slow dragging of my underwear down my legs as hot as hell. "You do?"
"Yes. Fuck me," he groaned, licking his lips. "Your cat is gorgeous."
I nudged him with my foot and smiled. "Thank goodness you're not scared then."
"Oh, I'm scared." He dropped my underwear on the floor, opened my legs wide, and then slid his hands up my thighs as he moved himself between them.
Elliot hovered over me, his chest rising and falling, his eyes searching mine, their intensity so raw, so honest, that I, too, felt his trepidation. "I've been waiting for this moment for half my life. Trust me, Danielle, I'm scared."
I touched his cheek and brought his lips to mine. "Me too, so let's be scared together."
His tongue dipped into my mouth, softly, then with enough avidity that I was matching his eagerness and clawing at the nape of his neck with my hands. He tasted like home, and Ramen noodle bowl, and I never wanted to taste anything else.
Lifting me slowly once again, this time he slid his arm underneath my legs and carried me to my bedroom, laying me down softly on the bed. I scooted backward and flipped the switch of my lamp, the low glow of the bulb illuminating his skin as he pulled his t-shirt over his head and crawled up my body.
"Kiss me, Lots. Kiss me everywhere."
He smiled and trailed his mouth down my neck, stopping at one nipple and gently suckling it before switching to the other. I moaned and gripped his head, pressing him hard against me, wanting to feel every inch of him. If he was scared, I was terrified. Terrified of not living up to his expectations, and terrified I was about to ruin everything we were. But I was more terrified of stopping him because I wanted this more than I'd ever wanted anyone or anything.
Moaning again when he stretched my nipple with his lips and let go, I gripped his head and pulled him to my mouth, wanting to taste him again. I was so greedy, so wanton, my heels digging into his back as I held him to me.
"Jesus, Danielle," he groaned, our lips, tongues and teeth a wild and delicious mess.
Trailing his hungry mouth down my neck, he sucked and massaged my nipples again before moving further down my body. Each kiss, each touch, sending me soaring to a height I'd never reached before. No other time, no other man, felt like I felt now.