I Choose You (12 page)

             
Kent slowly smiled at her and admitted, “I missed you too.”

             
Nicole beamed at that and said, “Good.”

             
Kent chuckled at her, then looked up at the sound of his sister calling his name.

             
Roni was waving at them from her booth, so they walked over to join her.

             
“Sheesh, I was beginning to wonder if you guys were going to stand over there and make out all night, or if you were going to join me for dinner.” Roni gestured at the food that was waiting at the table, but she smiled to soften her words, as she jumped out of the booth and grabbed Nicole in a hug.

             
“Welcome back. Was it great? Are they happy? Do they have a great place?” Roni shot the questions out, causing Nicole to laugh as she sat down next to Kent in the booth.

             
Nicole put her hand on Kent’s leg and squeezed before leaving it there to rest. She was acutely aware of the heat generating from them as she answered Roni.

             
“Yes, it was great. They are totally happy, and their apartment is awesome. They have a gym and a pool and it’s just a walk away from all of the restaurants and bars downtown. You will definitely have to come next time.”

             
“Definitely,” Roni agreed. “Here have half of mine; you know I’ll never be able to eat it all.”

             
“Okay, thanks,” Nicole said as Roni began splitting her BLT and fries.

             
“So, did anything fun happen while I was gone?” Nicole asked as she picked up her sandwich.

             
Roni grinned and winked at her brother. “Kent had poker night.”

             
“Oh,” Nicole began as she noticed the dirty look that Kent shot Roni. “Did something happen there?”

             
Kent looked at her and shook his head, before shooting another dirty look at Roni, who just giggled.

             
“No, it was no big deal, just poker night.”

             
Nicole decided to let it go for now.

             
Kent took a bite of his burger, and when Nicole reached a finger up to brush a bit of mustard from the corner of his mouth, he turned his intense gaze on her.

             
She smiled saucily up at him and touched her finger to her lips, letting her tongue dart out to lick the mustard off of her finger.

             
He cleared his throat, his eyes never leaving her mouth, and she felt heat run through her, making her wonder who she was trying to drive crazy him, or herself?

             
“Hello???” Roni said loudly. “Sister slash roommate is still right here in the booth with you, trying to eat her dinner. I’d hate to see you two after a week apart.”

             
Nicole flushed with embarrassment, but Kent just grinned at Roni.

             
“Don’t be jealous, Roni.” He teased. “Rich will be home before you know it.”

             
Roni rolled her eyes and said, “Please. Rich is the last guy I’d be interested in.”

             
Nicole smiled as the twins bantered back and forth. She finished her food and placed her hand on her stomach to try and calm the nerves there.

             
She took a deep breath and smiled up at Kent through her eyelashes. “You have any plans for the rest of the night?”

             
He looked over at her, a wary expression on his face. “No, why?”

             
She picked her hand up and ran it through her hair, watching him as he tracked her progress. “Well, I haven’t seen your place yet,” She began. “I was hoping to get an invitation.”

             
“You mean just the two of us?” Kent asked, glancing at Roni, who just shook her head at him.

             
“Of course just the two of you, you Dolt,” Roni said in exasperation. “I’m not tagging along to watch the two of you paw at each other.”

             
Nicole couldn’t help but laugh at Kent’s reaction to Roni’s words. It was almost as if he was afraid to be alone with her.

             
She couldn’t help but tease him, “Chicken?”

             
Kent looked down at his plate, then back into Nicole’s eyes. “I can handle it if you can.”

             
Nicole smiled at him, but she couldn’t help but hope that he was right. That they would both be able to handle what she had planned for them that night.

Chapter Fourteen

              They dropped Roni off and took the short trip just outside of town to Kent’s house.

             
It was a nice house, well-maintained, with a well-manicured lawn. Nicole took in the large tree in the front yard, the wrap-around porch, and the wooden Adirondack chairs poised around the porch.

             
She loved his house immediately.

             
It had a comfortable, cozy look, and looked like a wonderful place to just be.

             
Kent seemed nervous as they walked up to the front door, which was uncharacteristic of him. She wasn’t sure if he was nervous to show her his house, or nervous to be alone with her, but Nicole couldn’t help but feel a little pleased at his nerves. She hoped it meant that he didn’t think of her as just any girl.

             
Kent unlocked the door, then stepped back to allow her to enter.

             
Nicole was surprised when she walked in, although she probably shouldn’t have been. Kent took care of himself and was always put together well; she should have realized that he would want his living space to be the same way.

             
She loved the fact that it was neat and clean, even though he’d had no idea she was coming over. She loved the muted tones and the leather furniture. It was definitely a male space, but still had a feeling of comfort.

             
She couldn’t stop the sound of pleasure that escaped her when she walked into the kitchen. She ran her hand along the granite countertop and appreciated the glass front cabinets.

             
“It’s really beautiful, Kent.” Nicole looked at him, then pleasure apparent on her face.

             
He smiled down at her. His hand came up and softly caressed her face. “Would you like a glass of wine?”

             
“Sure,” She said, then turned to check out the rest of his house. “You have great taste.”

             
He walked up to her and handed her a glass of red wine, then gestured to the couch.

             
“Would you like to sit down?”

             
Nicole nodded and sank into the comfortable leather couch. She took a sip of wine, then set it on the coaster on the end table.

             
Kent sat next to her, careful to keep a bit of distance between them.

             
Nicole scooted closer and reached over to place her hand on his thigh.

             
Kent flinched slightly at her touch.

             
“What’s going on?” Nicole couldn’t keep the question to herself any longer. The mixed signals were driving her crazy.

             
Kent looked at her, a small frown on his face. “What do you mean?”

             
“You haven’t kissed me since I told you that I was a virgin. You’ve barely touched me at all. Have you changed your mind about wanting to see me?”

             
Kent placed one hand over hers and used the other to tilt her head up towards him, so he could look directly in her eyes.

             
“No, I haven’t changed my mind, Nic. I really like you.”

             
“Then what is it? Why won’t you kiss me?”

             
“This is going to sound crazy,” Kent began, running his hand through his hair as he tried to gather his words. “I’m afraid to touch you.”

             
“What?” Nicole asked bewildered. “Why?”

             
“I haven’t had to worry about controlling myself since I was fifteen, Nic. I want to touch you, and kiss you, God knows I do, but I’m afraid I’ll push you further than you want me to.”

             
Nicole turned her whole body towards him and placed a hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at her.

             
“I trust you, Kent.”

             
“I don’t know if I can trust myself.” He responded truthfully. “I want you, Nic. More than I’ve ever wanted anyone.”

             
Hot flames licked through her body at his words.

             
“I want you too, Kent,” Nicole said honestly. “We can still satisfy each other, even though we can’t have sex.”

             
His eyes darkened as they traveled over her face, then lower, then back up again. He shook his head, contradicting the expression on his face. “I can’t… I can’t touch you. I’m afraid I’ll lose control.”

             
Nicole felt empowered like never before. She stood up and put her hand out, willing him to take it. To put some faith in both of them and go with her.

             
Kent looked at her hand, then back at her face, pondering his decision before finally reaching out and allowing her to guide him off of the couch and towards his bedroom.

             
She led him to the bed and motioned for him to sit.

             
“You don’t have to touch me,” Nicole said huskily, her adrenaline fueling her with the confidence that she needed. “I’ll take care of everything.”

             
She pushed at him slightly, so he would sit further back on the bed. When he was settled up against the headboard, not saying anything, but following her with his stormy eyes, she put her hands at the hem of her shirt and lifted it slowly over her head.

             
She heard his intake of breath at the site of her pale pink bra, barely containing her breasts underneath.

             
Her confidence began to build with each passing second, so she placed her hands on the button of her jeans, watching Kent’s reaction as she slowly allowed them to slide down her legs.

             
She crawled up onto the bed next to him, careful not to touch him… Not yet. He warily watched her approach, and started to say something when she put a finger to his lips and said, “Shhh. Stop worrying.”

             
Then she placed her lips to his and allowed herself to do everything she had been dreaming about since she first laid eyes on him.

             
She started softly, her lips barely brushing his, reveling in the pressure that was slowly building within her. She peppered kisses along his lips and the corners of his mouth, before outlining his lips with her tongue.

             
His mouth opened as his breath caught, and she took the opportunity to kiss him fully. Her eyes opened to see his watching her, and a wicked smile played on her lips as she nipped at him slightly and took his full bottom lip into her mouth and sucked.

             
Kent groaned slightly, but made no move to touch her or try to gain control of the situation.

             
Nicole moved her mouth from his lips to his jaw and rained kisses along his jawline, then down his throat.

             
The soft humming sound that Kent was making in the back of his throat triggered something in her, and the teasing turned to hunger.

             
She took his mouth again and kissed him with a fierceness that threatened to break her own control. Her hands began to roam under his shirt, each feel of his muscular body fueled her frenzy and she reached down, eager to get his shirt off.

             
He sat up a bit, so she could get the shirt over again, then fell back against the headboard roughly, his breath coming out in gasps, as his hands clenched the blanket beneath them.

             
Nicole felt the blush begin to rise as she thought about what she was going to do next.

             
Nicole reached back and unclasped her bra, then slowly pealed it from her body. She looked down briefly, self-consciously, but when she looked up, Kent nodded his encouragement.