The sound of feet pounding up the steps filters into my brain and I pull my mouth from Olivia just as a group of people round the lower floor landing to walk up our way.

I don’t release my hold on her, though, but rather pull her in closer as we step away from the door, letting the people pass. Olivia’s chest is mashed up against me and its quick rise and fall lets me know that she is as turned on as I am by that second but more nuclear kiss.

As the people walk by I hear one whisper, “Holy shit…that’s Garrett Samuelson.”

Olivia lowers her forehead to rest against my chest, giving a slight giggle, and I quickly kiss her on the top of the head.

“Come on,” I murmur with my lips against her soft hair. “Let’s get you home.”

She nods and pulls back from me, dropping her hand to link again with mine. She gives me a tremulous smile, and I know the one I give her in answer is full of uncertainty.

Because really…where in the fuck do I go from here?

—
I pull up in front of Olivia’s apartment and turn the car off. The silence is deafening compared to the running banter that had been going on as we drove from Raleigh back to Chapel Hill. Easy, light talk because there was no way we were going to talk about that kiss. The nervous tension between us is palpable.

I learned a little bit more about Olivia’s mom, Maryana, and she sounds like a true piece of work. Olivia said her mother is idealistic and lives in la-la land half the time, but is the best mom in the world. Her voice was wistful when she talked about her and a little sad…and I assume it’s because she misses her.

She asked me about my family as well, and it’s no hardship talking about them, because I miss them a lot too. I was born and raised in a small town just outside of Minneapolis. My parents, Randy and Jessica Samuelson, embody everything about the Midwest. Friendly, open, and big on traditional family values. We sat down to an amazing family dinner every night because my stay-at-home mom was an amazing cook and could stretch our food dollars. Dad would tell us all about his day at work at a plant that manufactured small car parts, and my siblings and I would talk about our day at school. We didn’t have a lot, but it never seemed to matter.

“We’re here,” I say hesitantly with my hand on the door handle, completely unsure of where we stand.

“We’re here,” she agrees quietly.

I get out of the car and walk to her side to open the door. She sticks a long, bare leg out and I swallow hard. Images of me dragging my tongue up her smooth skin assault me and I shake my head. Offering her my hand, she takes it and steps out. I close the door and we walk up the stairs to her apartment.

She releases her hold on me briefly to reach into her purse for her key. Once she unlocks the door and pushes it open, she turns to me and asks, “Want to come in for a cup of coffee or something?”

To my surprise, I say, “I probably should go. I have that early prac—”

Olivia launches herself at me, both of her hands coming to my face. She rises on her tiptoes at the same time she pulls me down toward her. Her lips meet mine in a fiery clash, and my own hands come up to frame her face.

The kiss is like lightning, lighting me up from within, and my entire body goes tight with need for this woman. I push her backward, walking her into her apartment, our hands only gripping onto each other more desperately. When we clear the door frame, I kick the door shut with my foot and spin her around, pushing her back into the door. Back to where our first kiss started.

Pulling my mouth away from hers, I tilt my head and skim my lips across her jaw and then down to her neck. She shudders, and I groan at her response.

So fucking hot.

Releasing her face, I take her hands in mine and raise them above her head, pinning them against the door with one hand. I move back to her mouth and kiss her again deeply while I press my body into hers, pushing her all the way back against the door. Olivia tilts her pelvis, melding it against me, and my cock spasms in appreciation over the touch.

She’s so soft…so responsive, and my blood roars through my body in desperate need to have more. I can’t ever remember wanting something as much as I want her underneath me…writhing, squirming…begging. It’s like every other desire or want in my life fades away, and all I see and feel is her here before me. So willing right this very minute…so ripe for the taking. Then it will be done…finished. She’ll be forgotten like the rest.

That thought causes a viselike pain to pulse in my chest, and I rip myself back from her. Her arms slide down the door as she watches me with fevered eyes and swollen lips, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, her voice low and raspy.

My eyes quickly rake down her body…so fucking beautiful and so fucking ready for me right now. The tight buds of her nipples poking hard through her T-shirt, just as my erection hammers at my zipper to get free.

Scrubbing my hand through my hair, it pains me to say, “Maybe we should wait. You know…until like the third or fourth date. Or even the second,” I finish off lamely.

“Wait?” she asks quietly. “But I thought you…”

Her words trail off and her gaze drops to the floor in confusion.

I step back up to her, and with a finger under her chin, I raise her eyes back to me. “Thought I wanted to fuck you? I do, Olivia…more than anything. But you were also clear yesterday…no sex. I just don’t want you to do something you’ll regret.”