Chapter Four

Brian stared at Janie in the dimly lit nightclub. The blare of the music and loud voices echoed around them. Not that he cared too much about anything else. His entire attention was focused on the gorgeous woman sitting before him.

“Do you go clubbing often?” Jamie asked.

“Actually no.”

“It’s kind of loud here.”

“Yeah, it is. I –.” He was interrupted mid shout when the music finally stopped. Laughing, he continued, “Sorry. I guess it’s hard to talk with all of this.”

“How about a walk down by the river?”

“I’d love that. Let me just take care of the tab.”

“Okay, I’m going to run to the restroom and I’ll meet you by the door.”

“Sounds good.” He smiled and watched as she walked away, unable to keep his eyes off of her.

Minutes later they were down by the riverfront, walking along the cobblestone pathway which led to the marina and city park. They’d stopped by a local vendor and picked up a cup of hot cocoa before sitting on a bench which overlooked the city.

She sat to his right, her adorable smile staying put while she told him stories from her work that week. The words that she was saying he couldn’t be sure. He was just mesmerized by the sight of her. It was no secret that she was beautiful, but the more time he spent with her, the harder it was to concentrate on anything more than just taking her in.

Every gesture.

Every curve.

Every single inch of her.

“Hello” Jamie waved her hands in front of his face, giggling.

Jesus, man! Pull yourself together, Brian. What the hell is wrong with you?

“I’m sorry. I just…”

“What?”

“I really like you. And you’re so beautiful.”

“Beautiful? Me?” Jamie blushed.

And there it was another reason to like her that much more. She wasn’t vain or conceited like most of the women he’d dated in the past. She had a sort of innocence about her.

“Just because you may not see it, doesn’t mean that I don’t.”

They finished their cocoa resuming their stroll along the pathway. They were headed back to toward the direction they started from. Not quite hand in hand yet, they walked closer, side by side as Brian enjoyed the conversation and getting to know her.

Just as they were within sight of Brian’s car it began to rain. The droplets came down gentle at first but, by the time they made it to the parking lot, they were running against the onslaught of a downpour which could rival a monsoon.

Jamie got to the door and waited while Brian quickly unlocked her door and ushered her in. Running around to the driver’s side he slid in behind the wheel.

Completely soaked, they began laughing, each of them looking down at their clothes and then to one another before their amusement intensified.

Twenty minutes later, and still soaked, Brian pulled up to Jamie’s apartment.

“Do you mind if I walk you upstairs?”

She smiled sweetly. “I’d like that very much.”

They each exited the vehicle, running up the stairs to the third floor of her building, their clothing getting more soaked with every step.

Seconds later they were finally inside. Drenched and laughing but, finally out of the rain.

Jamie was nearly crying as she hunched over, holding her stomach as her laughter continued.

He had no idea what was so funny, or why either of them found it so hilarious. He was just caught up in the moment with her.

A power greater than his will took hold of him and he walked across the room, closing the distance between them.

Her wet hair was disheveled with locks of her hair falling all around her face and shoulders. 

Her face glowed with laughter.

Her dress clung to every curve of her body.

Beautiful no longer seemed to be an accurate depiction of the exquisiteness she displayed.

Magnificent.

Wet.

And radiant.

The old Brian urged him on, telling him to take what he wanted. While the new version tried to encourage the reasons for not moving too fast.

Still, he couldn’t stop. She was standing before him, looking so damn stunning he could barely stand it.

To say he was getting aroused would have been an understatement. His primal urges egged him on, while his human self tried to convince him of the opposite.

Don’t do it. Don’t ruin what you two have started. Don’t give in to those desires. Just say good night. Say goodnight and walk away.

“Brian? Is something wrong?” She stopped laughing, her expression no longer carefree with laughter, suddenly serious as she stared back at him.

He walked closer to her, brushing some stray curls out of her eyes. She stood silently, just staring at him.

“Brian –”

He cut her off without allowing another word. Leaning into her, he pressed his lips against hers and began slowly moving them side to side, brushing them against hers.

Not quite a kiss, it was more of a caress, a gentle meeting of their two mouths while he learned the feel of her.

Slowly, he swiped his tongue across her bottom lip. It gave him such a tender and yet erotic sensation that he thought he might die from the sweetness of it.

He continued the gentleness until he couldn’t stand it any longer. He took both of his hands and placed them on the sides of her neck and face and pulled her closer to him.

With trepidation, he closed his eyes and closed what little distance there was between them and slide his tongue inside her mouth.

Her lips parted for him, and he was struck with an incredible jolt, unlike anything he’d experienced before. Though their kiss was gentle and undemanding, he could already sense his body’s urges floating to the surface. Unbeknownst to her, she was slowly driving him.

He allowed the kiss to continue, keeping his impulses at bay while he languished in the contentment that he found with such a simple gesture.

If he was human, he might have let it go on much longer. But, human he was not. And with a deep and steadying breath, he pulled away from her, ignoring the urge to take her to bed and feel himself slide into her warmth.

Their kiss they had rocked him to the core. His blood raced inside, while his body burned with the need to bury himself within her.

Hard, and hungry, it was taking everything he had to not act on his impulses.

He pulled away from her.

She didn’t speak. Neither of them did.

For a moment that went on far too long, he stared into her eyes and witnessed the desire swirling in the deep recesses of her mind.

“I should leave.” He moved away from her and made his way to the door.

Stopping him, Jamie stepped in front of him. “What’s wrong? Is it me? Did I do something wrong?”

“What? No, of course not.” He cupped the side of her face and dropped a kiss to her forehead. “Go get out of those wet clothes and get a good night’s sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

She hesitantly smiled. “Sure. Okay.”

“Good night.”

“Good night, Brian.”

He turned and walked out of her apartment.

Furious with himself for reasons he couldn’t quite comprehend, he got into his car and started the engine.

He didn’t have to look up at her apartment. He could feel her eyes on him. Watching him. Unsure of how they’d left things.

He could sense every emotion coming off of her, flooding him in waves of self-doubt and confusion.

Damn it, Brian. Don’t fuck this one up!