Going out on a date with Brian was nothing like I was expecting. Never once did I get the playboy vibe from him. He was the perfect gentleman, opening doors, holding my hand, carrying on normal conversation about meaningful things. I never felt like he was trying to impress me just to get me into bed. I really enjoyed our time together.

We stop at a little bakery and pick up a selection of mini cupcakes for me and a giant piece of carrot cake for him. We bring them back to my place, so we can relax and continue our date.

“Can I get you something to drink? I have beer and some wine, or I have rum and Coke.”

“What kind of beer do you have?”

“I have either Alaskan Amber or Shock Top.”

“I’ll take an Alaskan Amber.”

I get Brian his beer and pour myself a glass of wine, grabbing a couple forks for our sweet treats, and head back out to the living room.

“Can I get you anything else?”

“Just you next to me.” Brian winks at me.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell him, as I head down the hall to my room. I change into some sleep shorts and a flowy tank, then hit the bathroom before I make my way back out to the living room where Brian is sitting, waiting on me. I notice him take in my appearance and I can feel the fire in his eyes as they graze up and down my body, almost as if they were his hands. I’m determined to resist his charms and not allow him into my bed tonight. As much fun as that would be, I’m enjoying just getting to know him, and damn, if I don’t love this softer side of him. He’s nothing like the tabloids portray him; so is this the façade, or is the playboy act?

I take a seat facing him, tucking my legs up next to me. “Sorry, I needed to change into something more comfortable.”

“I’m not complaining.” He grins at me, as his eyes sweep down toward my breasts and back up. Looking down, I realize my tank is giving him quite the cleavage shot. I feel my cheeks begin to burn from embarrassment as I tug my top up just a little, so he isn’t getting a face full of boobs.

“Hey, now. I was enjoying that view,” he pouts.

“I’m sure you were,” I reply, smirking.

“So, what would you like to do, now that you’re comfortable?” Brian takes a swig of his beer.

“We can watch a movie, or just talk more…. unless there’s something else you wanted to do?” I ask him, and immediately realize what I just said. Hello, mouth. Meet foot.

Brian gives me a small smile, then his look turns serious, genuine. “I could think of a whole lot of things I would love to do with you tonight, but, sweetheart, I’m here to show you I can be a gentleman.”

He reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, running his fingers along my jaw. He tips my head up so I’m looking at him again, and I could swear he’s going to kiss me, but he doesn’t move any closer.

“What?” I whisper.

“You’re so damn beautiful. I couldn’t see your face with you looking down, and I needed to see your eyes.”

I sigh and swallow slowly. Damn, this man. I watch as Brian’s eyes drop and scan the length of my neck as it moves.

“Oh.” It’s all I can say; he’s literally made me speechless.

Brian adjusts his hand so it’s on my neck, his fingers resting over my pounding pulse.

I will not sleep with him, I will not sleep with him, I chant to myself.

“I really want to kiss you right now,” Brian confesses. “But, I’ll wait. I’m here to prove to you I can be a gentleman, as I said before.”

I smile coyly up at him. “You sure have been a surprise tonight,” I remark. “I like who you are with me, and I think you secretly love being able to show this side of you.”

Brian drops his hand from my neck, grabbing one of my hands, and interlocks our fingers.

“I can’t put my finger on it, but I feel different around you. There’s this connection that I can’t put into words. You make me feel like you’re here with me because you want to know me, and not because of my job, or my bank account, but because of who I am, and I’ve never felt that before,” he confesses.

I don’t know how to respond to that, so I just sit here, shocked. Do I feel a connection with him? Yes, but we can’t do anything about it. Hell, he’s leaving in just a couple of days and won’t be back. It’s not like we can try out a relationship, when we live thousands of miles away from each other.

“I feel the connection,” I finally stammer out. “But what that connection means, I can’t tell you. As much as I like you, and enjoy getting to know you better, and would like to continue to do so, I don’t think we can act on it. You’re leaving in just a couple of days, and I’m not looking for just another fling.” I really hope I’m letting him down easily.

He squeezes my fingers a couple times. Then he sighs, and sucks in a deep breath. “I know, and that fucking sucks. I wish I could stay here for more of the summer and explore things between us more, but my mom and sister would kill me if I don’t come home next week, and I would look like a jackass if I backed out of the hockey camps.”

“I would never ask you to change your plans just to be here with me. I can tell how important your family is, and how much you enjoy the camps you help with. And realistically, I don’t think we could ever make something work between us. We just live two very different lives, not to mention the distance. But I would love to be your friend.”

“Friends with benefits?” Brian smirks at me. “Sorry, that was the playboy in me slipping out,” he quips.

I smack him on the chest, laughing. “I knew you couldn’t keep that side of you locked in,” I tease.

“It’s just second nature and slips out sometimes. I promise I’ll keep it in check,” he says on a laugh.

“Okay, Mr. Playboy. Let’s eat our dessert and watch a movie.”

I snag the remote off my end table and pull up Netflix, then hand the remote to Brian to let him pick, but he refuses it. “You pick. I’m just here to be with you, so as long as you’ll let me hold you – with no funny business going on – I’ll be a happy man.”

I glance at him, not quite believing him that he won’t try any moves. I turn my attention back to the TV as I scroll through the movie selection, finally settling on Miracle. The expression on Brian’s face lets me know he’s shocked I picked a movie he’d actually enjoy.

“You didn’t have to pick a movie about hockey just for me.”

“I know, but I wanted you to be at least a little bit interested in the movie.”

We settle in beside each other, each of us with our desserts, as the movie starts. About halfway through the movie, I stand to take our plates to the kitchen and grab a glass of water.

“Need anything else while I’m up?” I call out to Brian from my kitchen.

“I’m good for now,” he replies.

When I return to the living room, Brian stands as I approach the couch. I’m a little confused, until he lies down and then reaches for my hand. He pulls me down so I’m in front of him. I rest my head on his arm, and he wraps his other one around me, pulling me closer to his body. Hot damn, this man is one solid wall of muscle. He’s all hard and chiseled from what I can feel pressed against my body. I can also feel his hardening length pressed against my ass.

As we settle in, wrapped up in each other, my body completely relaxes – well, as relaxed as one can get with a sexy man wrapped around her, and his erection pressed against her ass. I’m a little surprised he isn’t trying to make any moves, to take this to the next level, but I also love that he is sticking to his word and not making everything about sex.

I feel Brian shift his head, and take in a deep breath. “God, you smell good,” he whispers. The goose bumps break out along my arms and legs, all simply because he whispered in my ear. His five o’clock shadow scratches against my cheek and neck ever so lightly, and combined with the softness of his breath on my skin, tingles run down my body, straight to my clit. I’m almost ready to say fuck it, and turn in his arms and move this along. He has my body so on edge, it wouldn’t take much of him touching me for me to crest over the edge of orgasm. But, I stay strong and do my best not to rub up against him as we stay wrapped up in each other’s embrace.