For the next week and a half, things seemed to be going pretty freaking fantastic with Calder and me.

We’d gone to a movie, had dinner at his place, dinner at my place, went ice skating, attended a Wizards game and eaten out at numerous restaurants.

And I’ll fill you in on some details here. First of all, I wasn’t playing a game with him when it came to having sex. I truly wanted to get to know him better before giving my body to him. I mean, I’d only slept with one man since I was twenty, so when I slept with Calder, I wanted it to be a little special. Second of all, I’d accepted the fact that if this was going to be like all his other relationships in the past five years, lasting only a month or two, then we were going to do it on my terms.

I thought that was fair, don’t you?

So, although we’d engaged in some pretty heavy petting, we still hadn’t had sex.

“Why?” Mara asked.

“I don’t know. I think he’s waiting for my cue and I’m waiting for his, and we’re just going around in circles.”

“It’s time,” Shannon said, coming out from the back of the flower shop.

“Do tell, oh, sexual guru,” I quipped.

“He’s proven he likes you. I mean, he’s been coming around for over a month now, right? And if you don’t start fucking, you’re just like some old, married couple, and where’s the fun in that?” she stated.

I looked at Mara. “She does have a point.”

“I concur,” she replied. “Good job, little sister.”

Shannon sang a line from an old Rod Stewart song. “Tonight’s the night…” She looked at me and shrugged. “Mom and Dad like old music. I listen. It expands my horizons.”

“Oh, brother,” Mara and I said at the same time then laughed.

I walked back to the bakery smiling and humming the song.

That afternoon, I got a pleasant surprise.

Around three, Calder came in.

“Hey,” I said, coming out from behind the counter.

“Hey, yourself, gorgeous,” he said, leaning down to kiss me. He tugged on my ponytail. “I like it.”

“Better than wearing a hairnet. Although, you might find me very sexy in one,” I said with a snort.

“Baby, you could wear a garbage bag and still be sexy.”

Ah. Look at Calder Castleman being all charming.

 “So what’re you doing here?” I asked.

“First and foremost, to see you,” he leaned down and nipped my bottom lip with his teeth.

Whoa, body. Calm down. I know you like him, but be just a little less willing since we’re in public. Jeez, ya skank.

“Second, my sister Carson loves your cinnamon rolls, so I thought I’d pick some up for her.”

Carson. He’d sent the flowers to his sister. But why would he want to spank her?

“Why would you want to spank your sister?” I blurted as my hand came up to cover my mouth too late.

“Huh?” he asked, his face scrunched up in confusion.

“You called in for some flowers, what, three weeks ago? Two weeks? Anyway, they were to Carson and your card said something like, ‘Get ready for spankings.’”

He threw his head back and laughed and it was the best thing ever. His sharp, scruff-covered jaw looked even sharper and add in his Adam’s apple that bobbed up and down along with the sound of his laughter was all just sexy as hell. When he looked back at me, his hazel eyes were sparkling with amusement.

“My niece Tinley, Carson’s daughter, turned five a couple weekends ago. The flowers were for her,” he explained, still chuckling.

“Oh,” I replied.

“Yeah, oh,” he said, reminding me of when he’d met me outside the ladies’ room at the radio station, except this time he wasn’t pissed off.

“Do you only have the one sister?” I asked.

“Yep. She’s my twin too. She was at the charity dance.”

“She was? What was she dressed as?”

“Posh Spice,” he said with an eye roll. “She didn’t really stand out.”

I chuckled. “Not like the dude with the flower pot on his head, anyway, huh?”

“Well, hey, I need to get a dozen rolls and get going. How about you come to my place for dinner tonight? Around six?”

I smiled. “Sounds great. Do you want me to bring anything?”

He laughed. “I was just gonna ask what you wanted me to order or if you wanted grilled cheese. Or I can grill a mean steak.”

“Steaks work if you’re up to it,” I said. “And how about I cook a side dish to go with it? I can text you a grocery list if you want me to.”

“Perfect.”

“Hang on and I’ll get your rolls,” I said and made my way behind the counter, getting a box to put them in.

After ringing him up at the register, I came back out to walk him to the door. “I’ll text you, okay?”

“Sounds good. Bye, baby,” he said and gave me a sweet kiss.

After he left, I heard, “Ooh la la,” and turned to see Michelle fanning herself. “That boy is damn fine!”

I laughed. “He is pretty fine,” I agreed.

“First, you chop the onion and celery,” I said as I walked Calder through the steps on how to make a broccoli-rice casserole.

I don’t think he was really interested in learning how to make it, though. I think he just enjoyed standing behind me trying to feel me up the whole time while I swatted his hands away.

“Now it’s ready to go in the oven and bake for thirty minutes while you grill the steaks,” I said when I finished with all the ingredients. “Then we can eat.”

He leaned down and kissed my neck from behind, pushing me into the island. “I think I’d rather eat you,” he murmured, moving his mouth up where he nipped my ear with his teeth.

And this was it, damn it. I’d waited long enough.

I pushed my ass back against him as I leaned my head to the side, giving him more access to my neck. His hands came around to the front, skimming down my belly to the waistband of my pants before continuing down inside my panties. When his fingers found my clit, my head fell back against his shoulder and I moaned.

“Turns me the fuck on that you respond so quickly to my touch, baby,” he whispered, continuing to kiss, suck and nip at my neck as his fingers slid through the slickness between my legs.

It didn’t take much with him. I mean, I’d practically come the first time just hearing him speak. And now, with him talking, his hands working me, one on my breast the other at my core, and his mouth on me, my climax slammed through me like wildfire.

“Oh, God, Calder!” I cried out, my hands splaying out rigidly on the island as I shattered to pieces for him.

“That’s my girl,” he growled.

His hands moved to unbutton my pants and he pulled them and my panties down, lifting my wobbly legs one at a time to get them off. Turning me to face him, he gave me a hot, wet, deep kiss before pulling my shirt over my head. Then lifting me, he sat me, completely naked, on the island.

He spread my legs and looked at me. “I love your beautiful, wet pussy, Rori,” he said and I felt another orgasm building in my already amped up body. “Told you I’m gonna eat,” he said with a wicked grin then knelt in front of me and proved it.

I leaned back on my hands, my head falling back on my shoulders and let out a sound that I didn’t even know I could make, but, God, he felt so good, his tongue knowing exactly what to do to take me to the highest high I’d ever felt. My breathing sped up as I felt the first tingles that grew to almost burning flashes and then I was there, crying out as wave after wave crashed through my body all at once yet separately. In flashes of light then dark.

“My God, you’re good at that,” I whispered, then realized he was carrying me upstairs. Did the orgasm he’d just given me make me pass out? “Wow. You’re very good at that,” I corrected.

He chuckled and gave me a soft kiss.

Once in his bedroom, he placed me on his bed then I watched as he disrobed. He unbuttoned his shirt first, throwing it to the side, then reached behind his neck with both hands and gripping his t-shirt, pulled it over his head and off.

Holy abs for days! And pecs! And biceps! Damn.

He smirked as I stared at him, knowing I liked what I saw. Then his hands were at his belt and, honest to God, I felt myself getting close again, as more juices flowed out and I was just waiting to see his cock. Good lord.

But when he unzipped then pulled down his jeans and boxer briefs, let me tell you, it was so worth the wait.

I gasped as his cock sprang out of his briefs then stood at full attention at least an inch past his belly button.

He. Was. Huge.

“Oh, my God,” I whispered and got another smirk from him. He was like a work of art standing before me, his body magnificent, every muscle ripped and striated perfectly. And his cock was the friggin’ masterpiece. After he put on a condom, I moaned, “Come fuck me now, Calder,” so ready to feel him inside of me.

He gave me a half grin then walked slowly to the bed, putting a knee to it and on his hands and knees, prowling like a wild animal, he moved slowly toward me, looking at every inch of my body as he did so, until his face hovered over mine.

“You’re fucking perfect. Goddamn stunning,” he whispered, lowering his face to kiss me, his body doing the same, moving down until it touched every part of mine, until we were chest to chest, hip to hip, and now mouth on mouth, and I whimpered at the feel of a man on top of me again, not knowing how much I’d missed it.

He kissed down my neck, dipping his tongue into the hollow of my throat, continuing his trek until he reached my breast. Holding it in his hand, he brought his mouth down on it, sucking in my nipple and making me gasp at the sensations that overtook me.

Okay, I hate to bring him into this, but right then, I was just a little bit pissed when I realized that Noah had had no idea about the female body, and now I knew he’d proven it time and time again, because I’d never lit up like this for him. I shuddered thinking I could’ve spent the rest of my life never knowing what real intimacy, real passion, was about.

But I quickly forgot him for good as Calder slid his hand down the side of my leg, and curling his hand around the back of it behind my knee, he stretched it straight up. I felt the head of his cock at my opening and tilted my hips to him, wanting him, needing him inside. Giving me a slow, sensual kiss, he asked against my lips, “Are you okay?” and I melted. Just completely melted right there on his bed, at his mercy and I wanted to cry at how giving and attentive he was. 

“Yes,” I whispered and let out a loud moan as he moved his hips forward several times before seating himself fully inside.

“Still okay, baby?” he asked, his eyes full of concern.

“I’m okay, honey. But, please, move,” I begged.

He smiled as he drew his hips back then pushed them back to mine, and it was amazing.

His hips pistoned forcefully, as he drove inside over and over and there it was again, building. Gah!

His hand glided from the back of my knee to my calf and he put my ankle on his shoulder as he continued driving in hard, filling me fuller than I’d ever been with each thrust.

I knew he felt me pulsing around him when he said, “Let it go, Rori,” and I did, crying his name as I came yet again.

His thrusts became uneven and pushing my leg from his shoulder, he drove in powerfully several times before letting out a groan, and I watched his head go back as he reached his peak, his chest shimmering with sweat making his muscles gleam in the lamplight.

And I knew right then I was in trouble, because somewhere along the way I’d done what I’d told myself I wouldn’t.

I’d fallen in love with him.