Unwrapped by Chantilly White

first
time. She couldn't lose.
    "I will," she said, and watched his smile spread
as her heart's racing speed hit a brand new gear, full of need. Full of hunger.
    Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. . .
    "All right," he said, that strange intensity
deepening in his eyes. He gave her a celebratory fist bump. "So,
girlfriend of mine. What should we do first?"
    Why did they have to wait? Mia sighed mentally. Somehow,
knowing she'd be sliding naked beneath his big, sexy body in three-month's
time, finally dancing the oldest dance, made it even harder to wait. This might
prove to be the longest three months of her life.
    But in the meantime. . .
    "A little ritual to seal the deal?" she asked,
trying for some levity while that hungering heart continued to pound and her
pulse to race. "Cut our palms by the light of the moon and dance naked
around the bonfire?"
    "I can live without the bloodshed," he said, his
voice going low and husky, "but the naked part sounds intriguing."
    It wasn't so much a blush as a wildfire that swept over her
skin, blazing red, searing heat.
    "N-now?"
    Could he see the shudders wracking her body? Maybe she
hadn't really thought this through. To be naked in front of Derrick, that final
barrier between friendship and intimacy removed, changing their relationship
forever. What had she just agreed to? No, hungered for. She couldn't lay the
blame for this at his feet. He might have come back to her with his little
plan, but she was the instigator. She was the one who would see it through. Or
not.
    "Maybe a little now," he said, still in that deep
timbre, his voice running down her spine like sinfully-dark melted chocolate.
    One half of her mind, the sane half, whispered, "This
is such a bad idea." The other half was too busy squeeing with glee to
listen.
     
    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
     
    Derrick pulled her to her feet. Just a little taste, a small
bite to get her mind and heart working in the right direction. Lover mode.
    Step one.
    Moving slowly, he ran his hands from the tops of her tensed
shoulders, down her arms in the soft-as-a-cloud bathrobe. He took her delicate
hands in his, one at a time, bringing them to his lips for a kiss on each
tender knuckle. Her eyes, swimming pools of deep sea-green, shimmered in the
warm glow of the overhead light. What he wouldn't give to tumble with her to
the bed at her back, to make her his, once and for all. Now. But that moment
would have to wait.
    He'd make the anticipation worth every second.
    The closing of her eyes when he leaned in for a kiss was a
tiny surrender, a tiny victory. They were moving into new territory now.
Together, as he'd dreamed for years. No turning back. From this moment on,
nothing would be the same.
    Brushing aside the fall of her hair, the collar of her robe,
he pressed his lips to the base of her throat where her pulse beat erratically.
She held perfectly still, yet her body vibrated head to toe, a livewire ready
to spark.
    "You smell like a sugar cookie," he murmured.
"Delicious."
    With his hands, he stroked the length of her robe's lapels,
over the mounds of her breasts, making her gasp, and down to the tie at her
waist. His fingers undid the belt, slowly, deliberately. Her hand moved to his
wrist, one hesitant touch to halt his progress, and he raised his head to find
her eyes on him. Questioning. Nervous.
    Shy.
    "Trust me," he whispered, stroking a thumb across
her bottom lip, then kissing her there. Her mouth, pliant, sweet, gave beneath
his with a sigh, and her hands dropped back to her sides.
    The belt fell free beneath his touch. With aching slowness,
he spread the robe wide, baring Mia to his eyes for the first time, nude.
    "Beautiful," he whispered, his voice gone hoarse
with desire.
    Like a candle flame, she glowed. Satin skin in pale honey
slid upon delicate bones, full, rounded curves, a deeply indented waist. Her
breasts were a temptation it took all his willpower to resist, proud and firm,
tipped with exquisite nipples in deep rose, drawn taut beneath