I’m grateful for the darkness, the only lights illuminated are on my dashboard, but when I look over, his features are as clear as day.
“Are you trying to embarrass me?” I squeak. No one has ever spoken to me like that. It makes my heart race, the space between my legs pound harder, and I feel myself getting short of breath.
“No. I’m trying to empower you. Ask for what you want, Serena.”
“I— I don’t know what I want.”
“Sure, you do. Ask me, Bambi.”
“You’ll laugh at me.”
“No, I won’t.” His fingers reach up and tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. I look over at him and when my tongue darts out to wet my lips, he groans. “Fuck. You’re so beautiful. It actually hurts to look at you.”
“Why?”
“You know why, Serena. It would ruin years of friendship.”
“I wouldn’t…tell…” I choke out, as I step closer to the proverbial rabbit hole. I peek down the hole and I don’t see anything, just black.
What’s down there anyway?
Probably an orgasm! My inner Skyler perks up.
“Tell me to get out of the car, Serena,” he says. I know it’s not what he wants but I hear the implication in his hoarse voice. Here’s your out. Take it.
I don’t.
“What do you want, Serena?”
The car is silent as he prepares for my answer. Say it, Serena. Like he said, ask for what you want. “I’m twenty-one and…I’ve never been…properly kissed.”
“Everything about you is proper, Serena. Be more specific for me.”
“I’ve never made out with anyone.” My cheeks flame. Do adults say make-out?
“Is that all you want?” I don’t respond because I don’t know if I’m prepared to go further.
“I have to crawl before I walk.”
“Fair.”
“And that’s even saying you’d be willing to…teach me to walk.” I look up at him as sexy as I can, but I feel like I’m failing with my glasses in the way. Yet, the growl that escapes his throat makes me believe I succeeded.
“When you look at me like that, I’m likely to give you anything you want.”
“Maybe just the kiss…for now.” I nibble on my bottom lip, and his pupils dilate as they fix on my mouth.
He leans forward across my console so that we are practically nose to nose. I fiddle with the legs of my glasses prepared to take them off when he speaks. “Leave them.”
“It’s not hard to kiss with them?”
“No. Leave it,” he demands. “One day, I’ll kiss you somewhere else and make you watch me behind those sexy glasses of yours.”
“Where?” I had a guess, but I wanted to hear him say it.
He leans back slowly and I can tell he’s studying me to see if I really don’t know, or if I’m just messing with him. “You know where.” He pauses. “If that’s something you’re interested in.” He winks.
I swallow, my body unprepared for the way his words make it feel. I feel too hot, and before I can remind myself that I’m not wearing a bra underneath my tank top, I’ve pulled my sweatshirt off. “Holy fuck, Serena, goddamn.” I look down and see my hardened nipples poking through the thin cotton.