On Paper (12 page)

"Go on," I encouraged.

"Well, you probably don't need anymore casual acquaintance friends. I mean, that's just more Christmas card postage." I laughed at his logic. "And you probably already have a lot of book club friends. You're probably good on those," he offered.

"Maybe," I said. He was still really close to me, his face close enough that I found myself focused completely on the way his lips moved when he spoke.

"Maybe you could use a special friend," he suggested.

"A special friend? That sounds creepy," I said with a nervous laugh. I tried to tease, but the fact was I could feel the heat from his body and it left me no room for jokes. I knew where he was going with this line of discussion, but I couldn't bring myself to stop it.

He laughed, “Let me rephrase, one like me.” Maybe I was imagining it, but if sounded like his voice had dropped an octave. It was deep and dark--bold. More like the Keaton we’d left back in San Francisco. This time I didn't find it annoying or arrogant.

"I'm going to need details. If I'm going to decide," I said softly.

"Well, a friendship of a special variety allows for certain privileges."

I swallowed hard, "Such as?"

He smiled. He knew he had me. "Well, for instance, if I were such a friend, I might brush my lips against your skin here for instance," he said, his voice soft as the breath against my flesh as he brushed his lips just below my ear. "Or I might kiss your neck and watch your entire body hum with heat," he said, showing me exactly what he meant.

"Okay," I said trying to catch my breath - but it belonged to him now.

"Okay?" he asked. I couldn't answer him. His fingertips were tracing my jaw and across my lips as his gaze flicked from my eyes to my mouth.

"Keaton?" I managed. His tongue moved slowly across his lips and I knew that in a moment they would descend onto my own.

"Yes, Quinn?" he asked softly.

Closer.

I could feel the weight of his body slowly lowering over mine.

"I, um," I started. I didn't have words. He'd stolen those as well.

So I let him kiss me and then it didn't matter anymore.

I'd been kissed before. Lots of times. I wasn't a naive wallflower. But the moment he kissed me, I realized that every kiss I'd had up until this moment had been a dull, lifeless imitation of the real thing.

AFTER SPENDING THE
day with Keaton I decided to let go of the logical. At least for the remainder of my trip. It was hard not to get caught up in it all; wandering the hillsides of wine country, getting to know who he was beneath all that bravado and then that kiss. The man knew how to kiss. I had never once actually felt my knees go weak or had my foot actually do that thing where it lifts in the air before, but he made the ordinary feel like a fairytale and I liked it.

I wasn't having any delusions about it really going anywhere and surprisingly, I was okay with that. For once in my life I was embracing living spontaneously. It felt good, it felt freeing. It felt like I was someone else, someone not afraid to jump first, who wasn't so busy asking questions or making plans that she missed out on the good surprises that life had to offer.

Keaton did that for me. Our day together had been easy and effortless. It had been unexpected. I liked him. I liked the shy smile he got when he nearly spilled the wine, I liked the line of questions that he’d rattled off, like he was researching me, like every detail was important. I liked the way he'd opened up and told me about himself, giving me a glimpse of someone that I wasn't sure many people got to see.

Thinking back on how I'd shut him out at the beginning was a little sad now, because I'd nearly missed out on days like today.

I couldn't help the smile on my face. I couldn't help the giddy laugh that escaped my lips as I moved about my room getting ready for bed.

I wished Lily was here. I wanted to tell her all about it. Then again, keeping it to myself almost made it more special. Like a gift that was meant only for me.

I had no idea what would happen tomorrow when I saw him, but I didn't really want to think about it too much. Thinking is where I got myself into trouble. There was no room for reason right now. No room for the logical or the careful.

I pulled on my boxer shorts and my tank top and pulled my hair back into a ponytail. I was too wired to actually sleep, so I pulled out one of the books I'd picked up in the gift room. I had made it through the first two pages before I realized that my mind was too busy playing out memories of the day to actually absorb any of the words on the page. Maybe that's what happens when you live inside a fairytale, the fiction ones lose some of their splendor.

A soft knock landed on the door and I glanced over at the clock. It was almost one in the morning. It was just like Lily to forget her key. I padded to the door and glanced out the peephole, just to make sure there were no serial killers waiting to be let in.

My breath caught when I saw the dark figure standing on the other side. I opened the door without thinking about the fact that I had already changed into my pjs and washed the make up off of my face.

"Hi, what are you doing here?" I asked curiously as Keaton leaned against the doorjamb.

"Fuck, Quinn, are you trying to kill me? What are you wearing? You can't open the door wearing that," he said. He walked into the room, grabbing my hand to make me follow as he kicked the door shut.

"Seriously?" I laughed.

"How short are those shorts?" he asked. I smiled, because he no longer looked so much protector as he did hungry.

"I was getting ready for bed," I said, crossing my arms over my chest, suddenly remembering I no longer wore my bra. I felt the blush warm my cheeks as I shifted from foot to foot.

"I'll say, shit," he teased.

"So what are you doing here?" I asked again, hoping we could stop talking about my lack of clothing.

"I wanted to see you," he said simply. I cocked my head at him, waiting for him to continue. When he just smiled at me I couldn't help but laugh.

"You just saw me. All day," I pointed out.

"I know. But we didn't talk about if I would see you tomorrow and I think of all the things that we talked about that one is pretty important."

"Do you want to see me tomorrow?" I asked. I knew what I wanted.

"I do," he smiled, half shy boy, half cocky playboy. It was a deadly combination.

"Okay," I agreed.

"How about breakfast?" he asked.

"Okay," I said again.

"I like you this agreeable," he smirked.

"What time?" I asked. He glanced over my shoulder at the clock on the nightstand next to the bed.

"1:30?" he asked.

I shook my head, a sigh on my lips. He gave me butterflies. He made me want to follow him to an all night diner right now. I realized that I would go just about anywhere with him. "You're cute," I admitted.

"Okay, fine, how about 8:30? I'm sure you have stuff planned for the day," he said. I nodded. Lily and I had our day mapped out. As much as I liked being around Keaton, I had to remember that I was here with my best friend. I wanted to make the most of my ticket to this convention.

"I can do 8:30," I agreed feeling giddy at the thought of seeing him tomorrow.

"I'll swing by and pick you up."

"What a gentleman," I teased. He raised a questioning eyebrow as if to dispute the claim.

"Just so you know, I'm having very ungentlemanly thoughts about you right now," he admitted. I felt the blush return at his words.

I pretended to huff, but secretly loved his admission.

He took a step towards me, until I had to look up to see his face. He was so handsome. Sometimes it had the power to leave me in a stunned stupor as I took him in. I held my breath as his hand moved to brush my cheek and released a stuttered sigh as his thumb brushed against my bottom lip.

"I had an amazing time today," he said softly, his voice mixed with gravel.

"You said that before," I managed.

"I wanted to say it again," he shrugged.

"Okay." My one word answer made him smile.

His hand moved to the back of my neck and he tugged me closer. I stood on my tip toes to accommodate his request. I wet my lips in preparation for the kiss he was promising me with his gaze. My whole body hummed with the anticipation. He moved in, so close that his lips were a breath from mine.

"I wish I could stay here and do to you all of the things that are going through my head right now," he said softly. His words had my insides throbbing, twisting with what exactly that might entail. "But I'm afraid your roommate will be here soon and I'd hate for her to find us in such unguarded moments," he breathed. At this point I wasn't so sure I cared if she showed up or not. The thought must have flashed across my eyes because I felt his smile.

"Sweet dreams, Quinn," he offered just as he finally closed the last breath of space between us and kissed me. He started slow and sweet, gently exploring my lips with his own. They were soft and firm and he held all control as his hand still rested at the back of my neck.

I felt myself melt into him, surrendering easily. He deepened the kiss expertly, his tongue moving across my own, his teeth nipping at my lower lip. Weak. He made me so weak.

I was breathless as he pulled away and if he hadn't been supporting me I might have fallen forward. "Goodnight, I'll see you for breakfast," he smiled. He kissed my forehead and then turned to go. I watched him as he moved back to the door.

"Goodnight," I finally got out just as he turned and gave me one final smirk.

Shit. That man was trouble. Who knew I was such a fan of trouble?

Lily was dragging the next morning. I didn't even hear her come in and I'd lay awake forever before finally succumbing to sleep. I wanted to tell her about my day with Keaton, but she was not having it. If she made it downstairs at all before noon I would be surprised.

So I got up, showered and got dressed. I stared at the clothes I'd brought for ten solid minutes, contemplating making Lily get up to help me pick something out. Nothing I'd brought seemed to be good enough. Finally, after changing three times I made myself stick with the jeans and green sweater that I had on. I chastised myself a little for caring so much. I didn't want to care that much, yet here I was, caring.

At 8:15 I was ready to go and standing in the middle of our room fidgeting. I didn't even recognize myself. Then I reminded myself that it was okay, because I was someone else this week.

"You are already ready to go?" Lily's hoarse voice startled me.

"Are you even alive?" I laughed going back to sit on the edge of the giant bed we were sharing thanks to an overbooked hotel. She peered out from under the covers with one half-opened eye.

"I think I had a little too much fun last night," she admitted. I laughed.

"I didn't even hear you come in," I said.

"I'm surprised. I fell over my suitcase at one point. Where are you going?" she asked.

I couldn't stop the smile that ghosted my lips. "Breakfast. Keaton is coming by around 8:30," I admitted.

That woke her up, both eyes opened and she smiled through her sleepy haze. "So, yesterday went well?" she asked.

I nodded. "He's a good guy," I said.

"You like him," she smiled.

I shrugged again. "I like hanging out with him," I said.

Before she could dive into that statement and pick it apart with questions I heard the soft knock on the door. I jumped to my feet, ignoring Lily's knowing laugh.

"Are you coming downstairs later?" I asked.

Lily stretched twisting in her sheets. "Yeah, I'll be down. I'll text you. Go enjoy your breakfast and that fine piece of man candy," she teased.

There was another knock on the door so I grabbed my bag and answered.

I wouldn't have thought it possible to forget how good looking he was since I'd seen him only hours before. But it still surprised me. In fact, it made my breath catch and my heart stumble.

"Good morning," he said with an easy smile.

"Hi," I returned, adjusting the strap of my bag on my shoulder, mostly to have something to do.

"Hungry?" he asked.

I nodded, "Yeah, let's do it." I felt nervous. Yesterday things had been really easy, so why did I feel like a swarm of butterflies were overtaking my body? Maybe because I'd admitted to myself that I liked him. Or maybe it was because looking at him, in his perfectly faded jeans hanging low on his hips and that blue t-shirt stretching over his muscular arms had me wanting him to pull me to him and kiss me senseless.

I was in serious danger of falling into the deep end.

We moved down the hall towards the bank of elevators, neither of us feeling like we needed to fill the silence between us. As the doors closed us into the car we leaned against the back wall. I glanced over at him, my eyes colliding with his sexy smile. "You look amazing," he said. "You should wear green every day."

"Thank you," I smiled, letting his compliment warm me all over as his eyes took me in from head to toe, as if he were taking a silent inventory or memorizing every detail. It surprised me that it didn't make me feel nervous. It made me feel brave.