by Ava Riley
Madison felt her cheeks heat. He was thinking of her and wanted to make her dinner. No one, other than her parents, had ever made her dinner. She quickly responded.
Thank you, Rowan, I would love to join you for dinner. I get off work at five thirty, what time would you like me over?
Seven. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Thank you. See you at seven.
Madison struggled the rest of the afternoon trying to keep her mind focused on work instead of on Rowan, a task she found impossible to accomplish. Dinner! He was making her dinner. She didn’t even care what he planned, just that he had. The simple gesture of taking the time to cook for her spoke volumes about the man that lay deep within. On top of being drop dead gorgeous, he was kind, considerate and thoughtful. He could have easily taken her out, but he was making her dinner. The gesture kept playing over and over in her mind. She was thankful too because she didn’t have the energy to go out. As soon as she filed her last folder, her task as the new employee, she grabbed her purse and keys, high tailing it out of the office. Advance was about thirty minutes from her house, if traffic wasn’t too crazy, so she’d have just enough time to get ready and be at Rowan’s by seven.
Madison wanted to call her mom to let her know about her date tonight, so she attached the Bluetooth to her ear and dialed the number. Long Beach had a law against the use of cell phones while driving and required a hands free device. She stopped at an electronics store first thing when she drove into town to purchase one. Most of her phone time usually took place while she was in her car, so she knew it would be money well spent. She used the entire drive home on the phone with her mother, filling her in on her new job, how the house was coming along and answering all the questions she knew her father would have asked in regards to Rowan. Of course, when her mother found out he was a doctor, she was ecstatic. Madison said her I love you and goodbyes as she pulled her Altima into the driveway. Glancing at the dashboard clock, she was surprised to see that it had taken her almost forty minutes to get home. She had less than an hour to get ready and, although his house was only a stone’s throw away, she’d still be cutting it close.
Madison grabbed her purse, closed the door behind her and set the car alarm. When she reached her front porch, yet another surprise awaited her. Lying at the foot of the wooden door was a bouquet of purple lilies. They were her favorite flower, but it wasn’t something that was public knowledge. She reached down, picked up the bouquet and inhaled the scent that was specific to lilies. Attached was a cream colored envelope. Pulling the card from its envelope, the smile she felt deep within her soul reached her lips.
I saw these lilies and their beauty reminded me of you. I’m looking forward to our night. ~ Rowan
“The man is not only good looking, but smooth also,” she thought out loud.
Madison took a deep breath before she placed the key in the lock, quickly stepping through the threshold of her home. She needed to get in the shower and make herself presentable for tonight. Throwing her keys in the basket sitting on the end table next to her coffee colored couch, she hung her purse on the coat rack standing in the corner of the living room. She walked into the kitchen, grabbed the blue vase from the table that held the lilies she had bought a week ago tossing the old ones in the trash. She quickly rinsed the vase, putting in fresh water then added the lilies Rowan left her. After placing the vase back on the table, she made her way to her bedroom. She quickly showered and dressed. By the time she made herself decent, the clock indicated that it was almost seven.
Chapter 9
Rowan put the finishing touches on the cucumber salad he prepared to accompany the steak dinner he planned for him and Madison. He wanted the evening to be perfect. He placed the salad bowl on the oak kitchen table just as the doorbell rang. He glanced up at the clock on the stainless range. Seven o’clock right on the dot. He loved a prompt woman. Madison kept giving him reason after reason to fall for her.
He quickly made his way to the front door, not wanting her to spend any more time away from him, opening it to a smiling Madison. She was absolutely beautiful. Her shoulder length dark hair, not in the usual ponytail he was used to seeing, lay in ringlets around her face, punctuating the sparkle of her hazel eyes. She wore a pair of faded blue jeans that hugged her slender hips with a white button up blouse covering a black tank top that was undone three buttons down. She looked amazing and perfect. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.
“Hello. You look great,” he said, trying to keep the nervousness from his voice.
“Thank you. I appreciate the invitation.”
“Well, come on in. I was just about to put the steaks on the grill.”
“Sounds great,” she responded as she followed him into the kitchen.
“Would you like some wine?”
“I’d love a glass.”
Rowan grabbed the bottle of wine he had chilling in the ice filled sink and two wine glasses from the cabinet above his head. His hands felt shaky. Not from the cold bottle, but because of how Madison made him feel just from being in his personal space. He handed her a glass and held his glass in the air.
“To new beginnings. Salud.”
Madison smiled at him and couldn’t help but think of all the new beginnings she’d like to experience with him. Raising her own glass she echoed his sentiments, “To new beginnings.”
Rowan grabbed the plate with the two t-bone steaks, his grilling utensils and his glass of wine. “Would you like to join me while I grill?”
“Absolutely. I’ve been cooped up all day, so some fresh air will be nice.” Madison was uncertain as to what she would do otherwise.
“How do you like your steaks? I’m guessing rare.”
“Definitely rare.”
While Madison watched Rowan grill she couldn’t help but smile. Men were so in their element with a pair of grilling tongs and a fired up grill. He was no different from any other man in the world. Well, he was different in that he made her body ache with need. Even standing there with the flames from the grill encompassing the raw meat, in a pair of dark blue jeans and black t-shirt that stretched across his muscled chest, he looked mouth-watering. She’d just as soon forget about the flame broiled meat and have a taste of him. She was shaken from her thoughts when Rowan leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. The taste of wine on his lips was more intoxicating than the wine in her glass.
“Mmmm, you taste wonderful, beautiful.”
She hung her head slightly, afraid to let him see how his words affected her. “Thank you, you taste wonderful too,” she said as her cheeks flushed from the admission and her body tingled from his touch.
“Why do you do that?” He didn’t want to seem abrupt, but he noticed that every time he complimented her she hung her head.
“Do what?”
“Shy away from compliments.”
“I’m just not used to compliments. I mean, other than my father, no man has ever called me beautiful.”
Rowan shook his head and went back to flipping the steaks, “I find that hard to believe.”
Madison didn’t answer him because she didn’t want to come across as fishing for more compliments. And honestly it was a little embarrassing that at twenty-three, she’d not been told something as simple as that. She felt completely out of her element. Her lack of experience with the opposite sex would ruin everything with Rowan. She was taken off guard when he placed his empty glass on the round steel patio table just behind him, intertwined his fingers with hers and continued to flip the steaks. Although Madison had been surprised by the gesture, it felt right. More right than anything ever had in her life.
“Well, looks like they’re done. Are you ready to eat?” he asked just moments later.
“Yes, I am. I’m starving. The ham sandwich I had for lunch didn’t do much to quench my appetite.”
Rowan grinned at her as they walked through the back door. Thoughts of quenching her physical appetites didn’t stop at food. He wanted to sa
tisfy all of her needs. Deciding to keep that bit of information to himself for the time being, he winked at her as if to say I’ve got a secret you can’t hear.
As Madison sat at the kitchen table, Rowan served up the rest of the food for her. Along with the steak he made baked potatoes, corn on the cob and the salad. An hour and two glasses of wine later, Madison helped him clean up the dishes. As they finished rinsing up the last of them, she wiped her hands on the green dish towel that lay on the counter, then folded it neatly as if it were going to be placed back into the drawer.
“Thanks for dinner. I hate to eat and run, but I should get back home. Work bright and early, you know,” she said, disappointment lacing her voice.
She didn’t want to overstay her welcome, but, damn, she could spend hours upon hours with him. She’d felt so comfortable talking to him and wanted to continue, but she really did have an early morning ahead of her and it was her first week at work. She didn’t want to make a bad impression by being late.
“That’s okay, I understand. Let me walk you home.”
Rowan enjoyed their time tonight and didn’t want it to end, but completely understood her need to get some rest. He shut the door behind him, as he and Madison made their way out to his front porch. He grabbed her hand while they took the steps down, heading back to her place. The electricity that burned between them was evident as his palm pressed against hers. When they reached the top step at her home, Rowan pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. Instead of tensing up like she had before, he felt her relaxing into him. He wasn’t sure if the two glasses of wine she’d downed had anything to do with it or if she simply felt more relaxed and comfortable around him now. Rowan ran his tongue along the seam of her lips enjoying the taste of wine that still lingered there. He’d planned on just a simple kiss goodnight, but when he felt her press against him, he couldn’t pull himself away from her. His hands began to move of their own accord; one resting on her hip pulling her closer into his rock hard erection as the other cupped the back of her head, his fingers tangling into her dark ringlets. He pulled away slightly pressing gentle kisses from her mouth, until his lips reached her ear.
“I can’t seem to keep my lips off you,” he whispered into her ear.
“I’m glad. I like your lips on me.”
Madison actually said what she was thinking for the first time and didn’t feel shy about it. She needed Rowan to keep going. She needed to keep feeling all the sensations flowing through her body at this moment. She wanted all the inhibitions she felt her whole life to disappear; to let her body take over and her mind to shut down.
Rowan opened the door and followed Madison in closing it behind them. He wasn’t sure how far this would go between them, but he wasn’t ready to walk away yet. She tasted too good on his lips and her body felt right pressed against his. When she confessed she liked his lips on her, he knew the night would not end with that one kiss.
Chapter 10
Madison heard the door shut behind her and the clicking of the lock. Her heart sped up like the engine on a motor boat at the thought of what was about to happen. She knew this would be the night that she’d finally lose her virginity. The night she was going to experience what so many others already had. She was scared and excited and nervous all at the same time. Turning to see Rowan standing in her entryway with the sexiest grin on his face, she wanted nothing more than to throw herself at him. She hoped he would take the lead because she really didn’t have a damn clue where to go from the kiss. Making his way to her, she felt him running his fingers down her right arm. Surely, he could feel the goose bumps that were evident under her blouse.
Without a word, Rowan brought his fingers up to the buttons on her shirt, as he kept his gazed fixed on hers. He began to undo the remaining buttons, then slipping it from her shoulders; he tossed it to the floor. Rowan leaned down, placing kisses on her exposed neck as he pulled the black tank top from the waist of her jeans.
Madison was uncertain what to do with her own hands. Should she be touching him or just allow him to have his way? She wanted both. She wanted to rip his clothes off, yet enjoy the feel of his fingertips caressing her skin. Her body rippled with the nervousness of the moment, as Rowan pulled the tank up over her head. She stood there in just her jeans and turquoise bra.
Rowan ran a finger from her throat to the valley between her breasts while his gaze stayed locked with hers. His fingers traced back up to the strap of her bra while he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers once more. His fingers lingered as if waiting for her to give him an inclination to continue.
“Tell me if you want me to stop. Just say the word and we quit at any point,” he spoke into her mouth.
“Rowan?” She said on a shaky voice. She had no intentions of allowing him to stop, but she only felt it right he understood what he was getting himself into.
Rowan felt disappointment well up within him at the questioning sound of his name. He’d pushed too far again. They’d had such a wonderful dinner and now he was going too fast again. Damn it! When would he learn? He couldn’t help himself, though. He didn’t want her to tell him to stop, he would but it would take all his self-control. Rowan had never wanted anything or anyone more than he wanted Madison in this moment. He couldn’t get enough of her.
“We can stop, Madison. I won’t lie, I’ll be disappointed because I want you so badly, but I’m okay with stopping, if that’s what you want. I’ll never try force you to do something you don’t want to.”
“It’s not. I mean, yes, I want this, Rowan. I want you to continue, but there’s just something you should know before we go any farther.”
How was Madison going to tell him? How was she going to tell him that he was about to have sex with a twenty-three year old virgin? Would he even want her after he found out? Men like Rowan were experienced and wanted to be with someone who was experienced as well. She realized, as the questions ran through her mind that her fear was not in giving herself to him, but that he wouldn’t want her once he found out what she didn’t have to offer.
“You can tell me anything, Madison. Anything,” he said, stroking her cheek with his knuckles.
“If after I tell you, you decide you don’t want to be with me, I will completely understand.” Madison waited for him to say something, but he stood as a stone statue daring her to deter him from his mission. She let out a sigh. “Well, you should just know that I’ve never been intimate with a man before. As in, I’m still a virgin.”
Madison’s heart beat a little faster as a slow, sexy grin lit up not just his face but his eyes. Keeping those blue eyes locked to hers he slowly reached behind her releasing the clasps of her bra, allowing it to fall to the floor below next to the material that had already made its resting place there. Relief flooded Madison as he dipped his head to her breasts, his tongue circling her hardened nipples, one after the other. Heat surged through her body as the tingling in her breasts grew stronger when Rowan took one into his mouth, while his finger and thumb pinched the other. Sucking, licking, and teasing her until she didn’t think she could take it any longer. Her head fell back as a moan slipped past her lips. She felt him smile against her skin, as his hand traveled the length of her body, his fingers pressing between her thighs through the denim she wore. Her hips began to rock back and forth, her pussy grinding against his hand. She needed to feel his skin against hers. She wanted to feel his erection pressed against her wet hot core. As he continued to play her body like a well tuned instrument, she grabbed his hair with both hands and held on for dear life.
Rowan gave her nipple one last flick of his tongue then brought his mouth to hers for a deep bruising kiss. He had no intentions of walking away from Madison, especially after the confession of her virginity. He’d not only be the first one to bring her to orgasm, but the first one for her to give herself completely to and that excited him more than anything ever had in his life. He was glad another man hadn’t touched her luscious body. She would experienc
e all the pleasures her body could for the first time and he’d be the one to show her what wonders awaited her.
“I want you more than you know, Madison. More than I could ever imagine, especially knowing that you are surrendering to me something so sacred to you.”
“Make love to me,” she said on a ragged breath.
Rowan reached around to his back pocket for his wallet so that he could retrieve the condom there before they got any further. He’d accept her virginity, but he’d be safe in doing so. He leaned his forehead to hers. Damn it to hell, he left his wallet back at his house.
“Listen to me and hear what I am saying to you, I have every intention of making love to you tonight. As a matter of fact, I plan on ravishing you until you beg me to stop; just as soon as I get back.”
“Get back?” She asked confused. Why would he be leaving when they were just getting things going?