Not Even Close (A New Generation) by Elizabeth Reyes (books to read in a lifetime txt) 📗

Pulling her to him she was instantly wrapped in his arms as hegazed down at her. “Food should be here in about twenty-minutes.”

She smiled big. “What are we having?”

“Chinese. Best place in town. Guys downstairs are always orderingit, but I haven’t had it in a while.”

“Ooh, Chinese sounds good, and I’m hungry.”

“Yeah?” he smiled pecking her a couple of times. “Good, ‘cause Iwasn’t sure what you’d want so I ordered a little of everything. So, what doyou feel like doing today?”

She smiled feeling timid suddenly and shrugged. “Enjoying a nicequiet day, just the two of us would be nice. This weekend is going to behectic.  My family.” She shook her head with a wince. “I’m the first to bringanyone around and my mom warned me that my uncles already said they’re gonna beall over it.” His squeezing his eyes shut had her smiling again. “They’re notso bad, I promise.”

His eyes flew open, and his brows leapt nearly to his hairline. “Really?Are they big harmless teddy bears like your dad?”

“They really are,” she insisted, even if she couldn’t helpsmirk. “And my mom said Uncle Romero is more excited about you being Beast’s brotherand grilling you about him. Oh, and Uncle Manny and Max,” she laughed outrightnow. “You’re gonna love them. They’re hilarious.”

“How many freaking uncles do you have?”

Glad for the change in mood and distraction about what would verylikely be happening before the day was over, she happily explained more about herfamily’s dynamics. The food arrived and they sat down to eat in front of theTV.

While it was on, they barely paid attention to it. Instead, they spokefood, cooking and since they were on the subject of Chinese food, she told himabout her family’s restaurant’s famous chorizo fried rice. Vannah couldn’t getover how comfortable she felt. As if she’d been hanging out with him like this forever.

As usual she couldn’t eat very much in one sitting but was gladthere was enough left to munch on for the rest of the afternoon and dinner. Knowingthings would inevitably end up getting cozy, Vannah made sure to excuse herselfto the bathroom before they did, brushed her teeth and gave the jittery girl inthe mirror a much-needed pep talk.

No surprise once out of the bathroom, Byron was already in thebedroom with the TV on in there instead. By the time he’d excused himself tothe bathroom as well and came back, Vannah was thankfully feeling a littlecalmer. He joined her on the bed where she’d taken a seat pretending to payattention to what was on the television. As always, he took her in his armsfirst thing. She cuddled up against Byron’s big strong embrace and couldn’thelp breathing in deeply again. Feeling Byron glance down at her, she turned upto meet his eyes.

up. That beautiful smile of his, so uncharacteristic to hisotherwise hardened demeanor, reminded her of the very first time she saw him atthe signing. He’d already told her more than once now that he’d never smiled somuch as he’d found himself smiling since he’d first laid eyes on her. She waslost in those eyes for a moment before breathing in deep again. Leaning in tokiss her softly, he then pulled away. As she opened her eyes, he seemed tosearch them. “Penny for your thoughts?”

“What?”

He chuckled clasping her even closer. “Before my time, too. Mymom used to say it. No surprise it’d be over your head, little girl. Means,what’s on your mind?”

For a moment, Vannah considered making something She’d hate forhim to pull back if he knew how hard this little girl had fallen for himalready. Then her mother’s steadfast advice resurfaced amid her thoughts, andshe swallowed hard. “I don’t remember ever feeling so content just hanging outand having lunch with someone.”

He stared at her for a moment, started to say something but thenseemed to change his mind and smiled instead. Vannah was then indulged with oneof the amazing kisses she now knew she’d never get enough of. Her entire bodytrembled as their kissing got deeper. As it’d been happening in the past severalmonths, they slowly repositioned themselves until they were completely lyingdown. Byron’s body was half over hers as he sprinkled kisses down her chin and neck,and he began unbuttoning her top.

They’d gotten as far as him taking her breasts in his mouth andmost recently him caressing her between her legs but just over her panties.Despite that, Vannah had nearly come undone, and she could feel herself goingthere again as he caressed her between her legs again now, but over her jeans.

Panicking, she placed her hand on his chest, and he immediatelypulled his hand away. “No,” she said touching his hand.

“Savannah, I don’t want you doing anything you’re notcomfortable—”

“No, it’s not that.” She shook her head meeting his staunchstare. “I actually came here prepared for things to move forward today. I just. . . I just wanted to talk to you about something first.” Her heart pounded ashis eyes went from widening in surprise, to him peering at her in question. “Whenyou asked me if I was still a virgin—”

She shook her head quickly and almost laughed at the immediate alarmin his expression. Albeit the urge to laugh was more out of anxiety, than thecomedic value of his panicked eyes.

“I’m not,” she assured him caressing his hard bicep. “I justdidn’t explain everything.”

Once again, the obvious change is his mindset was fast. “I don’tneed details, Savannah.”

“Not details.” She squeezed his bicep this time, trying to calmher racing heart. “It’s just that I wanted you to know the whole truth. I waswith one guy who I knew for a long time, because he was a close friend of mycousins growing up, before becoming a couple. Then we were together for a whilebefore I decided I was ready. But my reasoning for deciding I was ready wasbecause neither of us had . . .” She swallowed hard feeling kind of stupid nowbut was determined to get this out