First Impressions - RIVER CARTWRIGHT

Chapter 4

Her hands rested lightly on his thighs, 

“Should probably warn you though,” she hesitated. Her nails scratched the fabric of his jeans in small circles nervously. “It's been… a while. She admitted.

“Better make sure I impress then,” he grinned, her blush visible in the candlelight. With his hands on her hips, he gently pushed her back a step in order to get off the stool. She blew out the last of the candles and led him down the brightly lit hallway. As they reached her room, he knocked the light off with his elbow and closed her door behind them. 

“Did you… did you tidy up in here?” He sniggered.

“I can still kick you out, pal.” 

“Ahh but then you won't find out the big secret.” He teased. She turned her back on him and moved her hair to one side. 

“Zip please?” 

“No come back on that one?” He whispered in her ear, slowly easing the zip down her back. His knuckle followed the same path, featherlight down her spine. She shivered against him, bringing his lips in contact with her temple.

“Nah, I still think I can make you tell me.” Lexie kept her composure, trying to keep the tremor from her voice. His hand slipped inside her dress to rest on the curve of her waist.

“I'd like to see you try.” He murmured, his voice low. 

“Has anyone ever told you,” Lexie began, stepping out of his reach and turning to face him, “that you are too cocky for your own good?” 

“It might have been mentioned, yeah.” He watched as Lexie slipped the short sleeves of her dress down her arms while keeping herself covered. 

“Good. So you already know that sometimes you should just,” she pushed the dress down over her hips and let it drop to the floor, “shut up?” She was certain that the silence would last forever. His expression was unreadable and she felt the light wine buzz disappearing. The urge to fold in on herself and bring her hands up to cover the pretty lingerie she'd intentionally picked out was beginning to outweigh any shred of confidence she still felt. It was but a second. He covered the distance between them in one step and took her hands in his before they could shield her body from him. Up close, the hunger in his eyes was raw and honest. 

“I-, you-... fuck, Lex-” She blushed under his gaze, the soft lamp light bathing her in a peachy glow.

“I didn't mean actually shut up,” she muttered, her feet suddenly the most interesting thing in the room. 

“Can you blame me? I think I'm speechless.” He smirked, lifting her chin so she could look up at him.

“First time for everything.” She quipped, gaining confidence from his reaction, the way his hands toyed with her own to try and show some restraint. 

“God, you're beautiful,” he leaned down to kiss her, pulling her against him. Lexie’s fingers fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, unwilling to put any space between them. River took over, chuckling at her sighs of frustration with each tiny button. Finally free of his pale blue shirt, he pulled her closer again and felt her smile against him once she was able to run her hands across the smooth skin of his back. “Are you sure about this, Lex? This is what you want?” He asked, Lexie nodded. “Talk to me, babe?”