Chapter 25 The Kiss

[Hello, my lovely readers, I'm so sorry to say I have to change my update plan to 2 chapters per week because I've been quite busy recently. Thank you for all your comments]
His lips brush my earlobe, tickling and tingling my nerves at the same time, sending shivers down my spine to the tips of my toes. His kiss slides from my earlobe to my neck. My hands clench so tightly that my nails sink deep into my flesh, but I don't feel the pain at all.
"Ella, you look stunning tonight." He complies with a low, sexy voice, his tongue touching my collarbone lightly.
My legs go weak, and I almost fall to the ground. He catches me steadily and lifts me up. My left-hand holds his arm in an attempt to regain the strength to stand still. Neither of us continues to dance.
Mr. Clapton gently cups my face and looks into my eyes; his mouth curls into a wicked and dangerous smile. Time seems to have stopped passing at this point. His blue eyes look like sapphires, attracting my eyes to stay for them; they are also like whirlpools in the ocean, sucking me in, never to escape.
We lock eyes, neither leaving the other's sight, "Your eyes are so beautiful." I can't help but say these words.
"Thank you for the compliment. Let me guess, we're both thinking about the same thing right now." He moves closer to me with a bad grin.
Mr.Clapton's lips gently meet mine with the rich aroma of buttered bread. Our breaths mingle with each other as if we were one, without a moment's separation.
I let out a moan, but it causes him to suddenly tighten his arms around my waist. Following that, his hot tongue explores between my teeth and runs roughly inside my mouth, entwining with my tongue. All of a sudden, it seems like all the butterflies in my stomach are fluttering around inside me. And, it appears someone has lit a firework inside my head that explodes in a gorgeous, beautiful blast, taking the oxygen out of the air and then searing my entire body.
I try to pause the kiss to get some fresh air, but Mr. Clapton holds me tightly, keeping my body pressed against his firm chest. I can't break free, but my racing heart and dying brain remind me that I desperately need oxygen. I bite the tip of his tongue and taste blood. Mr. Clapton grunts and doesn't let go but kisses me harder. He keeps his hands firmly on my waist and rubs it over and over.
I become dizzy and weak from the kiss and finally give up my desire for fresh air.
I don't know how long it took, maybe just a few seconds, but Mr.Clapton finally leaves my lips, and I get fresh air. I breathe in and out with my burning cheeks and a big gasp.
"Little thing, remind me in a normal way next time." Mr.Clapton says, his thumb grazing over his tongue where I've bitten.
"I'm sorry, but you didn't respond when I pushed you." I apologize under my breath.
"You mean you want more than the kiss?" "
He grabs my right hand, places it on his chest, and rubs my waist up and down along my back, causing me to shiver. My body gradually heats up from his kiss and touch.
"I got it. Go home with me?" He nods, then brings his sexy bass voice like a feather grazing my ear canal.
"Oh, no! I didn't mean it like that. I don't know ...." I stammer, feeling my tongue go out of control.
"Why? Are you waiting for someone else to show up?" He raises an eyebrow.
"No, no. I might not be ready." I whisper.
"Don't tell me you're still a virgin." Mr. Clapton says.
After he reveals my hidden secret, I immediately lower my head and don't dare to look at his face.
"Seriously? Wow, you always surprise me unexpectedly." His voice is full of surprise as if he doesn't believe his guess is the truth.
"I'll kill you if you say it to anyone!" I say, even though I know my words pose no threat to him.
"Or you can choose to let me turn this into a lie." Mr.Clapton whispers in my ear, taking his burning breath with him.
Gosh, he is driving me crazy with his flirting skills. A strong urge wells up from inside me, giving me a sudden urge to nod my head and say yes to this man's invitation in front of me.
"I don't want to go too fast. At least, at least until I get to know you better." I say, taking his hand in mine and guessing that he might find my thoughts too old-fashioned.
"That's okay. I have plenty of patience. No matter what, you've aroused my interest." Mr. Clapton touches my face and gives me a simple kiss.
Before the dance ends, Mr. Clapton drives me back to my apartment.
"Do you have any plans for tomorrow?" Mr. Clapton asks me before I get out of the car.
"Nothing. I might take Ethan for a walk around the neighborhood and then go shopping for ingredients for next week's cat food." I shrug.
"Then you prepare the cat's dinner earlier. I'll pick you up at two tomorrow afternoon." He says.
"Where to?"
"The Packhouse, my parents' place. Tomorrow is my mother's birthday. There's a barbecue party at the packhouse in the evening."
With a pause as the hand rests on the car door, I suppose I misheard. But in fact, I haven't.
"You're taking me to meet your parents?" I swallow the lump in my throat and ask him for confirmation.
"Mmm-hmm.My father already knows I punished Joanna at the dance for you. Her father is my father's close friend. It was necessary to give my father a reasonable explanation. So, I told him I was dating you and would take you to my mother's birthday party." He explains.
"Okay! Is there any dress code?" I ask.
"Don't be nervous. Wear what you normally wear; it's just a family gathering." Mr. Clapton says with a smile.
I nod but don't intend to listen to Mr. Clapton's suggestion. Tomorrow he's taking me to the largest pack house in North America, and if I go in jeans and a T-shirt, I'll definitely leave a bad impression on Mr. Clapton's parents!
"Can you tell me the kind of flowers your mother likes? Or other gifts, like scented candles or something like that." I ask and plan to go out and buy a birthday present tomorrow.
"Well, if you think a gift is necessary, how about bringing the roast chicken thighs you made last time?" Mr.Clapton says.
"Stop joking. I'm serious." I say, raising my eyebrows.
"I'm not joking. If you don't believe me, you can also try giving flowers and the scented candles you mentioned." Mr. Clapton gives a shrug.
"All right, thank you for everything you did for me tonight, Mr. Clapton," I thank Mr. Clapton again before I leave the car.
"Just so you know, every time I hear you call me that, I think you're calling my father or my grandfather." Mr. Clapton jokes.
"Good night, Eth."
"Good night, Ella."
***
The following afternoon, I leave a note to Mia, who is still sleeping, asking her to help me feed Ethan dinner. Then when I open the door with the birthday gifts I have prepared, Eth happens to come out of the apartment elevator. Surprisingly, he doesn't wear a suit today. A white shirt inside a navy blue pullover; brown casual jeans with a pair of loafers.
"Perfect timing!" I give Eth a smile.
Eth removes his sunglasses and surveys my outfit from head to toe, wearing his upraised brows.
"You're going to wear this to packhouse with me?" he asks.
"What's wrong with it?" I look down to ensure the heels on my feet are okay, the light blue dress is free of any stains, and the camel-colored trench coat Mia lent me rests securely on my shoulders.
"No problem. A bit of traffic today. We'd better get going soon." With that, he takes the champagne roses and the shopping bag with the gifts from my arms.
At this moment, I haven't realized what a mistake I made in not listening to Eth last night.