There was a knock on the door as Matthew put the finishing touches on the candle arrangement. A small circular mirror stood in the center of his dark wooden coffee table with different sizes of scented candles. He took one last glance around, straightening a pillow on the couch before calling out, "Coming!" He made his way to the door with practiced grace, turning the knob on the deadbolt before opening the heavy door with slightly unsteady hands.
His crooked smile only accented the happiness in his eyes to see the woman standing before him. The woman presented to his view epitomized what he desired in a companion. Equal in his height, she exuded strength, confidence, and beauty. Her dark hair flowed over her shoulders in slight curls, a touch of rouge on her cheeks, light mascara, and warm-colored lipstick were a sign that she had taken the time to treat herself for this evening. A low-cut black cocktail dress with red highlights flowed over her sensual figure, accenting her breasts and hips.
No words were exchanged as he took the bag sitting on his stoop, his free hand grasping hers familiarly. It was uncanny how well the pair communicated through body language as she returned the smile and was welcomed into the home. The fragrance of wine and scented candles, the warmth of Matthew's body, and the excitement of the evening's mystery only added to the color in her cheeks and her natural beauty.
He set the bag down in a small alcove, closing the door behind her and locking it, his other hand never leaving hers. Their eyes locked and he pressed her gently against the entryway wall, his free hand running through her hair softly. His lips found their way to her jaw line, planting a gentle kiss while inhaling the scent of cigarette smoke and conditioner from her hair, one of his favorite combinations. His gentle kisses moved from her jaw line to her neck and then up to her earlobe, where he sucked softly before whispering in her ear, "Hello . . ."
He glanced up at her from his position, the crooked smile returning to his face as he slowly straightened. Her eyes fluttered open, a smile crossing her face as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "Hello." She slowly pressed him toward the other wall, eager to take advantage of his soft lips. He let her move him where she pleased, loving every moment of their shared control and trust. She put her lips tenderly against his, her tongue encouraging his mouth to open.
Their tongues met for the first time and danced teasingly together, their lips meeting every few moments in gentle kisses. Slowly they pulled slightly away from one another, their hearts beating fast and their eyes locking through half-closed lids. He reached up to his shoulder and took a hand in his, disengaging himself from her loving embrace and leading her to the den.
Candlelight flickered and made their shadows dance on the walls as he made sure she was comfortably seated on the couch before planting himself as near to her as he could be without sitting on her lap, an arm wrapping itself around her waist. She laughed heartily when she saw a bottle of Jagermeister in a champagne bucket filled with ice. He returned a chuckle and a smile, lighting two cigarettes and handing her one before pouring two shots and returning his arm around her waist.
They sat staring at each other, taking drags off of their cigarettes every once in a while. Matthew's hand rubbed in small circles on the woman's back tenderly and she pressed her shoulder up against him in approval. Once the cigarettes were finished, he poured two shot glasses full of the dark brown liquid from the bottle on ice and they toasted before drinking it down. The empty glasses were placed on the coffee table and Matthew wasted no time in seeking out her lips once again. He pressed her beneath him on the sofa, kissing her passionately, one hand entwined in hers and the other stroking her cheek softly.
He took a break to speak, "Jager and cigarette smoke mmmm . . . my favorite." They exchanged a silent chuckle before their tongues resumed their passionate dance, her hips rising to press tighter against him. His hand moved from her cheek to stroke her hair again, pressing against the rhythmic grinding of her hips. His heart rate rose as he enjoyed the warmth of her body, the smell of her hair, and the taste of her tongue. His soul filled with satisfaction as they were finally able to express their love toward one another.
"Heather," he whispered huskily, "I love you."
Her eyes opened and stared into his, an inexplicable connection making their hearts beat as one, "I love you too." His mouth descended on hers, swallowing the last of her syllables as he pressed against her with invigorated love and passion. Heather's arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him tighter against her, wanting him inside of her without any further hesitation. The fervor of their kisses increased, while light nibbles entered the mix. Abruptly, he pulled away from her and a smile crossed his face as he saw her face in an expression of disappointment at the absence of his nearness. He pulled her up from the sofa and led her by the hand to his bedroom.
