Kris was looking in the mirror applying the finishing touches to her makeup. After brushing on a last coat of mascara she sighed, "Well, I guess this is as good as it will get." She looked at the clock then grabbed her keys and purse to head out door. She hoped she wouldn't get lost as she had just enough time to get to the restaurant on time to meet Dante. She really didn't want to be late.
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Kristiana was a pretty girl but she didn't recognize it as others did. She had shoulder-length, thick dark brown hair, big hazel eyes and olive skin from her Italian heritage. It wasn't her face that was the source of her self-esteem issue but her body. Kris stood 5'11"; very tall for a woman, even taller than the average man. She hating standing out as she did and refused to consider dating anyone shorter than her. Kris also wasn't a skinny girl; she had curves and some weight to her. Though she stood tall and carried herself with confidence, her tough exterior hid the self-consciousness she had within.
Kris's last serious relationship, which had ended around a year ago, didn't help with how she viewed herself. She and Gerard had met though a mutual friend while he was in town on business. They had started as friends, just exchanging a few emails and instant messages since they lived far apart. Then came text messages, phone calls and video Skype sessions. Soon they were getting together whenever he came to town on business and she would occasionally take long weekends to visit him.
Gerard was drawn to Kris's intelligence, confidence and sense of humor. She could hold her own in any conversation or situation he put her in. He fell for her early in their relationship through the conversations they shared.
They were together for over 2 years but the relationship never reached the level the Kris expected or wanted. She loved Gerard, but she knew he could never fully return her feelings. Sure he cared for her, was affectionate towards her and enjoyed spending time with her but deep down she knew he would never truly love her. Kris always felt that Gerard was disappointed in her appearance, as she was the exact opposite of the fair skinned, skinny, petite, blondes he usually dated. Never once in their time together did he tell her she was beautiful. And though everyone else thought of her as his girlfriend, Gerard never called or introduced her as such; insisting that he hated those kind of "labels."
Kris finally forced herself to face the fact that the relationship would never evolve. So even though she loved Gerard with all her heart, she ended things. The breakup itself didn't hurt as much as when she found out how quickly Gerard had moved on with his new girlfriend. After only a few weeks, letting this new woman into his life and his heart in a way he never had with Kris.
Kris took off a few months of dating after the breakup but since she decided to get back in the game she had had nothing but a sting of bad dating experiences. Quite a few awkward first dates, fewer second dates, and not one guy made it to a third.
Kris was starting to give up on dating when she met Dante. He found her on an online dating site and they seemed to connect right away. They talked through email, text and the phone for 3 weeks before they met. They were both very nervous on their first date but things seemed to go very well. By the end he was comfortable enough to give her a kiss and ask her out again, Kris gladly accepted both. It was a little wait before their second date because of Kris's work schedule, but Dante called her everyday in between. They lived in different towns and since he had driven to her for the first date, she insisted on driving to him for the second.
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When Kris arrived to the restaurant she noticed Dante was waiting for her leaning against the side of his truck. He looked good in dark jeans and white polo shirt against his tan skin and deep brown eyes. He was big guy, at least 6'8" tall with broad shoulders and ripped with muscle. His black hair was a little shaggy and wild and he had a neatly trimmed short beard. Kris still couldn't believe how this completely gorgeous man could be interested in her.
Kris hoped that he would like the dress she decided to wear. It was a low-cut, coral cotton dress that showed a hint of cleavage. The dress came to her knees and showed off her long tan legs and wedge sandals. He started walking towards her as she climbed out of her Jeep. Dante stopped a few feet in front of her once he got a full view of her. His eyes moved down and back up her body, stopping on her face, "Great dress," he said with a smile and wink.
"Thanks," she smiled. He closed the gap between them, leaning down to wrap her in a hug and planting a kiss on her cheek. She blushed as he ushered her into the restaurant and to the table he had requested earlier.
The table Dante had chosen was secluded so they would have privacy. The dinner conversation was completely comfortable and flowed without any awkward silence. Both of them smiled and laughed often through the meal and there was a lot of flirting back and forth. They talk about their interests, work, and families. Kris was a 27 year old, graphic designer at a marketing firm. She'd grown up in the upstate New York, gone away to college and then come back after graduation for a job offer. She had a small family, her parents were still in the area but they were not very close. Dante was 32 and grew up down south. He moved to New York about a year ago for business. He came from a large family that was very tight-knit and they owned several companies that had dealings in real estate. When the check came, Dante grabbed it and refused to split it as Kris suggested.
After dinner they headed to the movies. Kris and Dante paid much closer attention to each other than the film. Each time she tried to steal a glance of him, she noticed he was staring at her. It made her a little uncomfortable but also a little excited. Half way through the film their arms and legs were touching and by the end he had his arm around her shoulder and she was leaning into him. As he walked her through the parking lot they chatted about the movie and he moved to grab her hand.
When they reached Kris's car, she started fumbling for her keys as she told him what a great time she had that evening. Dante just smiled and leaned down, his lips searching for hers. He caught he off guard as he brushed his lips gently against hers and she could feel him smiling against her.
He grabbed her chin and tilted her head up, "Look up at me." She looked into his beautiful face and a shiver went down her spine. "When can I see you again, Kris?"
"Um... I have plans this weekend but I have the day off from work on Monday. If you wanted to come over to my place, I could make us dinner and we could watch a movie after?"
"You'd cook for me and I'd have you to myself? I like that idea." He gave her a cocky smirk and she couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Well, don't get..." before she could finish he cut her off with another kiss. This one so much stronger than the first, his lips pressed firmly against hers, his body had her pressed back against the side of her Jeep. His tongue snaked out and licked across her lips, and he took her bottom lip between his to nibble and suck on it. Dante's hands moved down Kris's body to grab her hips and pull her into his body. She let out a little moan and he used the opportunity to push his tongue into her mouth. His tongue finding hers as they wrestled with each other. He was desperate to taste every inch of her mouth.
