Porter’s voice cracked slightly as he responded. “That’s…that’s good. I’m glad you feel that way around me. Tonight, seeing you with my family, it just felt right. Everything just felt like it fell into place. You know, my mama loves you!”
I laughed. “And my mama loves you… Smokey.”
“I guess the nickname is sticking, huh?”
I put my arms around his neck, audaciousness replacing my nervousness. “From the moment I saw you, I wanted you.”
Porter’s eyes narrowed, the green gleaming in the soft light of the dance floor. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted you.”
I laughed. “I have a pretty good idea.”
“And you’d still be wrong.” Porter leaned down and kissed me. At first, the kiss was tender. Then, quickly, the level of heat and intensity increased. He pulled me in closer, his hands still on my waist. I moved my hands to his chest, trying to allow space for hands to roam freely. His lips drew me in as his tongue met and danced intimately with mine. I felt his hands grasp my face as his kisses became faster, harder. He sucked my bottom lip, grazing it slightly with his teeth before finally letting me go.
“Wow,” I said breathlessly. I looked at him and laughed. Amazingly, my $40 lipstick was worth every penny. There wasn’t a trace on his face at all.
Porter wiped the corners of his mouth with his index finger and laughed. “Wow, is an understatement.”
I looked around and realized the music had stopped. The dance floor had cleared out, and it was just me and Porter standing there. I looked over his shoulder to see Eloise with her hand to her chest, smiling. I could not suppress my smile, either.
The band began to play an instrumental version of “The Wobble.” Every elderly Black person in the house ran or hobbled to the dance floor, including Des and Eloise. A geriatric line-dance stampede.
Porter whispered in my ear. “Maybe we should get out of here?”
I looked at him, puzzled. “Porter? You want to leave? Now? We haven’t even had dinner and I know you don’t want to waste $500 of your hard-earned cash.”
“What would be a waste is not getting you out of that dress fast enough. You’re coming home with me, Ari.”
My stomach muscles clenched at the husky, primal tone of his voice.
“Are you sure?” I asked. My voice trembled with excitement and nervousness. We were going at what seemed like warp speed.
Porter moved a strand of hair stuck to my face. “Before this night is over, I’m trying to make you come a record number of times.”
A devilish grin was plastered on my face. “Oh yeah? How many?”
“However many the woman I love wants.”
I looked up at Porter. The look on his face was all lust, joy and want. It was all too much for me. I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath. “You love me?”
“Yes, Ari. I love you. If you don’t love me, you don’t have to say it if you don’t…”
“I love you,” I softly whispered, interrupting in a voice that was barely audible, unsure if Porter had heard me. But he had.
Without another word, hand in hand, we ran out of the ballroom.
As soon as we entered the elevator to his loft, Porter wasted no time claiming me. He leaned into me against the wall. His tongue was uncontrollable, and his hands were all over me. First in my hair, pulling me deeper into his kiss, then along my waist. His hands glided between the split in my dress, palming my thighs. I moaned and bit my lip. I wanted him. Badly. I had never fucked in an elevator, but I’d give it a shot.
“I want you,” he whispered as he kissed along my jawline. “I want you right now.”
“I want you, too,” I said, barely able to breathe between kisses.
The elevator stopped on Porter’s floor. He opened the door with one hand and led me inside with the other. His loft building used to be an old sugar mill. Porter’s loft was on the top floor of the building, which had the most amazing view of the Atlanta skyline. The building was a U shape with his windows facing another set of loft windows. I walked over to his large, expansive windows and looked at the rain falling. I traced my fingers along the cold window, making a heart out of the condensation.
I felt Porter come behind me. He moved my damp hair from my shoulders and slowly zipped down my dress. He took his time, kissing along the way as the zipper slowly moved down. I felt his tongue follow my spine, and a shiver overcame me. I closed my eyes and leaned into the amazing feeling of his lips.