Chapter 4
A/N: WILL IT BE A KISS?
Thanks to the ones that have read and reviewed this story. I am really enjoying writing it and for this fandom. Your positive reviews are really fueling my writing fire. Please keep it up. Lol
Suzanne and Benjamin continued to study together in her private study room at the library due to midterms and then finals approaching. Suzanne was terribly worried about her Business class, but Benjamin kept assuring her that she was right on track and would do fine on the tests. As it turned out he was right, she got an A on her midterm and final. She was elated and wanted to thank him for all the work he put in with her to ensure she made a good grade. She was contemplating just how to thank him while sitting in her last class of the semester waiting on her final to start. This would be the last day of classes before the Christmas break and she would likely not see him for six weeks. He had told her he went home for the break and worked in his family's finance business. She was not looking forward to him being gone for six weeks.
She was still thinking about what to do for him while walking out of class. Suddenly it dawned on her, she would cook him a home cooked meal. They had not spent any time at each other's apartments so this would give her a chance to have him over. She secretly hoped he would finally take their relationship to the next level and kiss her. He had given her chaste pecks on the cheek when they had parted, but that was it and her frustration with that was building.
She called him and asked him to come to her place for dinner. He quickly agreed and asked her what time. She told him around 6.
She stopped by her apartment to see if she had everything to make him a meal. Nope, a quick trip to the grocery store was needed. She made her way through the aisles and even picked up some extra items. She would be staying on campus for a mini session until Christmas Eve Eve and would need some food.
She arrived home and started on their meal. She was a pretty good cook and wanted to make Benjamin something special. An hour before he was due to arrive, she showered and dressed.
She was walking out of the bedroom when she heard the doorbell. Glancing at the clock, right on time she smiled.
Benjamin was waiting outside her door with a handful of flowers that he had hand picked from the florist down the street from his apartment. He hoped she liked them.
She opened the door with her million dollar smile and his heart skipped a beat. She was wearing a black dress that hit just above her knees, it was strapless and contoured all her womanly curves just right. It highlighted her breasts.
His breathing increased and he could not form words. She was having the same issue. He was wearing snug jeans and a button down that was just tight enough to show off his obviously toned body. Her mouth watered as she too was trying to form words.
"Come in," she was finally able to say to him.
He smiled and her own heart rate increased.
"Something smells wonderful," he said. He walked in and handed her the flowers, "Beautiful flowers for a beautiful girl," he spoke softly. He could not take his eyes off of her. Her beauty was doing things to him he had never felt before.
She gestured to his coat and he took it off and handed it to her.
"Welcome to my home, can I get you a drink?" She asked hanging his coat on the rack behind the door. "We have wine or something else if you prefer."
"Wine is fine, Suzanne, your home is beautiful," he said, taking in her apartment. It had such a homey feel to it and he felt instantly comfortable there.
She ducked her head and blushed, "Thank you, I really like it here. I brought some things from home to make it feel like I was there," she said walking towards the kitchen.
He followed her as she poured them a glass of wine. "Here's to the end of a very good semester of classes and A's all around. Cheers they said and clinked glasses.
"Benjamin, I can not thank you enough for all your help in our Business class, you are the only reason I got an A and maintained my GPA," she told him.
"It was truly my pleasure, and you were a very good student. Let's hope we have the same success next semester, the material will be harder," he told her.
"Oh God, I barely made it through this class, I can't imagine the struggle harder material will be," she said with an anguished look on her face.
He sat his glass down and walked over to her. He picked up her hands, bringing them to his lips for a gentle kiss. "Do not worry, I will be by your side to help you the whole way. I only have two classes next semester and I will be a Teacher's Assistant for another, so I will have plenty of time to help you," he said, trying to calm her.
She blew out a nervous breath and turned towards the stove. "Dinner is ready, are you ready to eat?" she asked.
"Very much so, I have been looking forward to a home cooked meal since you asked me," he said.
She skillfully dished up their plates and carried them to the table.
Benjamin took a bite and moaned. "This is so good, you are a wonderful cook. Where did you learn to cook this good?"
"My mom is Italian/French and she taught me, she is a great cook and took pride in teaching me all the recipes that she was taught by her mother and grandmother. I really enjoyed it and it came easy to me. I wanted to learn as much as I could and spending time with her was fun for me too. She would tell me the best stories about the dishes as she taught me to make them," she smiled as she relayed the story.
"Well you have obviously been a good student for a long time. That is why you were so easy to teach," he said.
"Thank you, I am glad you enjoy it," she said.
They continued eating and talking until they were both full and leaning back in their chairs. She rose and began clearing the dishes. He followed her and together they washed the dishes.
She glanced at him smiling as he dried a plate. She was really enjoying the evening with him and having him in her home was a bonus.
He looked up and caught her looking at him smiling and ducked his head. He blushed and she thought it was adorable.
Once the kitchen and dishes were cleaned, she refilled their wine glasses and invited him to join her on the couch.
He sat on one end leaning back to look at her and she sat on the other with her legs tucked under her.
"What are your plans for Christmas?" he asked her.
"I will be staying to take a mini session until Christmas Eve Eve, then I will be going home until classes resume in January. My whole family will be gathering at the farm for Christmas. It will be a big crowd, grandparents, uncle and aunt. My brother Eric, recently started dating a young woman seriously, so it will be her introduction to the whole crowd," she said.
"Sounds like a really fun time. Since my sister Joan is in Europe studying and my mothers' parents passed away a few years ago, it will just be my parents and I. My grandfather chooses not to celebrate the holidays since he lost his wife 10 years ago," he told her.
She looked down feeling bad for being so excited for the big raucous family event she would be having, since his would be so low key.
He caught her expression and taking her hand he asked, "Why do you look sad all of the sudden?"
"I feel bad for making such a big deal of my holiday, when yours seems to be so low key," she said as she looked up at him.
"Suzanne, do not feel bad about that, it is awesome that you have such a big family to spend holidays with. I remember how excited I used to be when I was younger and it would bring me great joy. You should enjoy it to the fullest while you can," he told her.
He had moved closer to her as he was talking and still held her hand. He reached up and cupped her cheek, turning her head to him. "Suzanne, I know that we have really been taking this slow, and I have no problem with that, but I really want a relationship with you. We will take this at your pace, but I really want to kiss you," he said with hope in his voice.
"Benjamin, I really like you too and want us to move further into the next step, Please kiss me," she said breathlessly.
He slid closer to her, they both turned their heads and joined their lips. Softly and gently at first.
He moved his other hand to her shoulder pulling her closer to him.
She pushed her hands up his chest and moved one to the nape of his neck lacing her fingers in his close cropped hair at the base of his skull.
The kiss was tentative at first, but soon deepened. Benjamin suckled on her top lip silently asking her to part her lips and let his tongue in. She moaned into the kiss and parted her lips, granting him access.
Their tongues dueled and the kiss deepened. They finally pulled back, both needing oxygen.
Both speaking at the same time while gasping for breath, "That was ehh,...
Both leaned forward to rejoin their lips. Benjamin moved his hands to slide her down onto her back, not letting their lips break apart. He moved over the top of her and slid his knee between her legs.
She moaned further into the kiss welcoming his movements. She pulled his head further down to her.
Their kissing continued until they were once again out of breath. Benjamin pulled back gasping for air, but tilted his head and connected their foreheads together.
"Oh Suzanne, that was so good and your lips have me wanting to devour you. I could kiss you all day," he smiled down at her.
"Benjamin, you make me feel things I have never felt before and that could be dangerous," she said breathlessly.
Benjamin pulled back and sat up looking at her with smoldering eyes, "As much as I would like to take things further with you and hopefully someday we will, we need to take things slower."
She shook her head and agreed with what he said, even though her body betrayed her wanting more of him.
They both moved back away from each other, but still maintaining a close distance. He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it keeping it wrapped in his.
"Where do we go from here?" she asked.
"Suzanne, we have spent a lot of time together the last few months, but it was mostly with our heads stuck in books. I think when we come back from the holidays, we should try spending time together getting to know us and developing a relationship," he said.
"I would like that very much, I will ask one thing of you and I will offer you the same. Can we please talk to each other as this develops, I had what I thought was a serious relationship fall apart, due to us not communicating? My mother always stressed to me that communication is the key to developing and keeping a good healthy relationship," she asked.
"Absolutely, my mother pretty much gave me the same advice and warned me that not talking to each other about all things in a relationship will hurt it in the long run. I want a long term relationship with you and I see you in my future," he told her.
"Benjamin, I want that too. We will take this slow and get to know each other in all aspects," she said to him.
He shook his head in agreement and leaned over to place a gentle kiss on her lips.
"When are you leaving for home?" she asked him.
"My train plane at three pm tomorrow," he said. "Do you want to watch some TV or play a game? I don't want our night to end. We will not see each other for six weeks and I want to spend as much time with you as possible."
They decided to watch TV and settled back on the couch