Susan Mallery - Prince Charming, M.D.

He leaned forward slightly and rested his right hand on her shoulder. “I had a good time.”

She looked up, eyes wide like a cornered animal. She nodded. “Me, too.”

“You’re pretty smart.”

Dismay filled her face. “Oh. Sorry.”

“No. Don’t apologize. I like smart girls. I can talk to them. They say stuff back.” He grinned now, remembering their heated discussion about the right way to solve a word problem. “You’re not afraid to tell me what you think.” “My mom says I’m too outspoken.”

She was warm and the peach sweater was as soft as it looked. He moved his hand closer to her neck, then stroked the delicate skin under her ear. Her breath caught and he felt a shiver race through her.

“Outspoken is good,” he said lightly, relieved it was dark in the car. She wouldn’t be able to see his predictable reaction to her nearness. It was embarrassing. He’d gotten hard the second he’d seen her and things hadn’t changed in the past two hours.

“You think so? I’m not sure. My mom says—”

He leaned over the console between them and angled his head. She stopped talking and froze in place, her mouth slightly parted, her eyes still wide. His lips touched hers.

Lightning ripped through him. Heat and need and feelings he’d never experienced before. He was trembling and felt as if he were about to explode. Fighting the desire to haul her hard against him, he kept the kiss light and still, trying to give her time to get used to what they were doing. After about a minute, he drew back somewhat.

Her eyes were closed, her mouth still parted. She smiled and touched a hand to her lips. “Wow.” Her eyes opened and she covered her face with her hands. “Oh, no. I didn’t really say that, did I?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, you did, and I’m glad. I thought it was a ‘wow,’ too.”

She peeked at him between her fingers. “You did?”

“Promise.”

He cupped the back of her neck and drew her closer. This time she melted against him. Her slender arms settled around his neck and he felt the tentative touch of her fingers in his hair. Her mouth yielded to his. He thought about deepening the kiss, but he was conscious of the time and of not wanting to go too far, too fast She was special and he wanted to enjoy every moment they had.

“Dana, I have to take you in,” he murmured against her mouth.

“Oh.” She nodded. “I guess you’re right.”

“Can I see you tomorrow?”

“Yes!” she said eagerly. “Of course. I’d like that.”

He loved that she wasn’t grown up enough to be sophisticated. In time she would learn to pretend a lack of interest, to be coy and hold back. But her enthusiasm only made him like her more.

“Tomorrow is Friday. How about getting something to eat, then going to a movie. What’s your curfew?”

She chewed her bottom lip. “I don’t know. I’ve never been—” Even in the shadowed light of the Mustang’s front seat he saw her blush. “That is, you’re sort of my first, well...date.” The last word came out as a whisper.

“I’m glad.” He climbed out of the car and walked around to her door, then escorted her to her small apartment. “You can let me know tomorrow at school. I’ll talk to you at lunch.”

“Okay.”

When he took her hand, she stared at him in wonder, then smiled. His chest tightened with pleasure. She was very special, he told himself as he waited while she unlocked the door and stepped inside. He’d finally found a girl he could really like and he promised himself he would do everything in his power to make this work.

* * *

“Trevor,” she breathed, her voice thick with passion. “I think I like this.”

He’d fallen for her, he thought with wonder. It had only been a few weeks and already he didn’t know how he’d managed to survive without her. Around Dana, he felt able to take on the world. The rumors about his playing around didn’t matter. He was hers and she knew that She believed in him. He hadn’t realized how much he’d needed that belief, until she’d given it so completely. Her honesty, her intelligence, her humor, her adoration, all conspired to make him love her. Which he could handle. It was their sensual playfulness that was getting him into trouble. Her shirt had long since been discarded and he was fighting the temptation to remove her bra.

“This is a mistake,” he muttered, searching for control. He could hear his hormones laughing at his feeble attempts.

“I’m glad your parents are away for the weekend,” Dana said, and dropped a kiss on his mouth. “This is fun.”

She rubbed against him again and he groaned. “You can’t keep doing that. Dana, I’m serious. You can feel what’s happening to me. It means I want you. I know you like the kissing and touching, but you’re not ready for anything else.”

He placed his hands on her waist and lifted her off him, then rolled into a sitting position and tried to think pure thoughts.

Dana came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to tease you. I like what we do together. But you’re right. We should stop.”

The lamp on the nightstand provided the only illumination in his room. He stared at the bookshelves in front of him, at the familiar trophies for football and track, at a few car models and some books. But he didn’t see any of them.

He turned and cupped her face. “Dana, I wish...”

She smiled. “I know. I love you, Trevor.”

His breath caught in his throat. Had she really said those magic words? He’d never been happier in his life. “I love you, too. I love you so much I—”

She kissed him, cutting off his words. He pulled her close and they tumbled back onto the bed. They were kissing and touching, and suddenly they were both naked and he was stroking her belly, moving closer to that place he’d never been before.

He nuzzled her breasts, tasting them, tasting her, hoping she didn’t notice how much he was shaking. He’d experimented with girls before, but he’d never made love.

As he prepared to enter her, he asked, “Should I stop?”

She shook her head. “I love you.”

He drew in a shuddering breath and slowly entered her. The pressure was unbearable, as was the pleasure. He tried to hold back, to think of something else, but it was like trying to control the tide. One more thrust of his hips and he lost it.

When the spasms had faded, he looked at her. Dana touched his face. “I thought it would take longer.”

Typical Dana, who didn’t know enough to pretend to salvage his male ego. He kissed her fiercely. “Don’t ever change,” he told her. “I love you exactly as you are.”

She wrinkled her nose. “What does that have to do with anything?” She shifted against him.

Amazingly enough, he felt himself become aroused again. He started to move. “Let’s try that once more,” he said. “This time it will be longer.”

She pulled him close and kissed him. “I think I’d like that,” she murmured against his mouth.

* * *

On Monday Trevor got to school late. He’d had a dentist appointment and for once he hadn’t minded having his teeth cleaned. In fact, he figured he could have flown to school instead of driven. He’d never been so happy in his life.

Friday night had been magical. His only regret was that Dana had spent the rest of the weekend with her mother— some family obligation she hadn’t been able to get out of. But he would see her tonight.

He walked into school just in time for fourth period. He slid into his seat next to his best friend, Joel, who gave him a knowing wink. The two boys had hung out the previous afternoon and Trevor had confessed what had happened with Dana.