Page 26

The heat and tension in the air surround us, and the familiar stir starts in my gut. “First time I saw you, walking into that restaurant, I was in trouble.”

“You saw me?” She leans back enough to look me in the eyes.

“You’re hard to miss. Laughing and smiling, like you didn’t have a care in the world. I knew then.”

“That was over two weeks ago.”

“Yeah, it was. Lucky for me, you hauled your ass into the station spewing attitude and made it easier for me to find you again.”

“I wasn’t spewing attitude.”

“You were, and it took me le

ss than a second to decide I was going to handle your problem. Sometimes, even a man like me needs a little push.”

“Man like you?” Her question comes out raspy, and fuck if it doesn’t make me want to kiss her again.

“I’m not one to fuck around, Emi. I don’t play games. Tonight, seeing you open the door was a test of my self-control. But watching you waltz toward me, my restraint snapped. I may have waited over two weeks, but I’m done waiting.”

She’s still in my arms, clutching onto me as I hold her close. She crinkles her eyes, and one side of her lip tips into a sideways grin when the words sink in.

“Did you really bribe the bartender into snooping at the bar?”

“I prefer to call it intelligence gathering.”

“And then you paid my best friend a hundred dollars to cover my loss.”

“Do it again in a heartbeat. Told you, I’m done waiting.”

“Suddenly, I’m not that hungry anymore.” Her eyes drop back to my lips.

“Dinner, Emi. Don’t tempt me.” I set her back on her feet and graze my lips over hers quickly. “I’m taking you out on a proper date. It’s what happens after that, that may not be so proper.”

Her breath hitches as her eyes snap back to mine with a flash of hunger. My chest tightens at the effect that look has over me.

“Dinner,” I repeat, linking my hand with hers. “Then we’ll talk about dessert.”

“Do you want to come in?” Emi murmurs against my lips.

I break away from her mouth long enough to see we’ve been going at it in my truck for the last ten minutes. She’s draped across my lap, her body pressed between me and the steering wheel. I didn’t bother to adjust my seat when we pulled into a parking spot and I hauled her to me. The heat inside the vehicle is thick, and beads of sweat roll down my neck and back, but I can’t seem to let her go.

“Yeah, I want to come inside, but I don’t think it’s a smart idea.”

“Why?”

“Because I know what’s going to happen when we walk through your door, and I’m pretty sure it’s bad manners to rip off your clothes on the first date.”

“I thought you said you were done waiting.” She throws my words from earlier back in my face.

“There are different kinds of waiting, Emi.”

“Well, that sucks.” She huffs grouchily.

At the word ‘sucks’, my dick lurches with a mind of his own.

“The night’s not over yet.” I kiss along her jawline until I reach her ear. She squirms in my lap, her hip digging into my groin, and I hiss at the ache shooting through my cock.

“Sorry.” She giggles, purposely doing it again.