I’m so transfixed by watching him watch me that I startle slightly when his hand slides back across my thigh. As he leans into me, my eyes widen, not knowing what he’s going to do. His chest brushes my shoulder and arm, and electricity zips across my skin. Just when I think he might kiss me, his fork digs into the chocolate lava cake that’s on the opposite side of me. Watching his fork move toward his mouth, I frown.
I close my eyes, embarrassed that I thought he was going to kiss me. All I can hope is he didn’t notice my reaction. My eyes pop open when he says, “Try this one. It’s so good.” His breath tickles across my skin from how close he is to me.
My attention drops to find him holding his fork close to my mouth, and a heaping bite of the chocolate lava cake greets me. I lean forward and wrap my lips around his fork, pulling back and placing my fingers over my lips. I have no doubt I’ll have chocolate on them from that messy bite.
Another little moan leaves me. It’s the best cake I’ve evereaten and by far my favorite dessert of the night. “Oh my god, Nate. That’s so good.”
“Jesus fucking Christ,” he mutters. He glances away from me for a moment before dropping his fork with a loud clatter. As I turn to him, he leans into me, his hand slipping around my neck. “I have a feeling these desserts will never come close to how good you taste.”
I swallow hard as my eyes dip to his lips.
“Tell me yes, Olive. I just need one taste.” His tongue darts out to wet his bottom lip. “Just one fucking taste.”
Stomach flipping, goosebumps flare down my arms, and I’m nodding like I’m in a daze. Wanting a taste of him just as badly.
His lips take mine with a soft brutality that’s breathtaking. He wastes no time, his tongue flirting with mine. He’s getting his taste because I’m consumed. He feasts from me like I’m the most decadent thing in this city. Far too soon, his kiss starts to slow as he nibbles on my bottom lip. A soft moan falls from me at the sensation, already craving more.
“Holy shit, woman.” He pulls back, still gripping my neck as his eyes search mine.
A blissful smile forms on my face as I blink a few times to get my bearings.
Nate blows out a long breath while adjusting himself under the table as he sits back in the booth.
He grabs his beer and downs it, and I have to wrap my teeth around my lip to hide my pleased smile. I love that I have that effect on this gorgeous man.
Intertwining our fingers, he brings the back of my hand to his mouth for a kiss. “How many glasses of wine have you had?”
“Uh…” I think back and count. “Two and a half.”
“Good.” He squeezes my hand. “I lied. One taste wasn’t enough. Come back to my room with me?”
I don’t even hesitate when I reply, “Okay.”
His shoulders relax, as if he expected me to turn him down. Giving me a chaste kiss, he says, “Wait here, eat some more dessert. I’m going to go find our waiter and pay the check, then we can head out.”
I watch him walk away from the table, feeling like I’m buzzing. There’s no part of me that thinks I’m making the wrong decision. There’s just something about Nate that makes me as comfortable as I am turned on. Pulling out my phone to occupy myself, I check for texts from Benny.
What I find waiting for me has my blood running cold.
Marcus: Long time, no talk, Olive. Your brother is in a lot of fucking trouble. You need to call me.
11
Nate
Irush through the restaurant, looking desperately for our waiter. I need to get back to Olive. I need to get her back to my room. I spot him chatting with another server by the bar, and I hurry over to him, handing him my credit card. “Can I pay my check real quick?”
He smiles and takes my card. “Of course, let me go run this.”
Excitement and nervousness are zipping through my bloodstream as I vibrate with anticipation. The taste of her lips is something I can already tell I could quickly get addicted to. It was honestly shocking how long it took me to finally give in to the magnetic pull I felt toward her all night. She’s the most unintentionally alluring woman I’ve ever met. She has no idea what she does to me.
To be fair, I also have no idea what she’s doing to me. Ifully acknowledge it’s crazy to feel like this so soon. But so far, I’m powerless against it. Not that I’ve tried all that hard.
The server walks back to me with the receipt to sign. I scrawl my name and the tip and practically throw it back to him. Rolling the pent-up tension out of my shoulders, I stalk back to the table and freeze as I approach. Brow pinched, I pivot around to stare into the restaurant.
Did she get up to wait for me somewhere else?
I start walking away from the table, but a thought occurs. Maybe she went to the bathroom. I don’t want her to think I left her, so I’ll wait a few minutes.
