I wrinkled my forehead, impressed. “Wow. Williamsport U is one of the top universities in the city.”
“So I’m told.”
I giggled. “What about your dad?”
“He works as an executive at Townsend Energy.”
“And you’re an only child?”
He nodded.
“They probably had a lot of hopes and dreams pinned on you.”
“They did. Townsend was the company I worked for out of undergrad. I got hired through my dad’s connections, although I had the education and internship experience for the job. It seemed like the perfect fit.”
“Until you had other plans.”
“Right.”
“How much of a rift did your career change cause?”
“My dad refused to speak to me for months. My mother spoke to me, but it was minimal. It took a few years for them to come around, and even still…” He trailed off.
“But you’re a hero. No, I mean it,” I insisted when he snorted. I put down my fork, grabbing his wrist. His eyes moved from my face to my hand. A wave of need shot through my belly at the sharpness in his gaze. “I-I just mean, no disrespect to your parents. But you run into burning buildings and save lives. You may not make the big bucks like someone working in the executive suite at Townsend but what you do is so much more valuable.” I squeezed his arm for emphasis.
He stared at me for a long while, his dark eyes burrowing into mine, drinking me in. A dizzy feeling came over me at the intensity of his stare. That spark of electricity that always threatened to ignite whenever we were close rose up, consuming us both.
“Are you finished with dinner?”
“Yes.” My tone was low, breathy.
Rising from his seat, he came around to where I sat. Before my mind could register what was happening, he pulled me up to stand in front of him, strong hands holding me at my waist. His lips were on mine a second later, and I willingly opened up to receive whatever he was trying to give.
His tongue swept my teeth and then my tongue, tasting me, savoring me. His fingers dug into my sides, pulling me deeper and deeper into his spell. Knowing I’d topple over from the vigor of this kiss, I wrapped my hands around the hardness of his triceps, using his body weight as an anchor to hold me up. I moaned into his mouth, our lips smacking against one another. I needed to come up for air, but the kiss was too good.
Breathing could wait.
I didn’t need it.
All I needed to survive was more of this.
More of him.
I was lifted off the ground and placed on the table. I wrapped my legs around his thighs and gasped when I felt the third leg in his pants. I moved back, staring at him, asking without words if that was what I thought it was. He smirked with a promise filling his dark eyes. The seam of my panties became moist with my need for him. He pulled me in again. I closed my eyes and sighed into his ravenous mouth, knowing this was wrong. But how could something wrong feel so right?
His strong hands on me.
His lips caressing mine.
I knew we shouldn’t be doing this so early on. We were only on our third date… if we counted the coffee shop as a date. Each caress of his lips or swipe of his tongue left me falling deeper and deeper under his spell. One I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to come out from under. Just when I decided to throw all caution to the wind, he pulled back, hand still holding onto the back of my neck, our foreheads pressed together. We both panted loudly.
“You’re making it hard to take things slow.”
“Who said you need to take things slow?” I practically purred.
“You did, Angel. Your body wants to, but your mind’s still wrestling with it.” He gazed into my eyes before taking a step back. “Go freshen up. I’ll clear the table so we can head over to the festival.”
I stood there for a second attempting to regain my equilibrium. Blinking, I oriented myself, and saw Eric taking our empty plates to the kitchen as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He looked at me expectantly, and I remembered he told me to go freshen up. I smoothed down the edges of my dress, almost embarrassed at how carried away I let things get on my dining room table!
