He sort of nodded, embarrassed at being called out but still a little proud that he’d managed to impress this sophisticated city girl. “Burgers are venison.”
“Did you hunt them yourself?”
“Them? No, I huntedit. They don’t come as burgers, you know, princess,” he teased.
“They don’t?” Her voice was flirty and light, just like that smile. Women didn’t flirt with him usually. No, usually he’d check a woman out in an obvious sort of way, and she’d either ignore him or let him know she was up for it. None of this sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks. More like dirty words and illicit touches. Then uncomfortable truck sex.
Uma looked happy, and still, her fingers fondled that scarf. He couldn’t pull his eyes away. She caught him staring and looked down. “What’s this?”
“Got you those too. In case…you know.”
It was the green one. The same color as those little dots in her eyes. It was beautiful against her skin.
The change came over her. Like a switch. Uh-oh. Her expression was strange. Maybe he’d gone too far.
The first scarf wafted around her neck, and she picked up the second one. The thicker, wider black scarf that he thought of as his.
When her eyes met his this time, she looked positively wicked. Oh man,thiswas the woman he’d hoped to see again tonight.
What was it about this woman that made him feel so reckless?
* * *
Uma’s best laid plans would always go awry. It was a rule in life. But apparently life was telling her to stop trying to control everything.
She’d come to Ivan’s place tonight with the full intention of baring her skin and giving him the chance to get out when he saw her as she was: someone else’s leftovers.
Instead, this.
How could she possibly refuse his offering? They’d do it for real. Blindfolded again, because it was what he thought she wanted.
He’d given her everything. And for a split second, it scared the living hell out of her. Until she picked up the second scarf with its thicker weave.
“Come here so I can put this on you.”
“Want a glass of wine first?”
Oh, right. That was what a civilized person did. You sat and had wine and snacks andthenyou ravished the beast who’d put himself out to please you.
“Okay, sure,” she sighed.
Ivan smiled. “You don’t, do you?”
Uma shook her head and smiled back at him.
“Good.” He picked up the corkscrew. “’Cause I don’t even know how to use one of these.”
She said, “Come here,” and he set the corkscrew down before obeying.
He caught her wrists as she moved to twine the black fabric around his head. “Can I get a kiss first?”
“Oh, right.” Her eagerness was a little mortifying, but his smile told her it was okay. Gently, sweetly, he leaned in and put his lips to hers, giving just the right amount of pressure. Slowly, with impossible calm, he kissed her. When he pulled away, he left her barely able to stand on her own.
“Wow.” She hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
“Yeah.”
“Now, can we…”
