He sat with her and took one of her hands in his. “Hey, you can tell me anything.”
“You’re making this so much harder.” She sighed. Truthfully, what she’d done wasn’t that terrible. But she felt as if she’d stepped over some line, perhaps harming their fragile trust with each other in some way. “My mom just called me.”
“Uh-oh,” he joked. He stroked her hand, and a shiver of pleasure stole through her. When he shifted, she smelled his cologne, a subtle scent that had her body waking up when she really needed it to stay asleep.
“Look, there’s no easy way to say this.” She stared him in the eyes, aware his were so incredibly pretty, a light brown ringed by a darker brown, filled with care and affection. She swallowed. “I lied to my mom and told her you were my plus-one when she said she’d decided I’d go with Cal.”
He didn’t falter in any way. “So you were ‘assigned’ someone else and decided to take me instead.”
“Well, I lied. I, ah, kind of told my mom I’d met someone.” She tried to tug her hand from his, but he didn’t relax his grip, so she stilled. “I told her your name. I’m sorry. I just didn’t want any entanglement with Cal. He’s nice, but I don’t want a date I didn’t choose. And really, I should just be able to go alone so?—”
“Do I need to get a tux?”
She blinked. “What?”
“Should I get a tux? How dressy is this thing going to be?”
The sight of him in a tux would take her breath away. “Um, I think a nice suit and tie would work.” After a pause, she said, “You’re not mad?”
“Not at all.” He tightened his hand around hers then released her to put a coffee in front of her. He bit into a pastry and sighed. “These are so good. Have a bite.” He held one out to her.
She automatically leaned forward and took a bite. “Delicious.” She licked off a bit of cherry filling and saw him staring at her mouth.
All at once, she remembered that full-body hug, how warm and solid he’d felt against her. How good he smelled, how big he was when aroused. Her body reacted, her nipples beading, the need to squirm and soothe the tingling between her legs yet another sign she wanted him.
“Justine, I’m happy to help in any way I can.”
Why did that sound super naughty? She read all sorts of implications that he probably didn’t mean. “Any way?” she heard herself asking, unable to look away from the sensual curl of his lips.
“You know, I’ve been fighting this for a while.”
She nodded, not sure what he was talking about. He scooted his chair closer, and she caught another whiff of his scent, pure sex wrapped in smiling eyes and an amazing body.
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“I’msouncomfortable right now. I might die if you don’t kiss me,” she admitted and swallowed audibly. “I can’t believe I just said that.”
His gaze trailed from her eyes to her lips, then farther down. She wondered if he noted her nipples poking through the thin dress.
“Can’t have you dying on me,” he breathed before leaning close to kiss her.
She froze at the feel of his lips against her, the soft scratch of his mustache and beard against her face. Then he slid his tongue through the seam of her mouth, and she sighed at how much she wanted to taste more.
He groaned and cupped her cheeks, angling her face so he could get more access to her mouth.
Justine had a tough time focusing on anything but the throbbing of her lower body. She’d never been so aroused, not from a simple kiss. His hands had yet to leave her face, yet she wanted them badly all over her. Cupping her breasts, between her legs, inside her...
She moaned her pleasure when he lifted her into his arms and straddled her over his lap. The kiss grew more insistent, his hands on her ass kneading, pulling her closer.
“Hmm. More,” she murmured against his mouth and kissed him back, seeing stars behind her eyes. He made her feel tiny in his arms, the dichotomy of the careful way he held her yet the demanding nature of his kisses and caresses making it unbearable to sit still.
Before she knew it, she was grinding against him, the big bulge seated at the core of her making it impossible to not move. His kisses deepened, and his hands began to roam. But not fast enough.
She took his hand and plastered it over her breast.
At first he paused, then he squeezed, riding her nipple with his palm and causing her to rock faster over his lap. He pulled back from her, panting. “Fuck, Justine.” He looked into her eyes and kissed her again. “Bedroom?”
She wished he hadn’t paused, hadn’t given her a chance to think. She needed him so badly...
