“No, this is all sorts of right.” She hopped on the counter and smiled like a freaking lunatic. “Here he comes…”
He knocked. I cleared my throat and turned the knob. I opened it and froze. Time stopped at the moment I saw him dressed in the sexiest pair of worn jeans and an old sweater. Zade pulled off the odd combination of comfort while still oozing testosterone. His eyes widened, his lips parted and we took time eyeing each other.
No one made a move first. My hand was still on the door, my feet planted in the apartment. Zade’s hand twitched for a second. His gaze fell to my lips and heated over to the darkest shade of hazel I had ever seen. I gulped.
“Hey, girl,” he said and the tension broke. I laughed and stepped onto the welcome mat. I spun around to wave to Greta who gave me an exaggerated two thumbs-up. When I shut the door, he grasped my hips. “Fucking hell, Callie.”
I sighed into his touch as his lips grazed the spot right below my ear. If I had a weak spot or a kryptonite, it was Zade’s mouth on that part of my neck. He exploited it by gently biting down. I jumped a foot in the air and he caught me. “I’m having a really hard time remembering where I’m supposed to take you.”
“If it’s any consolation, I forgot my own name when I first saw you.”
His eyes warmed back to their sweet brownish tone and he grabbed my hand. “I left my manners back at home. I should’ve told you how amazing you look. Seriously, I’m going to have a hard time holding a conversation with you.”
I blinked a couple of times at the compliment. He pressed his lips to the back of my hand and I gulped. I wouldnotsurvive the night if he continued the whole time. “You fluster me.”
“Good. I plan on doing it as often as I can. You ready?”
“As I can be. My heart won’t calm down.” I admitted the truth again and knew it was the right thing to say because the grin I got in response was enough to light up the entire neighborhood.
“This has already been the best date ever. Here, let me get the door.”
“Good lord, Zade. Did you take a class in chivalry or something? You’re pulling out all the stops and I’m having a hard time keeping up with you.” I swooned, almost literally, when he helped me into his car. He leaned over to drag his hand under my jaw. He didn’t kiss me, though, but good lord, he built up the anticipation enough to kill me.
He walked around the car and got in on the driver’s side and I was enveloped in his cologne. It wasn’t too much, yet it wrapped around me, warming me. I leaned back against the seat and he put his hand on my knee. Fuck if I wasn’t charmed. “So, where to?”
“You’ll see.” He gave me a small smile and kept his eyes on the road. He seemed too relaxed, too chill for the moment. It annoyed me that he wasn’t as affected as I was and it made me question everything.Am I getting too involved? Am I being too much?I sighed, annoyed with myself and my thoughts as we drove.
“What was that sigh for?”
“Nothing. I’m being stupid.” I hated feeling insecure. It was not one of my qualities and yet my heart was frantically trying to jump out of my chest, whereas he looked like he was driving his grandma to the bus stop. But he’d held the door for me and was being polite as hell. Ugh, I despised dating. The questions. The uncertainty of everything.
“You keep biting on that bottom lip of yours in deep thought and I swear to god I’m going to pull the car over and devour you.” His voice changed from polite to gruff in one second, erasing all the doubt I had. “Now, why are you frowning?”
“The nerves of dating, honestly.” I didn’t play games and wasn’t going to start now. He squeezed my knee, the sensation stopping right around my center. I squeezed my legs together, moisture already gathering. It was an automatic response to his touch.
“I feel the same way.” He moved his hand half an inch up my thigh and I bit my lip to keep from moaning. His hands were the fucking best hands ever. I didn’t realize I’d let out a sound until his body tensed. “Did you just moan?”
“Sorry,” I gasped.
“Fuck. I won’t lie to you, Callie. I want to spend the next week exploring your body with my tongue, but tonight is our first date. I need to get through this, but if you make any more noises or clench your thighs or bite those goddamn red lips, I’m going to lose my shit.”
“Should I say things from your anti-sexy list?”
“Yes. Anything. My dick is trying with all his strength to escape my goddamn pants.”
I saw the evidence of his boner and I burst out laughing. The nerves took over and the laughter came harder. “He looks like he really is going to jump out,” I managed to get out between laughs.
“I’m glad my dick amuses you, Ms. Callie, but you won’t be laughing when you meet him.”
“I know I won’t. Wait. Did you seriously reference me meeting your dick?”
“Yup. I want you guys on a first-name basis.”
“You named him? Holy shit.” The laughter took over again and I put my hands over my stomach. “What did you name him?”
“Not important. Stop talking about him. He knows you are and he won’t go away.” His hazel eyes met mine and they were filled with a wickedly beautiful glint. “We’re almost there.”
I watched the road go by out of the window. We were in a lit-up area, filled with trees and neon lights. I couldn’t be sure, but I had a suspicion. “Are we going to the batting cages?”
