“What, are you used to dating women who shyly poke at their food and only take a few bites? There’s nothing wrong with that, but a childhood of food insecurity makes a woman who eats.” I took another bite, taking my time chewing as Ryan watched my every move. “I try to stay healthy and I lean toward cheaper options, but I eat to make sure my body is nourished. Even if it’s difficult with work sometimes.”
“Good. That’s one less thing I have to worry about when it comes to you. I already worry about your safety, and that you work too much, but it’s nice to know I don’t have to worry about you skipping meals or anything. You’re going to need all your strength when you’re with me, babe.”
My skin sparked as he continued through his steak, unfazed at what his words did to me. I had never met a man who could make me blush like Ryan. But then again, I hadn’t ever met a man like him, period. He was acting proper through the meal, but his mouth was anything but proper. None of the men in my past would’ve ever spoken so freely and filthy. I loved it, but he didn’t need to worry about me.
“I can take care of myself. I have for a long time.”
The rest of the meal passed in companionable silence as we enjoyed our food. It was exceptional, which was to be expected from the most opulent restaurant in the city. Our conversation flowed easily afterward, and it was like we had known each other for years. Every now and then, I would catch Ryan's eyes fixed on me above his glass, and the way he looked at me made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world, like I was the only one he could see. The lust was there, but something else pulled at me. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it was morethan just wanting to jump his bones, even though I definitely wanted that.
The realization that I hadn’t thought about work the entire evening so far slammed into me. Work was always in the back of my mind, but tonight, I hadn’t thought about it once, even after taking the day off. I looked into Ryan’s eyes and it was that moment I knew he was different. This was different.
He pushed his plate away. “Dessert?” he asked.
I smirked. “I had something other than food in mind for dessert.”
He laughed. “Isn’t that supposed to be my cliché line?”
“Not if I get to it first.” I winked.
“Well, in that case, let’s get going, or else I might bend you over this table and make you scream so loud the whole city hears.”
And with that, my panties were ruined.
We walkedto Ryan’s car parked in the garage connected to my building, enjoying the crisp October chill as the sounds of the city played a song around us. The whir of the interstate in the distance, a steady rhythm for the melody of the engines driving on the street while sirens and the occasional horn were the bridge.
We rounded the corner of the foot entrance to the garage, and suddenly Ryan slammed his body into mine, crushing me into the wall of the stairwell. My back collided with the concrete, and I looked into Ryan’s eyes in confusion. Gone was the nice guy that took me to a fancy restaurant and held open doors for me. The eyes staring back at me were the ones I looked into from my knees in my apartment last night. They were hungry, and I was dinner.
He grabbed the back of my neck with one hand and placed his other behind my head before crashing his lips to mine. My head hit the concrete from the impact of his mouth, but Ryan’s hand cushioned the hit. He kissed me like the world was ending. Only when his hands began to rove my body did I remember we were in a public parking garage where anyone could walk by.
I shoved at his shoulders, and he reluctantly pulled back, coming to the same conclusion I had. He didn’t bother to wait for the elevator, pulling me up the stairs and as soon as we hit the first landing, he was on me again. I was like a horny teenager, but it was freeing in a way I hadn’t allowed myself to be in a long time.
When we finally managed to step from the stairwell, the familiar feeling of eyes watching me trickled down my spine. A moment of panic coursed through me. Why was I having the sensation of being watched when the person who had been watching me was beside me? I must have subconsciously associated the feeling with the garage since it was where I usually felt the eyes.
I shrugged off the unease as Ryan opened the passenger door, and I slid into his car. I watched him hurry around the front and into the driver’s seat where he rested his forehead on the steering wheel. Worry tugged at me.
“Are you okay?—”
I reached for him, but he grabbed my wrist in mid-air, catching me by surprise and halting my words.
“If you touch me right now we’re not going to make it out of this garage,” he growled without lifting his head.
I grinned as he let go and placed my hand in my lap. “Noted. Let’s go. I’m losing my patience too.”
He drew in a heavy breath before sitting upright and putting the car in drive. As we drove toward my apartment, mydesires turned back to their usual pattern. The closer we got to my bed the more I had to hold my thighs together.
“I need to ask you something,” I blurted before I could think better of it.
Ryan was stoic as he drove, seemingly somewhere other than in the car with me. He finally answered, “Sure.”
His monotone made me question if I should proceed, but I had to know. I couldn’t hold myself back any longer with him. “You know my limits. I want to know yours.”
I held my breath as my words hung in the air of the car.
“When it comes to you, I don’t have any aside from the far out there stuff. The ones you would have to search the pits of the internet to find.”
I released the air from my lungs. “I think I know what you mean. Should we have safe words just in case?” I wanted to make sure we both had an out. “I’m…I’m not sure I’ll be able to control myself with you.”
He slanted a glance my way. “If you would like.”
