His gaze darkened in anger, or desire.Maybe both.
She plucked a fat strawberry off the top of the cheesecake.She licked syrup from the tip before taking a lush bite.Dull color crept up his neck at the sultry display, but he didn’t look away or ask her to stop.
After she finished the berry, she dipped her fingertips in her water glass, swirled them around, and brought them back to her lips to trace the fullness.“Isn’t that what you said, Paul?You’re not interested in a relationship?I don’t want to put words in your mouth.”
His throat worked as he swallowed.The comment, along with the berry-sucking, was designed to inspire sexual fantasies.Paul watched with a rapt expression, as if he wanted to reach across the table and ravish her.
She dipped her fingertips again and let them trail along the inner curve of one breast.Then she used her spoon to retrieve an ice cube from her glass.After transferring it to her mouth, she rose from her seat and closed the distance between them.She twined her arms around his neck and pressed her cool lips to his ear.
“Vanessa, please,” he said quietly.
She bit his earlobe to shut him up.Then she soothed the sting with her tongue while he held himself motionless.“We don’t have to talk at all,” she whispered.“If you hurry, I’ll let you fuck me in the parking lot.”
He inhaled a sharp breath and she released him.Then she walked away, aware of his eyes on her naked back.She figured he was in no condition to follow her, and she was right.When she glanced over her shoulder at him, he was still seated, his face taut with tension.His hand made a fist in the cloth napkin.
Smiling, she strode out the door.
Chapter Eighteen
Paul stared atthe glass of water she’d abandoned, and considered dumping it over his head.
Maybe he should dump it in his lap.That was where he really needed it.
Instead of pouring the water on his overheated body, he drank it in greedy gulps.He felt like he was in some kind of farce.The moment he’d seen her outfit, he’d known he was in for trouble.The style might have been elegant on a less curvaceous woman.On Vanessa, it was howl-at-the-moon sexy.Its plunging neckline put her full breasts on glorious display.The red fabric draped over her like gauze, filmy and insubstantial.He’d been half aroused all evening, wondering what she was wearing underneath it.
If that wasn’t torture enough, she’d downed two dirty martinis, nibbled on a salad, and started grilling him about bunnies.When she’d guessed the truth about Gwen, he’d expected her to walk out on him.He would have understood getting dumped on the spot.Instead, she’d fellated a strawberry and invited him to fuck her.
It was a tease.She’d given him a raging hard-on on purpose, to prevent him from following her.She’d probably called a cab and ditched him.
Even if it wasn’t a tease, he couldnotfuck her.Not in public, and not in her current state.She was angry, emotional, and inebriated.She might not be falling-down drunk, but she was over the legal limit.
He wouldn’t have sex with her in the parking lot, regardless.It wasn’t his style, and he was supposed to be laying low, not getting arrested for lewd behavior.He shouldn’t even be out on a date with a woman like Vanessa, who drew attention like moths to flame.
When his erection settled into half-mast, he rose from the table.He’d already paid the check and waved away the waitress, who’d offered to box up the cheesecake.
He found Vanessa waiting by the passenger side of his truck.She was bent forward, checking her appearance in the side mirror.She straightened at his arrival.He unlocked the door and opened it for her.She didn’t climb in.With a humming sound, she resumed the torture she’d started earlier.Slipping her arms around his neck, she pressed her body against his and twisted her fingers in his hair.
“You didn’t hurry.”
“Get in the truck.Please.”
She trailed kisses along his jaw.“You’re so tense.Are you uncomfortable?”
He turned his head to the side and tried to ignore the riot of sensations she created.Her breasts brushed his chest.When her hand slid between them, his blood surged with fresh arousal.His cock stiffened against her palm.
“Oh my,” she said, her mouth making a soft moue as she molded her fingers around him.“This is a big problem.”
Before he could anticipate her next move, she dropped to her knees right there in the parking lot.Paul groaned at the sight.She was shielded by his body and the truck door, so a random passerby might not be able to see what she was doing—but they wouldknowwhat she was doing.The position was unmistakable.
While he scanned the area for onlookers, her nimble fingers danced across his fly, unbuttoning him quickly.Paul didn’t want to turn her down, but he couldn’t allow her to continue.This was a busy parking lot at a family restaurant.If he didn’t put an end to this encounter, they were going to get caught.
He captured her wandering hands and held them still.Instead of attempting to reason with her, he lifted her to her feet and covered her mouth with his.He kissed her with frustration and longing, with tenderness and passion.She kissed him back, sort of woodenly.She tasted like strawberries and vodka and something deeper, like sorrow.
Damn it.
He broke the kiss, braced his hands on her waist and boosted her into the passenger seat.She went without a fight, her skirt floating around her thighs.He gathered the frothy fabric to make sure it didn’t get slammed in the door.Then he closed it gently and buttoned his fly as he approached the driver’s side.
Jesus.What a crazy first date.
