Snorting, I let him help me out. “Okay, you can stop the act. And don’t give me that innocent look. You aren’t this nice, Nicholas. So go ahead and show your stripes, Tiger!”
We stare at each other before he pulls me into his arms. I gasp and instinctively close my happy eyes as he kisses me. No tongue, only an urgent and very sexy, sweep-me-off-my-feet kiss. Electric currents zing throughout me and involuntary hands start to slide up to his hair. But they only find air.
I’m standing alone.
He’s already on the diner’s sidewalk.
I blink at him, aroused beyond comprehension.
He claws the air. “Rawr.”
Shaking my head, I silently tell my panties to stop smiling.
Chuckling, he holds the heavy door open. This place was made during a less convenient era where there was weight and struggle to most things. People would have no patience for that today. More’s the pity.
“Chocolate awaits. You ready for this?”
Under my breath I tell his smirk, “If this cake is anything like that kiss, I’m in trouble.”
Amber sparkles in his warning, “Then you’re in trouble.”
Fifteen minutes later and I am moaning over the richest, moistest, chocolatey-gooey deliciousness I have ever tasted in all of my sad years.
“Where has this been all my life?” I gleefully murmur.
The frosting is so creamy I dip my fingers in it just so I can lick them off. Catching the lusty look on Nicholas, I stop and wipe them on a napkin.
“I don’t usually take people on dates,” he announces.
“Ah.”
“But you know this.”
Blinking to his lips, just as scrumptious as this cake, I shrug, “I didn’t know that, no.”
“Can’t remember the last actual date I had. I know I won’t forget this one.” He leans in and kisses me over the table. A smile spreads from within me. Breathless as we come apart, I gaze at his sensual eyes slowly traveling the angles of my face, taking their time and making me very self-conscious.
“What are you doing?”
“Shhh,” he whispers, taking me in. “I like your nose, Madison.”
A shy laugh escapes. “My nose?”
“And your eyes. You might have walls but you don’t wear masks.”
He leans over and kisses me again. The pressure is firm. Our tongues touch, chocolatey and warm. This wonderful feeling tripled by those amazing compliments and that decadent cake, and I am a wreck of willingness.
His fingers slide along my face, and slip impatiently into my hair, cupping me so that he can control the kiss, turn us so that it’s always in hypnotic motion.
He breaks away, long eyelashes heavy. “Let’s get out of here.”
I swallow, feeling light and dizzy. “Okay.”
Turning in his chair, Nicholas shouts, “Can I get the check?”
CHAPTER 24
N ICHOLAS
Holy fuck, the way she was licking her fingers, leaning over the plate in that tight dress, soft breasts spilling over the top and promising to fall out any second, the tiny line between her eyebrows as she moaned at how good the cock tasted.
I mean cock.
Cake.
Cake tasted!
Paying the tab I adjust my weight on the seat because I’m painfully hard. As the server slowly hands me the slip I swear under my breath at the ache in my crotch.
“You okay?” Madison asks.
Scribbling my name I mumble, “Perfect.”
“You look…”
I slap the paper upside down, glance around and stand up, motioning to my bulging zipper. “I’m about to walk bow-legged. You ready?”
“For that?”
“To go. And yes, for this, too.” I take her hand. Leaning down, I whisper, “I am going to fuck you so hard, you have no idea.”
Madison tenses, so I glance to her face to check if that was a good muscle-flex or a bad one. Holding the door for her I watch her walk outside, jaw ticking.
“Maddie?”
In the cool night air, parking lot still and silent, she turns around, waving her hands a little, eyes distant. “Umm…”
“Hey,” I smile, “I know you haven’t been with that many guys. I’ll take things slow.”
She frowns at me. “It’s not that!”
I watch her walk to my car, her arms crossed. Dragging my hand through my hair I offer, “Look, why don’t we just watch a movie at my place? Hang out. I live just a few blocks away from you.”
She chuckles, “Oh come on, Nicholas. The old movie-at-my-place is the oldest trick.”
“Well, I’ve tried my newer ones but they’re not working so…”
My joke misses her funny bone.
Madison’s eyes steel. But she says nothing. This is a test, and I’m wondering how to pass. Clicking my tongue I stare back at her. “Is it a crime that I want you? Because I’m pretty sure you were telling me you wanted to, in there, just now.”
Her eyes slide toward the heavens. “I was.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
“I told you.”
“Madison!”
“This is so hard. Stop pushing me. Please. It’s not good. Not like this. I don’t sleep with people on the first date, okay? Let’s just go with that old line. It’s the truth anyway.” She kicks the asphalt with the toe of her heel. “I just want to go home, Nicholas.”
I open the door for her to climb in. She glances to me, mumbles a thank you and I’ve got nothing. Never been in this predicament before.
I walk around to the driver’s side and climb in, chewing the inside of my cheek. With no other vehicles in the spot ahead I drive forward. We ram into a cement brick, and bounce in our seats. My arm flies out to stop her from going through the window even though we’re nowhere near that speed. We meet eyes and something happens in my chest. My heart knocks my ribs a couple times and I frown. “You okay?”
She nods, blinking away. “Yes, I’m fine. Is your car?”
“I don’t care about that. I’ll look at it later.” Backing up I mutter, “I’ll get you home.”
She nods, staring out the windshield.
We drive back to her apartment in silence. I huff through my nose a couple times without meaning to. Once, I glance over and see her watching me at a stoplight,
