Her eyes fluttered open. All of her blood had fled south and her brain wasn’t working. “Out of the game?”
“Divorced.”
She nodded. “How long?”
“A year.”
He dipped his head and nuzzled her temple, then kissed her there. Shivers skated across her skin and desire squeezed her stomach. She stroked her hands up his chest, over his shoulders, loving all the muscle beneath the fabric.
“Bad?” she asked.
“Not fun.” He exhaled. “And not something I ever expected to go through.”
Oh… Her heart broke a little. And she understood that look she’d seen in his eyes earlier. She met his gaze directly. “Do you still love her?”
“No.” His answer came immediately. With certainty. As if he’d given it a lot of thought. “I just haven’t been tempted back into the game.” His lips skimmed her forehead. “Until now.”
Another wave of warmth surged inside her. She didn’t realize how long it had been since she’d felt special until now. Relationships between men and women were so different in Europe. So fluid. So non-restrictive. Only now, in this moment, did she realize that style of relating to men also left her feeling expendable. Disposable.
She tilted her head a little more to meet his eyes. “It doesn’t have to be a game.”
His arm loosened, and he lowered into the chair then eased her to his lap sideways, his arms circling her waist, supporting her in a comfortable embrace. “No?”
“No.” She le
aned over to set her wine down on the table, then angled toward him. Lifting one arm around his neck, she rested the other palm against his chest. Then she smiled. “How long do you think you need? I’m going to be very European and tell you I’m ready when you are.”
Surprise leapt in his eyes. Along with heat. His arms tightened around her. His gaze lowered to her mouth and he murmured, “Never thought I’d forget how to do this.”
She’d never imagined she’d find sexual insecurity a turn on. But he was burning her up.
“I like the way I feel right here,” she told him.
He relaxed and smiled. His lids dipped. “I like the way you feel too.”
“See. No games. Just you and me, liking the way we feel together.” She stroked his face and soaked in every handsome angle, feeling a little like she’d won the hunk lottery. “That’s all.”
Silence fell. And they settled into comfortable togetherness. One Olivia could get lost in. she loved the feel of his eyes on her. Loved the feel of his thick hard thighs beneath hers. The way their heat soaked all along her backside. Between her legs. She was ready to sink into this man, right here, right now and let him help her forget everything but him.
Unfortunately they weren’t alone. Which made her think of her mom and sister. And she wondered why he hadn’t mentioned them. “Did you meet my family tonight?”
His eyes jumped up from he neckline of her dress, then darted away. “Not tonight. They were at the bar talking with some of the hard-core stragglers. Judging by how everyone was raving about the party, I imagine they’re pulling in a lot of work.”
Relief and excitement flourished inside Olivia. She beamed at him. “Oh, that’s awesome.”
He lifted a hand to her face and cupped her cheek, another smile tilting his lips. “You’re awesome.”
Smiling, she relaxed against him, the collar of his shirt curled into her fingers. “That’s so great. This is a competitive business. They needed a score.”
“Mmm—hmm…” His thumb caressed her cheek, his eyes following its path, and the hunger there helped Olivia translate that hum into “Mmm-hmm, I need one too.”
His stubble seemed heavier now than when she’d first met him, and kept drawing her gaze to his lips. She knew from their quick kiss that his lips were soft. And they had body. She licked her own, imagining how they’d feel between her legs. Heat burst over her sex and she squirmed in his lap. Her hip bumped a prominent erection, releasing a surge of lust low in her body.
“Tate—”
“So you’re a chef.”
They spoke at the same time and Olivia realized her “unzip your pants” was way out of line with his “Let’s keep talking”.