Then his hands are on me again. His lips are magnetized to me. It’s like we can’t help it.
I gasp, and he groans as we start kissing, my arms looped around his shoulders, his hands on my hips.
Our bodies press closer each moment.
Nerves buzz around my mouth, up and down my tongue, my throat, and through my body.
My clit rubs against my panties. Suddenly my jeans feel tighter.
Is this it? Can I follow this lust without worrying about, well, everything else?
If he knew the truth, would he kiss me like this?
Rusty whines, jolting us from the intimacy.
“Don’t worry, little man,” Ryland says, his voice shaking. “Nobody’s forgotten about you.”
“Shall we go?” I ask, far too urgently.
If we stay here, it will mean more kissing. And more kissing might lead to things I’m not ready for and then lead to ways for me to disappoint him. I refuse to let that happen.
But can I avoid it forever?
Ah, there are too many freaking questions.
“Yeah,” he nods, taking a step away again with that shakiness. “Let me just get his leash.”
Rusty waits for me as Ryland walks into the apartment. We watch the door, me and his dog, as if we’re both thinking the same thing.
Is he going to leave us? Is he going to come back?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ryland
I walk beside Rachel as she holds onto Rusty’s leash, the host leading us to the far corner of the restaurant.
After Rusty’s initial excitement explosion at meeting Rachel, he’s calmed down to the point where he’s walking dutifully next to her, even looking up at her every few moments to make sure he’s doing the right thing.
The sight makes my chest clamp tightly, the same way it did in my apartment when I saw how they instantly bonded.
It was impossible not to think about what an incredible mother she was going to make. It was also impossible not to project into the future when my woman is going to show the same love and care to our children.
Her response was instant, her ability to show Rusty that emotion.
I pull out her chair and nod for her to sit down.
My hands are shaking again like they were in the elevator after our first kiss. It’s the effort to keep all my carnal hunger at bay and raise a dam to block the never-ending cacophony raging in my mind.
After that first kiss, it took everything I had not to maul her. It was purely primal, my beast’s instincts roaring at me to drag her into the bedroom.
Tear her clothes off, and stand over her as she lies on her back, her ample breasts begging to be touched, her thick thighs glistening with creamy eagerness.
Sitting opposite her, we order some sodas and a bowl of water for Rusty.
“You don’t want anything stronger to drink?” she asks.
I smirk, adding sarcasm to my voice. “I’m drunk on you, Rachel. Why would I need anything else?”
She rolls her eyes, giggling, her hand casually stroking through Rusty’s fur.
“I bet you say that to all the girls.”
“No,” I reply promptly. “I don’t. In fact, I haven’t been on a date in years.”
She gasps. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“How many years are we talking about?”
“I was thirty-one the last time I dated,” I say. “Charley set me up with one of his friends. Charley’s my boxing buddy. Anyway, it didn’t go well.”
“Why… were you nervous? Did you like her too much?”
I smirk again, reaching across the table and touching her chin, guiding her gaze to mine. She looks at me with bright eyes and flushed cheeks as though she’s caught between lust and something else.
“Is that jealousy I hear?”
She waves a hand as though gesturing at the restaurant. It’s a large rooftop garden-style place, with plenty of room between the tables, giving us privacy as we look down over the city. With the sun setting, I hope my woman finds it romantic.
“How could I be jealous, huh? We’ve only just met.”
My stomach lurches at her defensive tone. There’s no reason for me to protest anything she’s said. We have just met, so, of course, feeling jealous doesn’t make much sense.
And yet I want to roar, to flip the table. Even Rusty senses my mood. He watches me closely as though ready for action.
“We’ve kissed,” I snarl. “That means something.”
“It does,” she says quickly. “I didn’t mean that. I was only kidding… or trying to. I’m sorry. I think I’m nervous as heck, and everything’s coming out wrong.”
I touch her hand. “Don’t be sorry. You’re fine, Rachel. Better than fine.”
“So over ten years ago, this date?” she asks.
I nod. “Yep. Damn. Time flies.”
“Why nobody else?”
I chuckle. “Judging by your tone, it sounds like you might not believe me.”
She shakes her head so fiercely her wavy hair jostles around. “No, it’s not that. It’s just… I mean, look at you. You’re rich, handsome, experienced.”