“We should probably get going,” she said hesitantly, almost regrettably. “You know, my dad would kill us if he found out we’d had dinner. And that dinner had kept us out this late.”
“Yeah, let’s go. And I don’t think he’d kill us. He’s always liked me.” I settled the check, despite Gabrielle’s protests that she could pay for herself, and held the door for her, watching the sway of her hips for a second before following her into the main dining room.
Most of the tables had cleared, but there were a couple of people still hanging around. Gabrielle came to a complete stop ahead of me, her eyes fixed on a familiar blond man with his back towards us.
“Shit,” she breathed and took a few steps back. Right into my chest. I reached a hand out to steady her as I searched out an escape route that wouldn’t involve passing Richard, who was settling his check at the front desk. It didn’t seem like the right time to find out what his feelings about our dinner actually were.
I grasped Gabrielle’s hand and pulled her through a door nearby marked “staff only.” The owner didn’t bat an eye as I explained that we needed an alternative exit. She led us through the kitchen to the service entrance and waved us out.
“Thank you for a lovely evening,” I told the owner. “Everything was great. I’ll definitely recommend this place.” We stepped into a dark alley off the side of the restaurant.
“Much appreciated, Mr. Skye. Don’t be a stranger.” She let the door swing closed behind her, and I could see her hurrying back to the kitchen through a foggy window in the door.
Gabrielle crashed into my side, shaking uncontrollably.
Shit, what the hell? I wrapped an arm around her and drew her tight into my body. My eyes dropped to her face, and my hand already rose to wipe away tears. I hated it when girls cried.
Only, Gabrielle wasn’t crying. She was laughing so hard that no sound came out of her mouth.
“Shit, that was close,” she sputtered when her laughter subsided. “Quick thinking on the escape.”
She was still standing under my arm, pressed to my side where’d she’d stayed as we laughed. When she looked up at me again, something in her eyes had changed. Before I could say another word, she leaned up and kissed me. Claiming my mouth with hers. Hard.
It took my brain no more than a second to catch up. I gathered her in both arms and slid my tongue against her lips. She let me in and reached her hands up to tug on my hair. A low groan escaped me as I walked her backward, until her back hit the wall.
I trapped her body with mine, and I kissed her hungrily.
“We should take this back to your place,” I growled and pressed my hips to hers.
She grinned wickedly, lust clouding her eyes as she scanned our surroundings. “This alley is dark enough.”
Her hands dropped from my shoulders. She shimmied out of her thong and stuffed it into my back pocket. “What? Are you afraid of a little exhibitionism, Mr. Big Shot Quarterback?”
Chapter Eight
Gabrielle
My heart beat so hard that I was sure he could feel it in his chest, as closely pressed together as we were.
What if he turns me down? The worry of rejection filtered through my lust-addled brain.
As if he could read the momentary lapse of confidence in my thoughts, he brought his strong fingers to my chin and tilted it up so that I would be forced to meet his eyes. They were dark with lust but glinted with determination. The sides of his mouth were pulled up in a small smirk.
“I’m not afraid of anything,” he growled.
He dropped his hands to grip my hips and licked the shell of my ear. Then his mouth crashed down onto mine in a kiss that made my toes curl and my blood catch fire.
His hands trailed up from my hips to my shoulders, where they slid over the straps of my dress and toyed with my neckline until finally, they went for my zipper.
He broke the kiss, fire blazing in his eyes. He ordered me to turn around, his voice deep and commanding. I didn’t hesitate to comply. I wanted to do whatever he wanted me to at that moment.
I turned to face the wall. James undid my zipper, almost painstakingly slowly, like he enjoyed dragging it out. My core clenched, and my back arched.
I didn’t know why I wanted him so badly. I barely knew him, but I ached for him. His hands caressed my shoulders, and he slid first the right strap off, and then the left, causing the fabric to slide down and collect at my waist.
His hands dropped and skimmed my hips under the dress until they were on my bare butt. “Your ass is amazing.”
I could feel my cheeks flush as I stammered a reply. “Thank you.”