Page 42 of Wild Tides
It was torture, watching her come apart over something so simple, when I was wound so tight, I could snap.
I shot a hand up, whipping around to make eye contact with our server. “Check!”
He approached swiftly. Whether my barked request or Vi’s table theatrics had summoned him, I didn’t care.
“Can we get the rest of this to go?”
“Absolutely, sir. I’ll be right back with your bill and to-go containers.”
If we stayed a minute longer, I’d do something unforgiveable – like drag her into my lap in front of half the town.
Violet arched one delicate brow. “What if I prefer to finish here?”
Her words were innocent. Probably. But all I heard was invitation. I shifted in my seat, spreading my thighs wide beneath the table.Finish. I’d help her finish. Absolutely. Just not here.
“I don’t have that much control with you.” The words came out harsh. Desperate.
“What does that mean?”
She said it artlessly. Like she had no idea what she’d done. How she affected me. I gestured toward my lap, grateful for the tablecloth that hid a multitude of sins.
“As it is, everyone is going to know how turned on I am when I stand up. A few more bites and I’m going to have to steal the napkin to cover the wet spot on my suit pants for the drive home…and your brother isn’t likely to be fooled.” Her lips twitched as she finally caught on to my dilemma. “Please, let’s finish dessert at home.”
She wiped a finger around the rim of her jar, popping it into her mouth, sucking off the whipped cream in one smooth draw, her cheeks hollowing. My eyes crossed. She didn’t play fair. A low groan burst from my throat, half-feral but more honest than anything else I could muster.
“Well, since you asked so nicely…”
Her dark eyes danced, silently laughing at me. I filled my answering smile with the promise of retribution. Two could play that game.
Chapter 21 – Violet
Sitting calmly in the truck while Drew drove us home was excruciating. I shifted in my seat, on edge. My brother didn’t need to know I was plotting his best friend’s seduction. Though you could argue he plotted mine first, with the flowers and dresses.
“Goodnight, Drew,” I called as I took Lee’s offered hand and slid from the truck, careful not to catch my dress. I flashed thigh practically up to my neck, the cool air washing over my skin not doing much to counteract the heat generated from Lee’s teasing at the restaurant.
Beating Lee to the front door in a flat-out sprint might be a dead giveaway, so I took my time, careful to pick my foot placement. If I took a tumble in my heels, we might end up in matching walking boots. We both had to get whole and healthy for everything I wanted.
Drew’s headlights cut away, leaving us on Lee’s front stoop. He fumbled with his keys, the slight tremble in his fingers makingme hide a smile. At least I wasn’t the only one masking my eagerness.
We slipped inside, and I followed Lee into his office, flicking on a lamp. He looked incredibly handsome in his suit. His broad shoulders filled out the fabric beautifully. It was a stark contrast to the man who growled at me last week from behind his laptop, running his hands through his hair until it stood on end.
Tonight, he’d transformed himself into a debonair and polished stranger. Heat curled in my gut before I could stop it. My breath caught becausedamn. He was yummy enough to eat. And yet, somehow, I still preferred the distracted writer. Both versions were Lee, but the man who snarled at his keyboard and forgot to eat lunch? That was the Lee I knew how to handle. The one who felt like mine.
Lee held up the bag from Nautilus, the handles hooked around one strong finger. “How about finishing dessert?”
He might intimidate me when he was all polished and perfect, but teasing him? That I could do. It was my safest weapon – and my favorite.
I dropped my gaze to his slacks. The fabric tented over his erection.
“Are you sure you can handle that?” I rolled my lips together to keep the grin from fully blooming.
A wicked gleam lit his eyes, a flicker of warning I had no intention of heeding. Retreating upstairs would’ve been smart. Backpedaling. Humor was my armor, but this time I’d crossed the line into a dare, and the curve of Lee’s smile told me he was being careful, finished tiptoeing around the attraction simmering between us.
“Tell you what, why don’t I take off these fancy clothes, just to be safe?” He extended the bag to me. “I’m happy to watch you eat.” His white teeth tugged on his bottom lip. “I may still want a taste, but you should enjoy.”
He said it like a challenge. Like payback.
If he thought he could seduce me with chocolate and a striptease, A: he was one hundred percent right, and B: he didn’t have to try that hard. But I wouldn’t stop him from giving me a show.
