Page 27 of Had To Be You

I scoop a berry onto my spoon, wishing I was eating it off of Ellie instead. Those sexy-as-hell heels - I have plans for those later tonight. And Jesus - that black dress. I don’t know a guy on this earth that can resist a woman in one of those dresses. Her lips are a darker hue of red than I’m used to seeing on her and her eyes are smoky. The knee-length hem of her dress shows off her long, incredible legs and her hair is swept up in a ponytail, revealing her neck that I am itching to trace with my mouth.

She looks deliciously incredible. I watch her as she brings a raspberry up to her soft, pillowy lips and her eyes close as she chews it. There is nothing better than watching this girl eat. Well, I can think of a few things that are better. They all seem to include her.

“This dessert is my new favorite thing,” she declares, taking another spoonful of the creamy Italian custard.

“I’m happy you like it. I thought you would.”

After a couple more bites, she sets down her fork and glances at me playfully. “You know, you could have gotten me into trouble last night. The girls were all over me at dinner. They wanted to know who I was texting.” I watch her run the tip of her finger along the edge of her wine glass. Does this girl have any idea what she does to me?

I arch an eyebrow, curious to know more. “And what did you tell them?”

“I didn’t tell them a thing. I wasn’t sure what to say.” She sips from her wine glass, then licks her lips. My eyes can’t help but linger on her mouth for a few seconds too long and wonder if her lips taste like the sweet wine. I inwardly sigh.

“Not even Olivia?”

She shakes her head. “Not even Olivia.” This surprises me, but I like that she kept us all to herself. Our little secret. “What about you? Did you mention to Parker you were taking me out to dinner tonight?”

“I did not, but Jules is on to us. She suggested to me it would be a good idea if I asked you out.”

“Thus, the reason we are here tonight?”

I lean in closer. She looks up from our dessert, her eyes meeting mine. “Definitely not. The reason I asked you to come to dinner with me is I can’t stop thinking about you.”

Her eyes light up. She smiles, a sweet, sexy grin that makes my heart race. Unable to resist her, I move closer and press my lips to hers like I’ve been dying to do all night. She tastes like strawberries and rosé, and it makes me want nothing more than to get out of here early and get her alone.

“I like it when you kiss me,” she says.

I lean in a little closer, my voice low and raspy. “Right here is where I’m dying to kiss you.” I run the pad of my finger softly along her collarbone and over my favorite freckle.

Her lips part. Her eyes go hazy. I feel her skin pebble under my touch. She wants me to kiss her there, but I’ve never been one for PDA. Instead, my hand finds the edge of her jaw and I run my fingers up towards a loose strand of hair that has slipped from her ponytail, tucking it gently behind her ear. Any excuse to touch her.

“I also like it when you touch me, Liam. Or hold my hand. I like being near you.”

“Same, Ellie. Same for me,” I say, relaxing my shoulders, enjoying the exhilaration of flirting with Ellie.

It feels good.

It’s thrilling.

And I like how I feel when I’m around her.

While she finishes her wine and I enjoy an espresso, we glide into a discussion about our favorite things. She likes yoga and spicy foods. She tells me about the time she went skydiving in college, and I tell her about the ski trips my parents took us on every winter to Vail. She tells me she’s never tried skiing and I offer to teach her one day. And soon, an hour has past that felt like ten minutes.

I pay our bill and we leave the restaurant hand-in-hand, because I listen, and I know she likes it. I help her into my car then round the bumper and slip in beside her. We’re alone and I have her all to myself. All bets are off. I reach for her hand across the console, lacing her fingers through mine. My thumb traces lazy circles on the back of her hand.

Her full, soft, kissable lips form a smile. It gets my pulse racing. I reach for her face, taking it in one hand, and kiss her fiercely. It’s heated, passionate and it feels different than all the rest. It’s laced with promises of more to come. So much more than I’ve ever felt for anyone else.

I can feel her smiling again through the kiss.

“You can’t kiss me like that, Liam, and expect me not to want more.”

Her blue eyes sparkle an even more vivid shade of aqua than usual. I have a thing for girls with bright blue eyes and Ellie’s are slaying me right now. I might not know exactly what is happening between the two of us, but for a moment everything feels as it should. It feels right.

“I want more too, Ellie,” I tell her, my voice low, sexy. And I mean it. I’m not ready to say goodnight. I want more of her. “It’s still early. Come back to my place?”

Her face melts into the prettiest smile as she nods. I slide my hand to the back of her neck, watching her lips part. She’s breathtaking. I brush my lips gently against hers, teasing her, then pull back, narrowing my eyes on hers. Her tongue glides across her bottom lip, her eyes provoking me, hard and sensual at the same time. My dick likes it. Very much. It’s straining against the fabric of my pants, wanting more of her attention.

“As much as I want to keep kissing you, I need to have you all to myself. Just mine.” Our mouths so close, but not touching, just painfully on the edge of wanting to attack her lips.

---