Page 17 of Their After Hours Playbook

“Was that not apparent?”

“Not entirely.”

“Interesting. I was so sure that I was being ridiculously obvious.”

She focused on his face, seeming quite serious. “What exactly were you hoping to get out of dinner or drinks together?”

“I was hoping we could get to know each other better.” He glanced down and saw that her hand was in her lap. He reached over and wrapped his fingers around hers, soaking up the sheer pleasure of having his fingertips that close to the tops of her thighs. That close to her center. There was only a thin layer of fabric between his hand and the luscious curves that he longed to touch. Everything below his waist drew tight. He wanted her so bad he could hardly see.

She leaned closer yet. A few more inches erased. He was so glad. So relieved. “I feel like we’ve talked a lot, Zach.” She looked into his eyes and then ran her tongue along her lower lip. “What other ways were you hoping to know me?”

He let go of her hand and started moving toward her knee, his fingertips barely skimming her dress. With every inch, he felt a little more brave. With every millimeter, he became more self-assured. When he reached her bare knee, his fingers made contact, then he curled them ever so slightly under the hem of her dress. “Like this?”

Her eyelids got heavy and she hummed quietly. “Hmm.”

“Nice?”

“So far, yes. Now what?”

He moved his hand beneath her dress, slipping it under the fabric and palming her velvety thigh. “I think you already know.”

Her spine softened as she scooted closer to the edge of the seat, granting him easier access. “Zach. What if someone sees us?”

He smiled. “It’s so damn dark in here.” His words sounded calm and self-assured, but meanwhile, his heart was beating so fiercely he could hear his pulse in his ears. He couldn’t believe he was doing this, but even so, he couldn’t stop himself. He moved his hand farther up her thigh with his fingers riding the valley between her legs, amazed by how hot things had gotten between Paige and him, so quickly.

A near-silent groan escaped her lips. “I suppose everyone is pretty drunk.”

“Exactly.” Finally, he realized that he’d reached his destination when his finger brushed a silky bit of fabric.

Paige sucked in a breath and her gaze connected with his. Her eyes were wild with passion, even when they were questioning. “So you’re...”

“I am.” He pulled the fabric aside and his finger found her center. She was already so wet. If this didn’t end up back in his room or hers, it was going to be one of the biggest disappointments of his life. But for now, he had his charge and he was not going to fail her.

Paige looked right at him as he worked her clit in delicate circles. He could tell that she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. She softly rolled her head to one side, then quickly righted it for appearances. “Is it wrong that I wish I could kiss you right now?”

He shook his head, wondering how much he would have to pay to kick everyone out of this bar right now, kiss her with wild abandon and take her right there and then. “That’s for later. When we aren’t around all of these people we know.” He leaned closer and muttered into her ear, “For now, I want to watch you come.”

She whimpered and squirmed in her seat. “It’s not going to take long.”

“Good.” He continued with his ministrations as they held each other’s gaze. It was the hottest thing Zach had ever done with any woman. He watched the constellation of reactions on her face as her lips went softer and her eyes blazed with intensity and then finally, her jaw went tight as she clamped her eyes shut and she reached under the table to grab his wrist. Her shoulders shuddered slightly. He couldn’t wait to find out what that moment was going to be like, deep inside her. Especially if she called out his name.

“Okay?” he asked.

She nodded, composing herself. “Better than okay.”

He slowly pulled his hand away and Paige straightened her dress under the table. They both sat back and each took hefty sips of their drinks. Zach was more than a little concerned about how he was going to walk out of this bar without embarrassing himself. He had the fiercest hard-on he’d had in quite some time. But the reality was he didn’t really care right now. He just wanted to get her alone.

“Uh. I don’t want to sound like a cliché, but your place or mine?” he asked.

She smiled. “As long as we have a bed and the rest of the night, it doesn’t make a difference to me. I’m thinking we’re going to have everything we need.” She finished off her drink.

“I am so glad we finally made a plan to have drinks.”

“Yeah. Me, too.”

As Paige and Zach walked down the hall to their rooms, she had only one thought—she could not believe she was doing this. Then again, she could hardly believe what had just happened down in the bar. She’d let Zach put his hand inside her panties under the table, in a crowded room that was full of their colleagues. Paige didn’t do a lot of spontaneous things. She certainly wasn’t daring very often. But she could get used to this. Her blood was pumping. She felt alive, after so many years of feeling far less than that.

“Let’s go to my room. It’s closer,” Paige said. “Probably ten whole feet.”

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