Just Deserts - Brenda Jackson [20]
“Come on, let’s get out of here,” he said, taking her hand and leading her toward the door.
“And if we don’t?”
He didn’t slow his pace until he made it to the door. Then he stopped and looked at her and said, “If we don’t, you’re going to find out real quick just how it feels to be taken by a desperate man.”
To be taken by a desperate man…
Just the thought sent shivers running down Danielle’s spine as she sat across from Tristan at the restaurant. And knowing that the subtle threat had come from his mouth made getting through dinner difficult. They had shared more meals together than she could count. But never before had they dined together while she wondered how it would feel to make love to him.
She didn’t want to make things uncomfortable for Tristan, though. Opening up and letting him know of her needs had been serious enough. Now he knew what she wanted and she was pretty convinced he would eventually give it to her. However, it was up to her to make sure he didn’t get cold feet or drag things out.
She glanced across the table at him and almost lost her breath when his eyes caught hers in a heart-stopping gaze. It didn’t seem real for her to encounter these types of vibes. The chemistry. Where had it come from? Had it been there all the time but she just never realized it? Or was she noticing it now simply because of her own physical needs?
So many questions with no answers, at least not any that she could provide. She was seeing Tristan through different eyes and couldn’t help wondering when those eyes had opened. And why.
“What are you thinking about, Dani?”
His voice, low and seductive, stirred something inside of her, made heat settle in certain parts of her body. “I was thinking about us, Tristan, and what brought us to this.”
He lifted a brow. “To what? Dinner?”
She knew he was teasing her. He fully understood what she was trying to say. “No, what brought us to sitting here, trying to kill time until we get back to our hotel room, and then wondering what will happen when we do.”
“I already know what will happen when we do.”
She did, too, and the thought sent heat through her body. “What happened to your suggestion about not rushing into anything and letting nature take its course?”
He smiled. It was a nice smile that went from one corner of his lips to the other, making her fully aware of him and his mood. “What happened was that killer dress you’re wearing. I’m looking forward to taking it off you.”
Danielle was glad their table was in a secluded spot, far away from others. She would have hated for anyone else to have heard what he’d just said. He was bold and deliberate, and she liked it. “And I’m looking forward to taking your clothes off, as well.”
She saw the way his eyes darkened, noted the hand that moved to pick up his wineglass and watched his mouth as he took a sip. Tonight was a night of awareness, responsiveness and total focus. She didn’t intend to miss a thing.
“So, what do you want to talk about other than the two of us getting each other naked when we get back to the room?” he asked in a husky tone.
She smiled, liking the thought of that. “I guess we can talk about what happened to bring us to this point.”
He raised a brow. “You asked me to be your lover. I would say that was good starting point.”
“Yes, but I really wasn’t sure you would go along with it.”
“Why not?”
“Because of our friendship.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, “It’s because of our friendship that I feel comfortable doing it. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Dani. I think you know that. Besides, I understand the workings of the human body. You’re a grown woman who knows what she wants and what she needs. And I also know what you’ve been going without. I’m glad you turned to me and not someone else.”
Her lips curved into a smile. “To be honest, I hadn’t thought of going to anyone. My first inclination was to purchase a…a toy. But then…”
When she hesitated, he inquired,