“I love the smell of leather seats, but the aroma of your juices is quickly becoming my favorite scent. I’m going to slip my fingers through those glistening folds, mate. What will I find? Are you wet for me?”
Was that a rhetorical question? He had to know she was soaked. Her mind cycled quickly through everything she’d learned in her training as a submissive, coming to the realization, a good Dom never asks a question he doesn’t want answered, and there was no question in her mind Israel was a good Dom. They may not have been together for a long time, but some things were intuitive.
“Yes, I’m very wet, Sir.”
“All those thoughts racing through your mind, lightning doesn’t move that fast. You are remarkable.” His fingers traced a line of fire up the inside of her thigh, the slow stroke ripe with anticipation. It didn’t matter the streetlights were shining down on her bare sex, or the car was so low, it would have been easy for anyone in a higher profile vehicle to look down and see what Israel was doing.
She heard the sucking sound of her juices moving around his fingers as they slipped inside her and felt herself stiffen. It was mortifying to realize her body was so wanton. His low growl shifted her attention to his face. The crinkled line between his brows let her know he wasn’t pleased.
“Don’t you dare be embarrassed by something I find hotter than hell. Knowing I have this effect on you makes my soul sing and my cock so hard, it’s threatening to split open.”
She took a deep breath and nodded. His words were empowering. The Dom instructors at the club had continually reminded them, the power was in their hands. Knowing Israel could only command her if she allowed it, Bristol took another long breath and relished the surge of energy, knowing he was turned on by her body’s reaction to him.
By the time they pulled into the parking lot beside the exclusive eatery, Bristol’s body was begging for release. When she reached for the door handle, Israel leveled a glare at her.
“Stay where you are, Beautiful. Chivalry is not dead in my family. I’d prefer my parents didn’t come back to haunt me for letting my mate open her own door.” He was around the car in seconds, smiling when he saw she’d pulled the bottom of her dress back into place. Helping her from the low seat, Israel pinned her in, pressing her against the side of the car to take her mouth with a kiss so scorching, he felt the heat radiating around their bodies. When he wrapped his hand around her wrist and pulled her away from the side of the car, Israel pressed his palm against the shiny black metal.
“You’re so fucking hot, I can feel it on the surface of the car. Let’s go inside. We’ll enjoy a nice dinner, then go to Prairie Winds and play.”
Bristol zombie walked beside Israel into the restaurant, her head still fogged with lust. The man could kiss her senseless so quickly, it was frightening. In seconds, he could numb enough brain cells to send her IQ down several points.
The small café’s entry looked like an open-air terrace, but she’d seen a glimmer of reflection off the pristine glass dome and wondered how many people were fooled by the illusion. There were so many twinkling lights in the surrounding potted trees and plants. One side was a natural stone wall, Bristol suspected was part of some original Austin old west building, making her wonder about the history of the area.
“The owner will be happy to tell you all about the building another time, Beautiful. Tonight is for something entirely different.”
They were seated at one of the smaller secluded booths along the rock wall she’d admired when they first arrived. Weaving their way through the tables hadn’t been difficult since the establishment wasn’t particularly large, but it seemed to take forever because some of the things she’d seen along the way, rendered her mute.
“I had no idea a place like this existed in Austin. Do you come here often?” Bristol hadn’t meant for the question to sound insecure, but it was impossible to hide how out of her element she felt.
Israel recognized a make-or-break moment when confronted with one, and this one was full of landmines. He wouldn’t lie to her, his mate deserved better from him, but he wouldn’t let her make more of this than she should.
“I’ve been here several times, helping friends train subs, group outings, play parties, and an occasional date. Keep in mind, I’m several years older than you, so by default, I’d have more sexual experience. I wasn’t a slouch in school, but my parents had their hands full, keeping ahead of London. The rest of us had fairly normal school experiences, so it stands to reason, I had more free time to explore my sexuality.” Israel wanted to roll his eyes. Hell, thinking about his behavior was cringeworthy. He’d explored every nook and cranny of his sexual side while dating most of the girls on campus.
“So, you’ve been here with other women? Dates? I may not have dated in college or a lot after I moved to Texas, but even I know it will be difficult for you to keep from comparing your experiences with other women at this venue. You didn’t sit at this table, did you? Holy popping capillaries, maybe we could go through a drive-through and pick up food. You know, eat in the car on the way… Oh… ewww. No other woman has…”
Israel had heard enough. Raising his hand in the universal sign to halt, he shook his head in frustration.
“Stop. I want you to take a breath and listen. Listen very closely, Bristol, because I’m only going to tell you this once.” He knew why she was upset but doubted she did. As a group, shifters were notoriously possessive, often displaying inappropriate jealousy during the early stages of the mating process. Bristol hadn’t been raised in a shifter household, so she didn’t fully understand her feelings.
His mate’s emotions had run so hot and cold, he’d barely been able to track them. It was almost painful to watch as her emotions began spiraling into an emotional freefall, knowing she’d been helpless to control the unfamiliar feelings. Signaling the waiter to bring their drinks, he waited until she’d had several sips of wine before proceeding.
“First, I won’t lie to you, Bristol. You asked me if I’d been here, and I answered you truthfully. You failed to ask if I’ve ever been here with a woman I had any interest in claiming as my own, either as a wife or mate. My entire world shifted on its axis when I found you at Kensington and Denali’s wedding.”
The day had been spectacular. The Adlers celebrated the marriage of the movie star brother, they’d worried would never find a woman willing to share his insane travel schedule, and Austin’s wife, Charlotte, had conveniently forgotten to mention she was in labor, convinced she’d be back in their penthouse apartment before anyone was the wiser.
“I’d have recognized your scent anywhere and known you belonged to me, but having fate bring you into my life on a day when my entire family was present and already celebrating was the icing on the cake. I’d never seat you in a booth or car where anyone—a date or otherwise—had been.” Bronx made certain his siblings traded cars regularly, citing some lame-ass excuse about poor advertising when they drove cars more than a year old.
“Ummm… do me a favor and don’t tell Bronx about my car, okay?”
He smiled at Bristol. He’d forgotten she could hear him in unguarded moments. Israel was sure his heart had expanded like the damned Grinch—the intimacy of telepathic communication strengthened the bond between mates.