Meanwhile, the argument continued to volley between us. “Emotions, trust, caring need to be the foundation of a relationship,” I argued.
“They can also prove to be no sturdier than a bed of sand. If a man is turned on enough, he’ll often confuse desire for emotions, making love and lust interchangeable.”
“That’s a very superficial conjecture.”
“Is it, though?” he asked, before making a production of wiping his lips.
“Yes, it is. I believe there are plenty of men who can feel love, show love.”
“For each one who can, there are probably five more who can’t.” He lifted his wine and took a healthy sip, forcing my gaze to the subtle bob of his Adam’s apple. “Can a man and a woman develop a relationship where they can be happy? Sure. Thankfully for my business, happiness can turn on a dime. Love is often not enough. It is also often misconstrued.” His political adroitness made me look like a love-thirsty dreamer, but I no longer cared. The sooner this night was over, the better.
When the lights dimmed and the sensual music began, Jasmine came over to say, “Great job. Our viewers will love the banter. We’ll keep rolling, but the rest of the date will probably be shown as a highlight reel. The mics won’t be able to pick up anything you say unless you shout.” I sighed in relief that the conversation part of our evening was over.
As the first male performer emerged shirtless and eager, Nate pressed his body against mine. Ignoring him proved to be in vain. I tried to watch the Adonis gyrating a few feet away while the other Adonis watched me. But the combination of having his arm resting heavily across my back and his fingers curled around my bare shoulder made the air thick and stagnant. Claustrophobia clawed over my skin, fighting with the pulses that his proximity caused.
Nate leaned in, placed his lips directly on my ear, and whispered softly, “Is he riling you up, Jersey? Wouldn’t it be amazing if I could provide some relief? Maybe drop beneath this table and eat your pussy as a birthday gift?” He placed a strategic hand where the fabric of my dress edged over my thigh. “I bet if I touched you right now, you’d be wet.”
I squeezed my thighs together over his accurate assumption, but it wasn’t the performer responsible. Each article of clothing tossed about went unnoticed while all I could picture was Nate’s hands spreading my legs and his mouth devouring me.
One thing was for sure… this stunt tonight, bringing him here in hopes to embarrass him, had completely and utterly backfired.
We made out the entire ride home.
The driver eased the car toward the curb in front of my building, and hearing him subtly clearing his throat forced us to break for air. “Am I coming up?” Nate asked, and I assumed the grittiness in his voice was because of all the sexual tension burgeoning between us. “Or will you claim that it’s not happening again, Jersey?”
The challenge in his voice alone should’ve spurred me to say just that, but I no longer cared about my pride. I was beyond giving a shit over maintaining a respectable level of self-respect. Consequences be damned. I needed to have sex with this man tonight.
Besides, wouldn’t it be hypocritical of me not to do something crazy on my birthday, after I’d peer-pressured Jade for having a one-night stand on hers? I may have been many things, but a hypocrite I was not.
“Well? Yes or no?” he prodded.
“Yes?”
“I need a more definite yes.” Aware the driver was now focused on us, Nate thanked him before dragging me out the door with a firm grip on my wrist until we stood face-to-face. “Yes or no, Jersey?”
“Yes,” I voiced a touch more confidently. There was no way I could walk away from him in the state he’d worked me up to. I deserved to have a release for all my tension, all my stress. I deserved to take advantage of a man who was willing to offer himself up with no strings attached.
I thought my confirmation would prompt him to beeline us toward the door. But instead, he gripped my face with both hands and picked up where we had left off in the car. Softer, slower, but no less mind-numbing. The kissing served to rile me up into a new level of frenzy. I was seconds away from demanding we get on with things when he skimmed a thumb across my bottom lip. Shit, I’d written that move in my books a million times, but never had it affected me as it did at that moment.
“Nate,” I said, all breathy and desperate. “I suggest we get upstairs before my logic kicks in.”
His jaw tightened, and without a response he took my hand and tugged me toward the entrance of my building, waited for me to gain us access, and resumed pulling me across the lobby and into the elevator.
The moment we began our ascent, he removed his hand from mine and leveled me with an almost angry glare. “This is how things are going to happen between us, Jersey. Unlike our last encounter, there will be nothing quick about tonight. Check your logic at the door. Are we clear?”
I remained silent and nodded, even though my instincts were to challenge his master plan. But I couldn’t force the snippy comments out of my mouth. Neither would I give him the satisfaction of knowing that I was right there with him. All I wanted was to unwrap the arrogant package that was Nate Navarro. To see him naked and touch him everywhere was just as important to me as the end result.
I’d worry about his expectations later. Because if I wanted him gone after he calmed the hypersensitive pulsations that were tormenting my body, then he’d be gone.
Needing to take control of this situation, the moment I unlocked the door and placed my keys and handbag on the small foyer table, I faced him and cut to the chase. “Couch or bed?”
His focus landed on the kitchen behind me. “Island.” I went stone-still. “Since bringing it up at the strip club, all I can think about is eating your pussy… and what better place?” No way. How could he know? There was no way he could know! Assuming my shocked state meant no, he admitted, “To be clear, I don’t care where I eat your pussy.”
While I was grappling with the irony that Nate was about to fulfill a fantasy that had dominated my thoughts whenever it came to him, he took my hand and headed for the couch.
“Island,” I finally voiced, tugging to stop him from moving us away. And before I could change my mind, I catapulted forward and crushed my lips against his. As a response, he nudged his hardness against me, causing us both to release a similar pained moan.
During the feverish kiss, he slid his hands around to my back and lowered the zipper without invitation. Really at this point, did he need one?
I anxiously stepped away and peeled my dress off, letting it pool around my feet. “Christ, Jersey… what are you wearing?” he asked, his gaze instantly exploring every inch of me. He then closed the distance so that his hands could follow the same trajectory. While skimming both thumbs across the sheer cream fabric covering my nipples, he added, “I didn’t get to see enough of you last time.” Staring down at me, he fingered the tiny jewel hanging from my belly button ring. “And this is sexy as fuck.”
With only his fingertips, he watched himself paint my skin with his touch, moving over every part of my torso, my arms, my hips, dangerously close to the edge of my matching see-through panties. I failed to hide my labored breaths, and it spurred him to say, “You’re there, aren’t you, Jersey? You’re seconds away. If I were to do this…” His hand finally landed between my legs, rubbing one finger over me almost spitefully. “Would you come within minutes? Maybe seconds?” With that, he slipped his hand inside my panties, but otherwise remained still.