When we reach Nic’s car, he pulls out his keys and our arms brush. He turns to look at me, and my stomach flips as I take in his strong chest and muscular biceps. I can still remember the way those firm biceps felt beneath his jacket.
He takes a step toward me, so close we’re almost touching, his dark eyes searching mine. Then he takes another step and presses up against me, pinning me against the car.
Nic puts his hands on either side of me and touches his lips to mine again. His tongue strokes mine as he kisses me more urgently, and his hands slide down my hips and up my back.
My breasts press against his strong chest, my nipples hard underneath the fabric of my dress. I slide my hands up his biceps, feeling his muscles straining underneath his tux. I feel like I’m losing all control, and I’m just about ready to let him strip my dress off right here in the parking lot when he pulls back. He’s breathing heavily as he moves me to the side and pulls open the car door.
“We should get going,” he says, his voice thick and deep.
I nod, my chest heaving. At this point, I’m ready to go old school and have sex in his back seat, anything to have this man inside me as quickly as possible. He’s looking at me with so much lust in his eyes, I’m sure it must mirror my own.
“So,” he says, running his hand through his hair. “What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?”
I blink at him for a moment and then laugh. “Ice cream?”
“Yeah. I’m trying to distract myself. So, what’s your favorite flavor?” He smirks, stepping away from me and moving to the driver’s side.
I slide into the car. My legs feel weak, and I’m light-headed from the rush of his body pressing into mine, but I decide to play along.
“Anything with chocolate and peanut butter will make me happy,” I tell him.
He nods, then starts the car and pulls out of the lot. “Good choice. Mine’s butter pecan.”
I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. “Really? Butter pecan?”
He looks over at me. “What’s wrong with butter pecan?”
“It’s fine,” I say, smirking at him. “If you’re my grandfather.”
Nic laughs. “I guess I’m just an old-fashioned guy.”
If the night so far is any indication, I’d say he’s anything but old-fashioned.
He navigates through the streets quickly, and I can tell he wants to get to my place as quickly as I do. Whatever trick he’s trying to use to keep my mind off of how much I want him isn’t working. I guess I’m really embracing my resolution to stop following the rules all the time, because I feel bold in a way I never have before.
I watch Nic’s hands on the wheel for a moment, then take in his profile. His strong jaw is even more pronounced in profile, highlighted in the dim lights of the car, and I can still feel the roughness of his facial hair from our kiss. Unable to resist, I slide a hand onto Nic’s thigh as he drives.
“Hey, I thought we were trying to distract ourselves,” he says, swallowing hard. “What’s your favorite season?”
“Hmm . . .” I move my hand up his thigh. “Fall. You?”
I glance at the bulge in his pants, and if it’s any indication, I’d say he’s very well endowed. I can tell he’s trying to focus on the road, but his chest is moving up and down rapidly.
“You’re going to make me crash,” he says finally.
I give him a sly smile and move my hand even higher up his leg.
“Jesus.” He huffs out a breath and presses the gas harder, then glances at me. “I might have underestimated you. You’re going to be a handful, aren’t you?”
“You have no idea.” I grin, stroking his thigh.
Something about being with Nic is freeing; I’m feeling totally uninhibited for the first time in a long time. Just touching his thigh has me so hot and bothered, I can barely stand it. If he can make me feel this way without even touching me, I can only imagine what he can do with all our clothes off.
Luckily, the reception venue was close to my place, and Nic makes it there in record time. My legs still feel weak with desire, and I try to focus on opening my front door without dropping my keys.
As I turn on the lights, I mentally congratulate myself for having the foresight to clean my apartment before I left this morning. As Nic takes in the space, I look around the room, trying to see it through his eyes.
With a car like he has, I can only imagine he lives in one of the amazing high-rises downtown. I don’t make a ton of money, so my place is pretty modest, but I’ve done what I can to make it comfortable.
“Nice place,” he says, turning to me with a smile.
“It’s okay.” I shrug, setting my purse on the side table. “I want to move soon.”
“I’m serious. I really like it,” he says, grinning at me. “It feels like a real home, you know? I’ve gotten too used to my bachelor pad, but it’s just that, a place to sleep.”
I smile, and for a moment I wonder how many women he brings to that bachelor pad.
Shaking my head, I chastise myself. Why am I even thinking about that now? And who cares, anyway? This whole night is about me having fun, casual sex, and the number of women Nic has slept with isn’t any of my business.
“Do you want something to drink?” I head toward the kitchen.
“I’m okay,” he says, moving to the side table where I keep old family photos.
Shit. I should have hidden those.
“Is this you?” he asks, his tone amused as he holds up a framed photo of me as a kid. It was during a phase where I wanted to be a magician, and I was in a full tux and top hat, holding up a stuffed rabbit.
Fucking awesome.
I move across the room and grab the photo, heat rising into my cheeks. “Can we save the trip down memory lane for another time?” I don’t think having Nic see photos of me in my awkward pre-teen phase is the right way to kick off our one-night stand.
“It’s cute.” He grins at me. “So, you went to law school and can pull a rabbit out of a hat. Any other hidden talents?”
Wouldn’t you like to know?
I set the photo facedown on the table and grab Nic’s hand, tugging him toward me. I don’t want him to think I’m cute; I want him to fuck my brains out. And I think we’ve waited long enough.
I step closer until our bodies are almost touching, and he gazes down on me, his dark eyes finding mine. He’s freaking delicious—certainly unlike any man I’ve ever dated. Seeing him standing next to Jeremy was almost comical. Where my ex is all gangly limbs and an ill-fitting suit, Nic commands attention with his height and broad shoulders. It’s like he was cut from a GQ Magazine.
I swallow, suddenly unsure about how he’s feeling, and wish I didn’t have quite so much to drink tonight. Doubt creeps into the edges of my brain. Nic hasn’t pounced on me, hasn’t made a move yet, but he did kiss me back . . .
“Are you sure you want this?” I ask tentatively.
He takes a step closer and places my palm against the front of his pants. “Does that feel like I’m unsure, Elle?”
My throat closes. Holy shit, the man is rock hard. For me. The thought is dizzying.
Damn, I need this so much. I didn’t know it until this exact moment, but something about his undivided attention, his focus on me, is somehow repairing the destruction Jeremy left behind. Nic knows what he wants, and somehow that’s me. His attention feels so good, I may just black out before we get to the main event.