I pulled my thumb from my mouth with a pop and glowered at him. “I did not just do that. You saw nothing. It was a bad habit.”
“You do that with all your dinner companions?”
“Only the ones who slobber their sauce down their chins. Which is basically only you. Everyone else has normal table manners.”
I was being bitchy, but I was on the ropes. I needed to defend my stupid behaviour and deflect from the fact my body was reacting to him.
“I always was messy. I mean, with the way I was dragged up ...”
“Don’t,” I hissed. “Don’t do the poor-little-Rory act. Yes, you had it tough, but then you were given everything, and you threw it back at us.”
“Yeah, Lacey, I fucked up. I fucked up badly, and I’ve regretted it every day since I got out of your car.”
He lifted my hand and placed it on his cheek, then moved his head to suck the same thumb into his mouth. As his tongue circled the digit, I had to stifle a moan. One glimpse of his pink, wet tongue moving in his sinful mouth was all it took. I needed to make a decision.
Ripping my hand away, I grabbed my coat and bag from the back of my chair and hurried towards the exit. I made the mistake of turning back to look at Rory as I got to the door. He was throwing a few notes on the table, catching the waitress’s eye and pointing to it so she knew he hadn’t left without paying, and grabbed his jacket to run after me.
Once on the street, I glanced up and down, searching for an escape route. He’d been clever by deciding to meet me in the centre of town. I had to get the underground home and that meant crossing a busy road to head back to Buchanan Street. I hurried along the street instead. I’d walk until the lights changed then dart across.
Nevertheless, my indecision cost me because Rory fell into step beside me.
“Sorry, I pushed you too fast. I’m a klutz,” he said.
“There is no too fast. It’s never happening.”
He led me over the road and down an alley behind a pub. It was hardly a dark secretive alley, but it gave us a modicum of privacy.
“You forget, I know you. I know when you’re turned on. You’re wet now, aren’t you?”
“Rory!”
Hooking my chin with his fingers, he tilted my head back and pressed his lips to mine.
I couldn’t help myself, I opened to him, letting him deepen this kiss—allowing him to slide his tongue in and explore.
He captured the back of my head with one hand and inched up my skirt with the other. Without thinking, I opened my legs, giving him access, and he rubbed his fingers along the cotton panel of my knickers.
“So fucking wet,” he whispered against my mouth. “Let me make you come.”
“No. Not here.” I had some self-respect.
“No one will know, baby, and you’re so up for it.” I couldn’t deny that thanks to the way my body was responding.
His fingers slipped under the material, and I rubbed myself against his digits wantonly. Finding the bulge in his jeans with my own hand, I cupped him over the material. Was it my imagination that he seemed to be bigger than before? It probably was in my mind.
I wanted him inside me badly. But I couldn’t—I just couldn’t go there again.
“It’s such a bad idea,” I protested.
He pulled his hand out of my knickers and licked his fingers. “Fuck! You still taste delicious. Okay, babe, I’m seeing you safely back to your place, then if it becomes a good idea once we’re in private, I’ll make you feel good and expect nothing in return. Deal?”
I peered into his dark eyes and nodded. I felt nineteen again. That first night he’d been more concerned with my pleasure and willing to leave if I didn’t want to go all the way after I’d confessed I was a virgin and wasn’t sure. However, once he’d made me come, brought me down from a glorious high with soft kisses and caresses, then murmured he needed to make a move because I was a little too tempting, I had realised sex was exactly what I wanted. I wasn’t capitulating to what he wanted, I was owning what I wanted.
Rory led me from the alley, and we hailed a cab. Once inside, I expected him to be all handsy, yet he acted like a perfect gentleman. He really had grown up.
“Before we got distracted talking about us the other day you were telling me about people who can’t afford vet fees,” he said, taking my hand and holding it on his lap. “And I said why not go to the PDSA place. I assume there’s a reason.”
“You have to be on certain benefits. Homeless people are seldom on benefits, and many people on low incomes are just above the criteria. Also, the PDSA only allow you to register a single pet. They do amazing work with limited funds, and they can’t treat everyone’s pet, so there has to be a cut off, but someone has to be there to help those they can’t.”
“I see. That makes sense. You always were a soft-hearted soul when it came to animals and people.”
The taxi drew to a stop outside my flat, and I shifted on my seat. Withdrawing my hand from Rory’s, I glanced from my front door to him, and back to the door.
He’d said he’d leave if I still didn’t think anything happening was a good idea. Did I want that?
He’d also said he expected nothing in return, though. Could I take what I wanted and kick him out after?
“Lacey?” Rory asked.
“Hmm?”
“Am I coming with you or are you going up alone?”
I bit my lip and peered at him through my lashes. “I don’t know. How about coffee?”
That was the safe option, right? Give myself more time to decide.
We climbed out of the taxi, and Rory followed me up to my flat. The second I shut the door behind us, I headed for the kitchen, busying myself with making our drinks to avoid thinking about the fact Rory Thompson was in my home.
My hand shook as I filled the kettle and flicked it on, and my heart pounded in my chest. When I clattered a spoon against one of the mugs, Rory covered my hand with his.
“It’s okay, Lace. I expect nothing.”
His skin radiated heat over mine, and a tingle followed, trailing up my arm. Looking up into his eyes, my breath caught in my throat. I couldn’t look away.
Leaning forward, I closed the distance between us. Rory raised his hand, cupping my jaw and guiding me forward until centimetres remained between our lips.
“I’m still not sure this is a good idea,” I whispered.
“Me neither.”
“But I want you too much.” My brain screamed I was being foolish, yet my body knew what it wanted and gave no resistance when he pressed me against the wall, pinning me with his hips and letting me feel the hard ridge of his erection against my belly.
Rory pushed his tongue into my mouth, and I accepted it, using my own tongue to duel with his. I curled my fingers into his short hair, and I arched my back away from the wall, needing more of him.
He kissed me harder.
And then my skirt slid down my legs. Rory must have undone it, but I didn’t care.
Breaking away from me, he took the front of my knickers in one hand and the back of them in the other. Gritting his teeth, he pulled, ripping the seam.
“Oi, you little shit. Those are Victoria’s Secrets.”
“I’ll get you more. I’m going to France in the summer holidays, so I’ll get you loads in duty free.”