Tripping (Iced #2) - Kristine Allen Page 0,34

late. Better yet, don’t bring her home at all. Well, not until late tomorrow or Sunday anyway,” Sergio helpfully added, and I wanted the earth to crack open and swallow me.

“Be bad, kids!” my sister piped in, completing my mortification.

A bark of laughter escaped Cameron as he placed a hand on my lower back and helped me down the stairs in my heels. I caught him glancing at me several times on the short trek to his gleaming red sports car.

He carefully settled me in the passenger seat and rounded the sleek hood. Once he was in and the car purred, he glanced over at me and wet his bottom lip. It might’ve been the single sexiest thing I’d seen him do.

“You look spectacular. Not that you aren’t always beautiful, but damn. I think you’re going to put me to shame tonight.”

“Not hardly,” I scoffed. He looked decadent. Charcoal gray slacks, a black shirt, an expensive-looking watch, and his growing hair spiked artfully. He was sure to turn the head of every woman we encountered that night.

“We’ll agree to disagree on that.” He grinned as we pulled away from my house. I could feel Crimson and Sergio staring at us out the window like two strange fairy godmothers and I wanted to laugh.

“So where are we going?” I asked as we drove south.

“I can’t tell you,” he replied with a smirk. I crossed my arms and glared at him, but he only laughed.

As he kept his eyes on the road and the worsening traffic, I studied him. His profile was classically handsome and far too pretty to belong on a hockey player. On further examination, I noticed a slight bump on his nose where I guessed it had broken at one time. Rather than detracting from his good looks, it only gave him a rugged edge.

“I’m surprised you have all of your teeth,” I blurted out, then wanted to bury my face in my hands. Because that wasn’t awkwardly out of the blue or anything.

Except he didn’t seem to mind as he shot me a full-fledged smile that showcased his perfectly white, straight teeth.

Shit. What if he has dentures or a bridge? That was such an idiotic thing to say.

“Thanks. I’ve knocked on wood my whole career not to lose any. My parents would be pissed after all the money they spent on braces. We’ll see how long that lasts.” He laughed, and the rich sound seemed to sink into me and ricochet around in my body.

My mouth nearly dropped open when we arrived at Jeffrey’s and he escorted me inside. He ordered a wagyu steak dinner, and I had salmon. He ordered an imported wine to complement our meal, and I’d consumed two and a half glasses before we were done. Dessert was a delicious strawberry and chocolate concoction that I might well have killed for—okay, maybe not killed, but done serious bodily damage.

As we left, I pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek, and I thought I heard him suck in a sharp breath.

“Thank you for a delicious dinner. This was a wonderful date. You did well,” I teased. Truth be told, I felt a little guilty because I knew it had to have set him back a pretty penny, but he’d gotten after me when I’d tried to be cheap when ordering my meal.

“The night’s not over yet,” he mysteriously whispered, and I gave him a calculating stare, but he wouldn’t divulge our next destination. Then we were back on the road.

Trying to be inconspicuous, I glanced at him again. He was biting his lower lip and concentrating on the road as he expertly maneuvered through the heavy traffic. I watched as he shifted the car and couldn’t quit thinking about how hot he looked driving. Watching him was damn near an erotic experience.

Truly, every little thing he did made my body respond in a wanton way. It was almost embarrassing. It was sinful, the effect he had on me without trying. It made me wonder what it would be like if he was.

As I clutched the soft coat in my lap, I imagined him undressing me. I wondered if he’d be slow and sensuous or savage and demanding. Neither option seemed like a bad choice.

I’d been so lost in my X-rated thoughts that I hadn’t paid attention to where we were going until we pulled into the University of Texas and stopped outside the Bass Concert Hall.

My hands flew to my mouth, and I swear tears