but didn’t respond right away. In the half seconds of deliberation, he worried that she’d shoot him down. And what would that signal between them?
“Come inside,” she finally said, and he let go of a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Relief trickled through him and he pushed open his door, following her inside the house. Once the door clicked shut behind him and she was toeing off her heels, Blake swooped over to her, bringing her against him.
“I’m sorry for being distracted at dinner,” he said, truly meaning it. He felt like he’d ignored her, and that wasn’t cool. But hell if he knew how to execute this precious balance of being with someone and making sure they stayed. Blake was only good at wining, dining, and fucking. He had no tools in his tool belt for holding onto a woman long term. He’d never done this shit before. He’d only ever actively avoided getting here.
So probably recognizing that he was occasionally an unintentional asshole would help.
“I get it,” she said, smoothing her hands along his shoulders. “Don’t worry.”
He swiped his thumb over her cheek, searching her blue gaze for the deeper truth, but she was incredibly difficult to read. He’d have to take her at her word. If she said not to worry, then he wouldn’t. Simple as that.
He dipped down for a kiss, tasting the sweet tang of the dessert wine still on her lips. She parted her lips, allowing his tongue to meet hers in the middle. She gripped his hand cupping her cheek, a soft moan escaping her as the kiss deepened.
At the very least she still wanted it. Wanted him. And he’d make sure that that didn’t change.
Blake traced the curves of her body through the dress that he’d been admiring all evening, slowly easing off the jean jacket until it crumpled to the floor.
“Where shall we explore each other tonight?” he asked, pressing his forehead to hers. “Maybe the dining room table this time?”
She laughed. “I was thinking something a little more traditional. Like my bed.”
He grunted, squeezing the apples of her ass cheeks. “Great idea. Let’s go there now.”
She led the way, holding his hand as they sped up the stairs together. Inside her neat, orderly bedroom, outfitted in varying shades of gray and purple, he kissed her as he guided her backwards to her bed, toppling her to bounce softly on the mattress. She grinned up at him as he made quick work of his dinner jacket and the buttons of his shirt.
“Is this birthday dessert, round two?” she teased.
“Round three or four, maybe.” He shucked his shirt, and then got to work on his belt buckle and pants. “I’ve lost count. Too many delicious things that I’ve eaten in celebration. Both human and otherwise.”
She pressed the back of her hand to her nose as she snort-laughed. He fished the three-pack of condoms out of his back pocket before tossing his pants. Once he was down to his underwear, he pushed her dress up to her hips and clambered onto the bed. Eyeing her sexy cleavage in the dress, he said, “What would you say if I said I wanted to fuck you fully clothed, and then again in just your panties, and then again buck naked?”
“I’d say you have a lot of endurance.”
“Oh, I do.” He pressed his lips to her collarbone, lowering himself so that the thick ridge of his cock lined up with her already-damp panties. “When it comes to you, I want it to last as long as fucking possible.”
Her head rolled back as he moved himself against her, enjoying the splay of emotions across her face.
“Mmm.” He thrust against her again, able to feel the heat and dampness of her even with two layers of underwear between them. She was desperate for it—again. And he couldn’t wait to sink into that juicy heaven.
He didn’t know if it was the fact that they’d taken things slow, building up anticipation, or the fact that he’d actually gotten to know her so well beforehand—but he’d never had sex this good before. And that was saying something. Especially as one of the foremost playboys the San Francisco Bay Area had ever seen. Or rather, ex-playboy.
“Ohhh, Blake.” She clutched at his back, rocking her hips against him. Her nipples had turned into two tight points beneath her dress. He pushed the slippery fabric all the way up over her bra. He tugged the black satin cup down, covering that nipple