in a lot of ways, although we do look alike.”
“Identical?”
“Yep. Five minutes between us.”
“Younger or older?”
“I came first.”
“Lucky you got out of that nasty habit when you grew up.”
His eyes widen before he bursts out laughing, drawing the attention of diners around us. When he composes himself, he pins me with a heated stare and lowers his voice, the carnal undertone doing downright delicious things deep inside me. “There’s no way I’d give up hearing you scream ‘oh God’ for anything, Spitfire,” he replies, a devilish smirk playing on his lips.
I cough loudly just as the waiter appears at our table. “Your mains.”
Cade doesn’t miss a beat. He looks up at the waiter and grins, directing the plates onto the table.
“So this mother-buffer assignment of mine. What should I expect at this fundraiser?” I ask after we’ve both finished eating.
“Lots of men trying to prove they’ve got the biggest balls and women trying to outshine each other,” he explains flippantly.
I study him for a moment, seeing for the first time that he’s not at all that he seems—in a good way. “Not your scene?”
He snorts. “Nope. Don’t get me wrong—my father’s money meant I could go to any college I wanted without loans or debt.”
That must have been nice.
“But with wealth comes status and—in my parents’ minds—responsibility to uphold the Carsen family name.”
“And that’s not your deal?”
He looks out the window toward the Lake Michigan beside us before returning his attention to me. “I’ve always wanted to be my own man, do my own thing. You know?” I nod in agreement. “And for the most part, my mom and dad leave me to it. But when things like a mayoral campaign come around, it’s ‘all Carsens on deck.’“
It’s as if I’m seeing a whole new side to him and damn, I’m fucking liking it. Shit. Fake girlfriends are not supposed to like their fake boyfriends. Friends with benefits, Abi. Nothing more.
I decide we need to go back to light and easy, not deep and serious. “Any arranged marriages on your horizon then?” I ask with a wry smile.
“My mother has tried, starting with wrangling a date with her best friend’s daughter a few years ago. Hence the need for a mother buffer.”
“With a side of hot sex?”
“Is that a request or a requirement? Because either option works for me.”
Oh God. We’re back here again and damn, if it doesn’t hit me right in the money spot. “Definitely a requirement,” I reply. “Fair’s fair, Dr. Carsen. I scratch your back—”
“I get you to lay you flat on yours.”
“Check please,” I whisper, and my entire body hums at the sight of his devilish grin, one that guarantees multiple orgasms in my future.
Cade waves his hand up for the waiter and gives him his credit card to settle the bill.
I’ve been on dates before, but this date—I mean, dinner—has been an education, a torture session, and drawn-out foreplay all in one.
Cades leg slides against mine sending tingles everywhere. My body is a dirty slut needing her next Cade fix—preferably involving a warm meat injection from the man in question. I used to have a ‘take it or leave it’ attitude when it came to sex. After spending that second night with him, I’ve turned into an addict with Cade being my drug of choice.
“Your eyes darken when you’re turned on,” he says quietly, his foot inching higher beneath the table.
Two can play at this game. I slip off my black patent pump and glide my foot up his leg, running my toes along his inner thigh before resting lightly on his straining cock.
He slouches down in his seat, pulling his leg sideways and pushing my foot firmly against his hard-on. A flex of my toes sees him groan, his eyelids going half-mast. “We really need to get out of here, otherwise I’ll be dragging you to the bathroom.”
“I will if you will,” I shoot back.
He growls under his breath, his expression turning predatory. “Let’s go.”
“Your credit card?”
“Let them keep it.”
“Cade!” I say on a laugh. “I’m sure you can wait five minutes for the waiter to come back.”
He gets up from the table and walks over to me, stopping in front of me and holding out his hand. Guess he really is in a hurry.
“Just saying, this gentleman act of yours is totally working for me.”
“Give me twenty minutes and you’ll be the one working me.”
I’m coming off a long shift and making my way to my car in the hospital staff parking