Craving You

Tague wondered if Loralai/L.L. would stand him up. Had last night been more intense than she’d expected or wanted?

The evening had certainly been loaded with twists and turns that had even surprised him. But he could handle it. Looked forward to what came next.

If anything…

He spared a glance at his watch and fought a scowl. It was precisely seven-thirty.

Saucy L.L. didn’t strike him as the perfectly punctual type. But sophisticated, sensuous Loralai did.

However, he wasn’t anticipating the latter to meet him this morning. He had a feeling that persona was reserved for the club. Perhaps also for the firm dinner at the Waldorf, given its high-profile extravagance. But he wouldn’t mind if it was L.L. on his arm. She’d entertain the crowd with her carefree spirit; though Loralai would probably hold everyone in a mesmeric state, tying a lot of tongues. Certainly his parents’.

Tague grinned. That’d be a sight to see. There was nothing quite like silencing a roomful of lawyers with the flash of a woman’s thigh and her breathtaking face. Though L.L.’s radiant smile and seductive dimple could do that as well.

As evidenced by Tague’s suddenly sharp exhale as L.L. blew through the door to the coffee shop, decked out in a fitted cream-colored coat that once again fell over her hips and just shy of the short hem of her tight skirt, in the same color. As were her stockings with wide lacy tops on full display, knit gloves and beanie cap. The thick cashmere scarf around her neck, however, was lavender. Her suede thigh-high boots were of the exact hue.

Once again…damn sexy. Provocative.

Evocative.

Something moved and stirred within him. Tague fought the physical pull, though, really not needing another hard-on elicited by L.L. that he could currently do nothing about. Yet suspecting it was inevitable.

She sidled u

p to him, slipped off the shades and said, “Caught you stealing a peek at your watch. Didn’t think I’d come?”

His brow crooked. “That’s actually the least of my concerns. Think we’ve got that covered.”

There was a flicker of mischief in her eyes over the innuendo. And the color tinging her cheeks, already pink from the cold weather, deepened. She clearly got his meaning.

She said, “You’re a bit full-throttle.”

“Can’t be surprised this time, right?” He gestured for her to join the line.

“Maybe not. Though I told you last night this has all come out of left field.”

“And you considered backing out of our date. Do you still feel that way?”

14

She stared up at him, her gaze boldly locking with his. He admired the fact that she didn’t cower from the touchy subject—or hide behind her sunglasses.

“I still want to go with you. It’s just that this has already turned out to be more extreme than I was anticipating. And we only just met.”

He couldn’t argue the point, had contemplated it himself just moments before. “I think we each have a very good sense of who the other is.”

“Perhaps that’s what gave me pause.”

They were both quiet a moment, taking in that sentiment.

For Tague, he could genuinely say the only woman he’d ever gotten wrapped around the axle over—and right off the bat—was Renee. But at the age of nineteen, he hadn’t really been of the mindset, nor had he had the experience, to fully comprehend what the obsession was all about.

He was older and wiser now. That, however, did not keep the stunning woman standing in line with him from jacking his interest through the roof and causing his blood to blaze. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, it was an indisputable fact.

Admittedly, it’d been all he could do last night to keep from unfastening his pants when they were in that dark corner and thrust into her. It was a wonder now that he could think of anything other than those long, silky legs circling his hips and her tight pussy milking his cock.

Not an appropriate time for those thoughts, man.

He let out a low growl. Shoved a hand through his hair in agitation. Or sexual frustration—likely the true culprit.