“Very happy. And you bothered me anyway.”
“How?”
“I thought dirty thoughts of you every time I taste-tested the batter.”
He growled from deep in his throat and his fingers dug into her hips, pulling her closer. “Why would you say that before we’ve even left for the restaurant?”
“Sorry.”
“Never ever apologize for dirty thoughts of me. Now, let’s spark some dirty thoughts of us.”
She smiled as he tilted his head to capture her lips again. By the time he dragged his mouth from hers, she was ready to say the hell with dinner and skip straight to dessert. She had a small, leftover pastry bag of his favorite frosting in the fridge they could share in creative ways.
“I should not have done that before we left,” he admitted, his voice low and rough. “But this right here is exactly why I had to stay away.”
Heart racing in her chest, she reached down past his leather belt and palmed his erection through his dress pants. “Are you sure you’re going to make it through dinner?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed with his audible gulp. “My doubts are increasing by the second.”
She arched her eyebrows in question, and he pushed away from her with a guttural groan. His hooded gaze swept down the length of her before he spun around and raised both arms to rake his hands through his hair.
“There’s a reason why I wanted to take you to dinner first.”
Honor stepped up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Tell me.”
He quickly lowered his arms so his hands covered hers on his firm stomach. “Uh…gimmie a sec.”
She loved knowing she made him this hot and bothered.
He thwarted her attempt to slide her hands lower by threading their fingers together as he answered, “Romance. Respect. Seduction.”
“You’ve already covered all three, Asher. Promise.”
He squeezed her fingers. “I booked a reservation.”
“Cancel it.”
He hesitated long enough she thought he might agree, but then he said, “I want to do this right.”
Of course he did. He was a long-haul guy. Ignoring the way her stomach bottomed out at that thought, she teased, “After Wednesday, I have no doubt you’ll do it right.”
“Geezus, Honor.” He hung his head with a low, laughing groan.
After a deep breath, he turned around in her arms. She thought she’d convinced him they could skip dinner, until she met his gaze. Desire blazed hot and heady, but it was tempered by the uncertain frown drawing his dark eyebrows down over his amber eyes.
She sighed, then tilted her head as she stepped back. “You really want to go to dinner first?”
“At this precise moment, no.” He shot a glance toward her stairs, then returned his turbulent gaze to hers. “But…”
“But you actually do.” She nodded, oddly touched he was sticking to his guns even though her body buzzed with sexual frustration from head to toe. “Okay, then. Let’s go.”
“You’re not mad?” he asked with a touch of suspicion.
“That you won’t take me upstairs right now?” She laughed softly. “No, I’m not mad. However, fair warning. You will pay for turning me on and before taking me out. You’ve left me wanting more, Asher. Again.”
She pivoted with a swish of her skirt, then bent to pick up the flowers from the floor, making sure he had a bird’s-eye view of her ass. His whimper-groan made her smile.
Asher Diamond was in a league of his own when compared to every single one of Honor’s previous dates ever. Forget smokin’ hot. He was honorable. Sweet. Smart. Fun.