Blessed

And I don't feel that attraction toward Thomas. At least, I don't feel only that. Yes, he's hot. When he looks at me with those smoldering eyes, I flash on what he would want to do to me. And I think about what I’d like him to do to me. I’ve never had these kinds of dirty thoughts before.

This isn't what draws me to him, though. I'm intrigued by him, the way he switches from suave to serious and back. There's more to this man, and I'm interested in finding out how deep it goes.

I want to get to know if the man who says he's attracted to my intelligence has what it takes, or if he’s just feeding me another line.

I want it to be the former, but I can't get my hopes up too high. Most of the men I meet are the same. If Thomas is different, I would be pleasantly surprised.

Thomas looks up at me, feeling my stare. He smiles, and I flush, feeling like an idiot for being caught.

I read over the options on the menu again. I have no idea what I want. I just know that whatever I have tonight, I'll be having it with Thomas.

Thomas

Nicole is drop dead sexy. Whenever she talks, her lips move in a way that makes me want to kiss her. Her lips are plump, but not too full. I can just imagine what they would taste like. If things keep going like they are, I won't have to keep imagining for very long.

Twice, she catches me staring at her lips, and she blushes. She's innocent and pure, blushing at the thought of a man finding her interesting, let alone sexually attractive. If she knew what I wanted to do to her, her face might actually catch on fire.

The dress she wears shows off her curves. I imagine ripping it off her and throwing it on the floor. Then I would drink in every inch of her body like fine wine, savoring her to the last drop. I want to see that innocent face of hers twist up in sweet agony, and I want to hear her scream my name when I make her come.

My body responds to my thoughts, and I shift in my seat, trying to find a comfortable position in my pants for my hardening length. She has no idea how she makes me feel, but I'll let her know soon enough. I force those thoughts down and focus on what she's saying.

"My parents decided that, instead of traveling, they wanted to stay in one place to create a stable life for me and my sister."

She's telling me about her life in Brooklyn. I'm only half-listening. She lifts her hand to push her dark hair out of her face. Her hands are slim, with long, slender fingers, but not too bony. Just right, in fact. I want them on my skin. I want to feel the burn of her touch.

I shake my head slightly. I'm getting ahead of myself. All in good time, I think, and try to focus on what she's saying again.

It's getting hard to concentrate. My dates always end in sex, and I'm eager to skip to the last chapter. Tonight, I drank more wine than I should have. The alcohol has burned through my veins, making me ache for the kind of attention you can only get from a gorgeous woman, away from public eyes.

The conversation lulls, and Nicole turns back to her meal. Her eyes are on her plate. Beautiful eyes, a pale gray. They're sharp and miss nothing. She feels my stare and looks up at me.

I swallow and lick my lips, not hiding how much I like looking at her.

After dessert, I call for the bill. I want to get out of here. I’ve been good for far too long. Nicole has sat across from me all night, teasing me with her innocence, too polite for words. I like good girls. Does she know that? I want to corrupt her and find the wild woman lurking beneath that innocent mask.

I pay and stand up, tugging at my belt. My shirt's un-tucked. It hides my obvious erection. "Let’s get out of here," I say.

She hesitates before taking my hand. She's careful. When her hand slips into mine, her skin is warm, and I intertwine our fingers, leading her out to the car.

God, I want her so badly. Every fiber in my being screams at me. Take her.

"Where to?" I ask.

"I’ll direct you," she says, and I turn onto the street. "I know a route that should be safe for you to take."

"Safe?"

"You’ve been drinking."

I blink at her. I can't remember when I’d worried about DUIs. I'm the crown prince of Elanda. If anything goes wrong, I have my papers to show them. I have diplomatic immunity. I'm basically untouchable, as long as it isn't anything serious.

Either way, I still let her show me the way. I want her to take a little bit of control. She's shy and a little timid. I want her animal to come out. If it won't come out on its own, I’ll find a way to bring it out of her.

She guides me through the streets of Manhattan. We crawl closer and closer to the Starbucks where we first met, the area around the University. It's not the best area, in my opinion, but Nicole tells me she’s been happy here throughout her years of study.

I've never lived in anything smaller than a thousand square feet. The whole neighborhood makes me feel cramped for space.

This is happening. I glance at her as we drive. Her hands are in her lap, and she moves her legs slightly. The seatbelt crosses over her chest, between her breasts, accentuating them in a way that makes my heart pound. I see her profile as the streetlights pass, lighting up at intervals. The corners of her mouth tug into a secret smile.