“Thanks, Luke.” She stared at the pizza half-eaten on her plate. “Do you mind if we get the check now?”
Luke nodded and tossed a fifty on the table. “Let’s go.”
As they walked out to his SUV, he put his arm around her waist, and she leaned her head on his shoulder. “It’s early. How about we go for a drive?”
“Where?”
“I know a little place by the river.”
“Hmmm, a make-out place?” she teased.
The spark in her eye showed him that she was a fighter. The Evan asshole wasn’t going to get the best of her. “Please, I haven’t taken a girl to a make-out place since high school.” He grinned and winked at her as he opened the door for her. “I have my bike for that now.” He laughed when she playfully punched his shoulder. “It’s just a nice place to sit and watch the water. Scout’s honor.” He held up his hand, not sure what fingers to hold up.
She laughed. “You were never in the scouts.”
He drove almost a half hour to a small town on the edge of the river. He parked the SUV at a small boat launch and they watched the sun go down. Lights from the town across the river danced in shards on the face of the moving water.
“It’s pretty here,” said Emily.
Luke reached out and put his arm around her shoulders. “Yeah, I come down here to think sometimes.”
“You think?” She giggled. “I’m only messin’. What do you contemplate? Socrates? Aristotle?”
“Different things,” Luke said noncommittally.
“What are you thinking about right now?”
The seriousness of her question surprised him. He went for the truth. “I’m thinking about kissing you. Wondering whether you think I’m pushing too hard, or if I’m not pushing hard enough.”
“You’ve got a real conundrum going on there.” Her tongue ran over her top, and then, lower lip, nearly drawing a moan out of Luke. “Maybe kiss me and find out.”
Luke didn’t need to be asked twice. He pulled her closer to him and pressed his mouth to hers. It was all still there, what drew him to her all those years ago. He started the kiss gentle and slow, but as her mouth moved against his, his passion grew. Needing to taste more of her, he pushed his tongue into her mouth. She whimpered a little, encouraging him. He brought his hand to her breast, rubbing the nub of her nipple till it grew hard. Emily drew in a deep breath, and his kisses became more frenzied.
He kissed her neck, and behind her ear, licking that spot with his tongue. He was drunk on desire. He wanted to fuck her right in the bloody SUV. She pushed against him and Luke put his hand between her legs, stroking her. The heat against his hand made his cock harden and he moved her hand to his crotch.
“Luke.”
“Emily, I’ve wanted you for so damn long.” H
e nibbled her neck and earlobe. She smelled sexy and tasted even better.
“Luke, why don’t you take me home?”
He drew back instantly. “Of course, Em.” He swallowed and stared straight ahead. His cock disagreed with his mouth. It throbbed between his legs, begging him to change his mind. He’d been such an idiot.
Emily’s cool hand brushed against his cheek and she turned his head to hers. “So we can have some privacy and more freakin’ space than in a cage.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
The First Time
WHEN LUKE KISSED HER in the car, Emily knew she wanted him. Badly. She didn’t want to wait. She’d waited for ten long years, not knowing she had. But with his lips devouring her, she knew that whatever happened, there would never be another man who stirred her passions the way Luke Wade did. Each one of his touches sent pleasurable shivers through her. When his tongue invaded her mouth, the only thing that mattered was moving her body close to him. She only wanted to touch him more, to feel every inch of his body.
Emily blinked and looked around as Luke drove. She didn’t recognize the neighborhood. “Where are we?”
“My apartment complex. You said to take you home.”
“I thought...” What had she thought?