The car ride was quiet, but not in a cold way. His hand was on her thigh, fingers resting just beneath the hem of her baby blue dress--the one he always stared at a little too long when she wore it.
"You wore this on purpose," he said, eyes never leaving the road.
She smiled, turning toward him, her dark hair brushing her shoulder. "Of course I did. It's your favorite."
He squeezed her leg, just enough to make her shift in her seat. "And the show of that soft skin?"
She looked down slowly, giving him a view all over again. "That, too."
He didn't say anything, but the way his jaw tightened told her everything. Her man wasn't the type to talk much when he was worked up. He was the type to act--and tonight, she wanted all of it.
She loved that about him. The way he could be quiet and solid, steady like the concrete he worked with every day. But behind that quiet was fire--green eyes that could burn and hands that could bruise if she let him.
And she always let him.
By the time they pulled into the restaurant parking lot, the tension between them was tight enough to snap. He turned off the engine but didn't move to get out. Just looked at her with that slow, heavy gaze.
"Sit across from me at the table," he said, voice low. "And if you make it through dinner without getting that smart mouth of yours in trouble, maybe I'll take it easy on you tonight."
She smirked. "So... no dessert?"
He leaned in, brushing his lips against her ear. "Oh, you're getting dessert, sweetheart. Just depends how messy it gets."
He stepped out first, rounding the car in two easy strides, always a little too fast, a little too purposeful--like he could tear down the world if he wanted to.
She barely had time to adjust her dress before he opened her door.
"Oh, baby", she teased, fluttering her lashes as she took his hand. "Such a gentleman."
His eyes dropped to her neckline again, lingering. "Don't start."
She tilted her head, letting her hair fall to one side. "Start what?"
He didn't answer. Just pulled her up to stand, his grip firm, then kissed her hard--one of those deep, claiming kisses that didn't belong in a parking lot. She melted into it, but when he finally pulled back, she bit her bottom lip and gave him that look, the one that always got her in trouble.
"I might have skipped panties," she whispered giggling, just loud enough for him to hear.
He froze.
Then exhaled, slow and dangerous.
"Jesus, baby."
She giggled and slipped her arm through his, all innocent smiles as they walked toward the entrance.
The hostess barely finished greeting them before he cut in, voice calm but clipped. "Two. Somewhere private."
She noticed the way his hand tightened slightly at her waist, subtle but firm. Possessive.
She leaned in, whispering sweetly, "You're not mad at me already, are you?"
He looked down at her, eyes dark and hungry. "You're gonna wish I was."
The restaurant was dim, intimate, candlelight flickering across crisp white tablecloths and crystal glasses. Their booth was tucked in the back, half-shadowed and quiet, the kind of place where secrets could be whispered and legs could stretch just far enough to cause trouble.
She slid in first, smoothing her dress beneath her, catching his gaze as she did. He sat across from her, his broad frame making the leather seat look smaller than it was, hands resting on the table like he needed something to grip.
They ordered quickly--neither of them really hungry for food.
The first glass of wine went down easy. She took her time with it, fingers wrapping around the stem delicately, lips lingering on the rim with every sip. She talked about something--she couldn't even remember what--but she watched his eyes darken as her foot, slow and deliberate, made its way across the space between them.
First it brushed his ankle. Then his calf.
He didn't react at first. Just kept his gaze steady on her, the muscle in his jaw ticking like a clock wound too tight.
