“The food’s the thank you,” he said around a mouthful. “But I want to see you again. Get to know you better…in other ways.”
His grin widened, playful yet taunting. “If you’re curious, we can get a suite for the evening.”
Shannon’s breath caught, her pulse spiking as the words sank in. She fought to steady her nerves, but the heat in his eyes had heat creeping up her neck.
The suggestion hung in the air like smoke. Warmth coiled low in her stomach, an ache of desire becoming harder to ignore.
“Bold offer,” she replied. She lifted her glass, taking a long sip. “But I don’t fall into bed with guys that easily.”
“Is that so? Well, I wouldn’t want you to fall, love. Just know once you do give in…you won’t want to stop.”
His gaze dropped to her lips, then back to her eyes.
“You know, I’m not just talking about the vanilla stuff. I’m talking about something deeper.Maybe pushing you to your limits. I can tell you’d like a man who knows what he wants. How far would you let me take you?”
His words hit like a shockwave, making Shannon’s pulse thrum faster. The edge of danger in his voice, mixed with the playful hint of something darker, stirred a primal response deep inside.
She leaned back, swallowing hard.
“I’m not your typical type, Jamie,” she said, her voice a little shakier than she’d like. “I’m not up for being tamed.”
Jamie smirked. “Oh, I don’t want to tame you. I love that you’re wild. I just want to see how much you’re willing to give…and how much you can take.”
Her lips quirked into a half-smile. “I’m curious…is offering yourself up on the first date your usual move, or is that just how you like to break the ice?”
Jamie’s eyes sparkled with amusement, his smirk widening. He leaned back in his seat, tapping his fingers on the table.
“First date, huh?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m flattered you’ve already thought about our next one. You think I’m forward, but I’ve found that getting straight to the point has its perks. I don’t like wasting time, especially when I know what I want.”
His gaze wandered from her lips to her eyes and lower, the unspoken challenge still hanging in the air. “But I’m happy to take it slow with you.”
He gave her a wolfish grin, one that seemed toreach across the table and coil itself around her insides. “Your face is so pretty, especially when you blush.”
She broke eye contact, looking anywhere other than at him, her cheeks flushing hotter than ever.
“Shannon…” He tilted his head to catch her eye while chewing. “How about dinner sometime? Just us. No games. No expectations.”
“Oh, really?” She raised an eyebrow and popped a few skinny fries into her mouth. “Sure you could handle that? Sounds like a lot of self-control for a guy like you.”
“I’m serious,” he said, his eyes steady and intent on her.
Her heartbeat quickened as a warning bell rang in her mind. The idea of seeing him again was tempting, but the echo of her past darkened her thoughts.
“Look, I meant what I said, Jamie. My schedule is full.”
A knowing smile tugged at his lips. “I’m tight on free time myself, love, but everyone needs to let off steam, right? We deserve to have fun.”
“I have fun,” she fibbed.
Niall’s trigger-happy temper flashed through her mind.
Mistakes were lessons not to be repeated by fools. Niall had been one of those mistakes, and she had a sinking sense that Jamie could be an even bigger one.
“Tell me what, or who, takes up your spare time? Who do you have fun with?” Jamie bit into his burger, unaware of the storm brewing inside her.
There was no way she’d admit to this mega-hot guy that she rode horses.
At school, the city kids had thought she was a strange, out-of-place weirdo. They poked fun at her, inventing silly horsey names to taunt her in the corridors.
