Page 24 of Fated Shot

“Why’d you walk with me that night at the barbecue?” Her tone turning more serious this time. So much for keeping things light. I gulp down, deciding my best course of action and settling on honesty.

“I’d been dying to talk to you for weeks and couldn’t miss my opportunity.”

She continues to stare at me, leaning in slightly, confusion swimming in her brilliant green eyes. “Why?”

“Ah, ah, ah, my turn.” I quip back, wagging my hand at her.

This time, she laughs. “Fine, make it a good one then.”

Our main course arrives, and with it comes our dark haired waitress whose shirt is definitely pulled down even lower than before. It looks like Mia’s noticed too and it’s like I can feel her retreating back into her shell.

“Can I tell you a secret?” I let out the moment we’re alone again.

“Sure,” she says, but there’s a hesitancy in her voice that wasn’t there a few minutes ago.

I hold her gaze. Though she struggles to meet my eyes, my silence eventually draws her in. “You make me nervous.”

She blinks, breaking the contact before replying in a tone of disbelief. “I make you nervous?”

I nod and watch as she studies my face, probably to see if I'm still joking around. I’m not, but I continue before she can dig further. “So, what’s your favorite movie?”

I feel like we’ve successfully managed to get back on the rails. Mia’s opening up, albeit slowly, and I love it. By the time we’ve finished our food, trouble-in-an-apron walks over one last time as she places the bill in the middle of the table.

Mia starts to reach for it as soon as the waitress sets it down. My gaze hardens as I lay my hand on top of it, pulling it towardme before she gets a chance. It’s those NHL reflexes, they never fail me.

“I’m paying,” I say firmly.

“Y-you don’t have to do that,” she says, fumbling around in her purse to pull out her card. “Let’s split it.” Abso-fucking-lutely not.

Apron pipes up, speaking only to me. “I cantotallysplit it, it’s not a problem at all.”

Ignoring her, I focus only on Mia who looks like she’s about to chime in again, but I cut her off before she has a chance to do so.

“You’re not paying, beautiful,” I say as I put my card down.

That seems to do the trick as Apron huffs, clearly annoyed, and Mia’s cheeks turn bright red, which I’m finding is almost too easy to do. I love it.

We make it back to Parkside Place, and only one question remains, except it’s not my turn. As we stop in front of her door, she turns slowly toward me. “Jack, was this a date?”

Her voice is full of uncertainty, and I can see her searching my face for some kind of reassurance. I’m stuck. I thought it was a date, but the fact that she’s asking can’t be a good sign. She’s just staring up at me, wide eyes piercing my soul, like she’s trying to read my mind, and I can’t even start to come up with a response. I want to shout, “Of course it was!” but no words come out.

Shit, what the hell was I doing going on a date with her?

“Never mind, i-it was a silly question,” she says, pulling out her keycard and tapping it over the lock. “Goodnight, Jack.”

Fuck. No, I don’t want her to leave. Panic envelops me at the thought of her walking away.

“It was a date,” I call out, desperate and hoarsely.

Moving closer until my body is towering in front of hers, I slowly lift one hand to graze her jaw. Her lips part as she lets outa light gasp at the contact. Her eyes swim with uncertainty, as her pulse races beneath my hand. I’m locked in on her rosy lips, they look like they’re waiting for me to do something.Just do.

Leaning down, I touch my lips to hers, it’s gentle, but it still sends a shockwave through my system, fire erupting in my stomach. We part after a moment. I release her jaw, her eyes are wide, dark lashes looking up at me as she stares into mine.

Her gaze moves back to my lips as her tongue appears, and she agonizingly slowly wets her own. My mind races and my heart stills for a moment before I feel her tug my shirt with both of her fists. Tumbling toward her, we fall into her apartment. This time, when we connect, it’s hungrier, more wild. She throws her arms around me as her hands settle in the hair at the nape of my neck.

My heart is thudding so fast I struggle to stay standing, but her mouth opens ever so slightly, and I take my opportunity. I slip my tongue in, cautiously exploring her mouth. She tastes so fucking sweet. As I swirl my tongue around hers, a soft and low moan escapes her lips, and I’m driven into a frenzy. I can’t help myself as I reach down, grabbing the back of her thighs, lifting them up around my waist. I turn and drive her into the wall, her chest pressing against mine as we continue to explore each other.

I’m painfully hard already, my erection straining against my jeans. She must feel it, too, because the moment I drop my kisses to her neck, she wiggles her hips to graze over it. A low growl escapes me the moment we make contact.

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