Page 94 of Love Without Demands

Gotta work for it, buddy. We’re strangers, remember?

A slow, sexy smile pulled one corner of his lips up, giving me a glimpse of that dimple and telling me he accepted my challenge. He rose from the booth, straightening his jacket before prowling across the room toward me.

When he stood, I got a good look at his entire body, and my mouth went dry, all the moisture heading south. Cruz’s pants hugged all the right things. Thick thighs. Tapered waist. And… gulp… that prominent bulge. The man was sex in a suit, moving with the raw grace of a cheetah, despite his size.

God, how is he so damn smooth?

I turned all the way around to face him and slowly crossed one leg over the other. His hungry eyes followed the movement, and heat scorched my bare legs as he openly stared. Then those heavy-lidded azure eyes lifted to my face. The look he gave me told me he had one thing on his mind. Well, maybe several things, but they were all related to a whole lot of nakedness.

“Thank you for the drinks,” I said, holding out one hand for a shake. “My name is Lena.”

He took my hand but didn’t shake it, and my breath snagged in my trachea when he brought it to his lips and tasted me with the very tip of his tongue. It was a small, quick circle, and then he was simply kissing the back of my hand like a gentleman. Though the smug expression on his face told a different story.

“You’re very welcome,” he said in a low, smooth voice.Holy hell, he’s going to wreck me tonight.“I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful you are.”

Leaning closer, I caught a whiff of his masculine scent, and a wave of dizziness threatened my ability to stay upright on the stool. But I did my best to play it cool. “Does that line work on all the women?” I whispered.

His fingers drew a mesmerizing path up my forearm, raising a line of goosebumps in their wake. “All that matters is whether or not it’s working onyou.”

“Maybe,” I replied airily.

He turned my hand over and pressed his pillowy lips against the sensitive pulse point of my wrist, his eyes holding mine prisoner. “I would be honored if you’d join me at my table.”

“Okay,” I breathed, unable to resist his obvious seduction.

His hand was gentle as he helped me stand, wrapping possessively around my smaller one before landing on the small of my back as I grabbed my purse. My skin was exposed there,thanks to the low dip of the fabric, and the simple touch was intoxicating.

I paused beside his table and looked up at him. “I don’t even know your name.”

A glint of mischief sparkled in his blue eyes. “Rider.”

“Nice name,” I replied, sliding into the booth.

He followed, leaving about six inches between us, and then set my drink in front of me. I’d been so entranced, I hadn’t even realized he’d picked it up.

“Would you like anything to eat, Lena?”

You. I’d like to gobble you up.

“Maybe just something small,” I suggested and then had to clench my fingers around the smooth edge of the booth seat to keep from visibly shivering when Rider dragged his knuckles down my upper arm. I’d never been with a man whose touch affected me so completely.

“Would you like to share something with me, pretty girl?”

Good grief!It wasn’t a complicated question, but the way he purred the words made them rife with innuendo.

So I innuendo-ed right back. “I’d love to share with you, Rider. Anything you choose.”

His tongue slipped out and toyed with the little scar on his lower lip. “I’m going to assume you mean food. For now.” Then he leaned forward until his mouth brushed my ear. “But later, I’m going to happily misinterpret that statement.”

I wasn’t sure how I was still able to form actual thoughts with his delicious scent, deep voice, and warm breath surrounding me, but I managed to sound semi-cool when I said, “We’ll see.”

He chuckled darkly and traced a single finger up and down my throat several times, his eyes following the movement. “You have a beautiful neck, Lena. I’d like to see how it looks with my hand wrapped around it.”

Oh holy hand necklace! This man…

After a final brush of his finger against my suddenly damp skin, Rider turned and nodded to a server, like he hadn’t just obliterated my vagina with his seemingly offhand comment.

A short, thin man approached a moment later, his eyes flicking between us before landing on my cleavage. “Hi, guys. I’m Charles. What can I get for you?”

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