Page 51 of Betrayal & New Beginnings

“I don’t want you to thinkI’monly interested in you for sex,Ellie,”Itold her. “I’mattracted to you, butIalso care for you and enjoy spending time with you.Ifigured it was about time to take you out on a proper date.”

She smiled at me, and her cheeks turned pink.IrealizedI’deither embarrassed her or she was nervous.Maybethis wasn’t the best location to have this chat.

“You want dessert or to just go back and watch a movie at my place?”Iasked, hoping she picked the latter soIcould talk to her in a more private setting.

“Are you trying to get me toNetflixand chill with you,” she teased, smirking at me. “Justso you know,Iusually have a very strict policy of no sex on a first date.”

Her cheeks got a little pinker, and my dick hardened just at the mention of sex out of her mouth.

“Good to know,”Iinformed her and then grinned and flagged the waitress for our check.

She grabbed her purse, andIheld her hand asIwalked her to the car.AsIopened her door,Igently grabbed her arm to turn her toward me.Ikissed her hard but quick then slid my mouth across her cheek before whispering in her ear.

“ThinkImay be able to convince you to make an exception on your first date rule?”Iasked her as my hand on her arm slid to her waist and pulled her flush against me.Ikissed her harder now before sliding my tongue over her lips, seeking entry, and she opened for me, allowing me to taste her.

“I’ve been wanting to do that all night,”Itold her asIlet go and helped her into the car.

I took a moment to readjust myself asIwalked around to the driver’s seat.Focus,Itold myself.Conversationfirst.Then, hopefully she is on board with your plan, and you can have sex.

If only one head would listen to the other.

19

ELLIE

I could senseWadewas being vigilant as we walked back into the apartment.Hishand was holding mine, and he kept me close.Ididn’t mind.

Tonight was an enigma for me.Wade’srandom text earlier today telling me we were going out to dinner and to dress nice threw me off.First, as a woman, the term “nice” did not tell you much.Didthat mean jeans and a cute top with heels?Adress with glam hair and makeup and lots of jewelry?Itried to prod the name of the restaurant out of him soIcould look into what kind of place we were going to, but allIgot in response was, “It’sa surprise…be ready at 5:30.”Men.Whydid men never understand the importance of a heads-up and details?Womenneeded to know where we were going, mostly so we knew what to wear, and we needed advance notice of this so we had enough time to get ready.

I had spent most of the day cleaning upJack’sapartment, getting stuff ready for when he came home tomorrow.Also, getting caught up on laundry and school stuff, so when his text came through, my mind started freaking out with what to wear and whyWadewanted to go out to someplace “nice” in the first place.

Dinner was great though.He’dlooked so good when he showed up to pick me up in his dark jeans and a navy dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows.

I was glad at that momentI’dpicked this dress.Itwas a cornflower blue color, sleeveless, and went down to about two inches above my knees.Itwas relatively plain, but it had aV-neck, and it dipped low enough to show off a hint of cleavage, which he clearly noticed when he picked me up.

I had my hair in loose waves, whichI’dnoticed he liked because he often ran his hands through them while we watched a movie.I’dalso worn sandals with a small heel.Ididn’t usually wear heels becauseIwas already tall, butWadewas several inches taller than me andIfelt sexy wearing them, soI’dput them on.Heclearly liked them too, because when we got back into his apartment,Iset my purse on the table and then walked over to the edge of the couch to take the shoes off, when he came up in front of me and told me to keep them on.

“Is this where you try to seduce me into having your way with me on a first date?”Iteased him, putting my palms on his chest and smiling up at him.

“Woman, do not tempt me right now,” he said, looking serious, but his eyes were definitely full of lust. “Thosesexy-as-hell shoes you have on right now are working my control, andI’dlike to talk with you first.”

I didn’t know whyIdecided to play with fire when it came to him, but he looked so lost right now,Iwanted to guide him back to the fun-lovingWadefrom earlier.

“What would you like to talk about?”Iasked asImoved one palm down the front of his shirt to latch on to his belt buckle, the other hand to the bulge in his pants.

He moved quickly and grabbed hold of my wrists and kept them in place.

“I’m not going to pretend last night wasn’t amazing, and thatIwouldn’t love a repeat right now,”Wadesaid with a small smile. “ButI’malso not going to pretendIdon’t want you around for other reasons too.Icare about youEllieand not just because you’reJack’ssister.”

What did he just say?

“Commitment scares me—not becauseIdon’t want to be with someone, but becauseI’mafraid of what being with someone, especially while sleeping, would do.ButnowI’verealized thatI’mmore scared of losing something important.AndIdon’t want to lose you.”

“What are you saying?”Iasked, looking him in the eyes, andIsaw the hope in his.

“I’m sayingIwant to try this with you, to give us a chance,”Wadesaid in return. “Iwant to see where it goes.”

“Are you sure you’re not just saying this because the sex is good?”Ismirked, hoping he couldn’t see through my nervous attempt at teasing him.

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