Page 29 of Somebody to Save
“That’s not what I meant,” she whispered.
“I know, but it’s true. And I swear, Bubbles, if you don’t stop blushing like that, I’m not going to make it through dinner.”
Her laugh was short and sweet as she shook her head. “It’s not like I can control it.”
“I’m aware, but every time you do, I can’t help but remember where else you blush,” I said, dropping my voice and dipping my head next to her ear. My words were only meant for her. “Or how pretty it is when it continues down your chest as you’re impaled on my cock and writhing in pleasure beneath me.”
She adjusted in her seat, crossing her legs and ever so subtly leaning into me. She tilted her head, and her lips brushed my cheek.
“No one has ever spoken to me the way you do,” she saidquietly. I leaned back just enough to find her green eyes. She blinked slowly and licked her lips. “And I never thought I would like it so much.”
I fought back a smile as I lifted my hand and brushed a lock of hair that had caught in her glossy lips. My thumb brushed against her cheek, and I reveled in her quick intake of breath, her exhale I felt against my mouth.
“But,” she continued, “if you keep talking like that, or looking at me like that, neither of us are going to make it through dinner. And I’m really hungry.”
All my base instincts were screaming at me to kiss her, but she was right. And her stomach growled on cue, like it was trying to prove her point.
So, I sat back and changed the subject. “I really like the pink,” I said, motioning to her hair. “What prompted the change?”
She took another long sip of her drink and rolled her lips, eyes darting around suspiciously. “It’s what many would call a ‘breakup haircut.’ I needed a change.”
“The crappy relationship that you were talking about the other day?”
She nodded, but I wanted to know more. I wanted to know anything and everything about her.
“Tell me about it.”
She jerked her head in my direction and let out a surprised laugh. “I thought previous relationship discussions were off-limits for the first date?”
I shrugged and twirled the whiskey around in my glass, letting my arm fall over the back of the booth once again. “Doesn’t bother me unless it bothers you. I’m fine with talking about anything else.”
She stared at me like she was waiting for me to say “psych.” She fidgeted with her napkin in her lap, and her leg bounced beneath the table.
“We broke up,” she said with a shrug. “I realized that itwould never work. He was notorious for lying, and he didn’t make me a priority. And I know I want at least that much from a relationship. I want someone who isn’t going to lie and is going to prioritize me.”
“I don’t think that’s too much to ask for. You should be a priority, Addison.” She shot me a quick smile, and I hated that she’d ever felt like anything but the most important person in the world. And if she gave me the chance, I knew I would never make her feel that way again. She would only ever be cherished. I would worship at her feet. “So, it ended badly?”
She tilted her head to the side, eyes scanning the restaurant as she chewed her slice of bread. “Notbadly,but it wasn’t easy. I’ve cut off all contact—I even blocked his number, which he’s not a fan of, but we…uh…we lived together, so unraveling our lives was…rough.”
I hid my surprise with another sip of my drink. The relationship wasn’t a surprise, but the fact that it had been serious enough that they’d lived together was somewhat of a shock. And the fact that he likely wouldn’t leave her alone even after the relationship ended meant she had to block him. What a fucking punk. I already wasn’t a fan.
“That part is always the hardest. No matter how much sense it makes.”
She peered at me out of the corner of her eye but smiled up at Jeremy, who refilled our waters and offered a second round. We took him up on his offer, and he promised our food would be out shortly.
“You sound like you’re speaking from experience,” Addison remarked as he walked away.
“Observant girl,” I said. As she’d said before, I didn’t usually bring up the topic of my previous engagement until at least a few dates in, but I’d opened the can of worms. I just hoped it would go over well. “I was engaged a long time ago.”
Her eyes briefly widened, and I had to laugh at her attemptto school her expression. She cleared her throat. “How long ago is a long time ago?”
“Almost a decade. She lives in Europe now and practices law. She’s also married with two kids, I think.”
“Wow,” she muttered.
Jeremy dropped our drinks off, and another waiter followed behind him with our dinner. He slid the ribeye in front of me and placed the pasta in front of Addison, offering her fresh parmesan.
The low background music subtly changed, and the pianist who set up at the piano by the bar began to play.
