Chapter 9
CHAPTER
NINE
OLIVE
The day seems to go by too slow and way too fast all at the same time.
Before I know it, Harrison is knocking on my door.
My breath catches when I take him in. He’s wearing another perfectly tailored suit.
Like the others, it does nothing to hide his perfectly cut body.
My core aches at the memory of his powerful body pinning me to the wall.
How his hard cock throbbed against me as he brought me to orgasm through our layers of clothes.
I’ve never felt anything like this in my life. Such a visceral reaction to someone I barely know, and yet I feel like he completely owns my body. I’m already in too deep with Harrison James.
“Would you like to come in?” I ask, kicking myself for sounding breathless and needy.
His eyes eat me up from head to toe, and I’m silently thanking the fact that Zoe came over and helped me get ready.
She picked the only little black dress I own, one that I would never wear without being strongarmed into the tight material.
I do have to admit once my hair and makeup were complete, I look amazing.
“If I come in right now, we won’t be using our reservations tonight.” His voice is a low growl that sends shivers down my spine.
I lick my lips and consider pulling him into my apartment and mauling him.
I want him so bad it makes me feel crazy.
Things are moving way too fast, and even though my body is revved and ready to go, my brain is stomping on the brakes.
I step out of my apartment and lock the door.
With a hand on my lower back, Harrison leads me to the elevator.
He pulls me close once we’re in the elevator and lightly nips at my neck. “You look fucking phenomenal, Olive. God, I could eat you up right here.”
“Okay,” I moan. His lips and teeth work up and down my throat, causing goosebumps to pebble on my skin and my nipples to harden into tight peaks. My pussy is so wet my panties are a mess already. What this man does to me with just a simple touch is overwhelming.
I want more.
So much more.
He pulls away when the elevator door opens and once again leads me by a hand on my lower back.
I never thought of myself as a woman who would like to be guided by a man, but I’m loving it.
The car ride is fraught with sexual tension.
I want to crawl across the seat and straddle his lap.
My lips ache to be plundered by his. My whole body is one mass of neediness.
Excitement rolls through me when I see where we are eating. La Casa has a waiting list, and it’s impossible to get in unless you know someone. Of course, a man like Harrison would know the right people.
A gorgeous Latina hostess walks us to our table.
She openly ogles Harrison. Despite feeling pretty tonight, she makes me feel inferior.
She’s tall and thin, wearing five-inch heels, and her little black dress is obviously designer.
Her dark hair is a waterfall down her back.
As she shamelessly flirts, I’m filled with jealousy.
Though when Harrison pulls out my chair, then lightly trails his fingers over my exposed shoulder, that jealousy melts away.
He doesn’t even acknowledge the flirty hostess.
That’s a heady feeling. Being the sole recipient of attention from a man as handsome as him.
I’ve never had someone be so open with their attraction, at least not in a non-sleazy way.
My previous dates have shown attraction, but never like this.
Other men made it clear they wanted nothing but sex and not in an attractive kind of way.
With Harrison, it feels like every look he gives me is foreplay.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I gather myself up from the puddle I’ve been melting into since he picked me up. “Yes, sorry. This place is amazing. I’ve wanted to eat here since it opened.”
He gives me a sexy smirk. “Who doesn’t want to eat gourmet Mexican food?”
I laugh. “Definitely different than the ambiance at The Villa.”
“Don’t diss on The Villa. They have the best tacos,” he says with a laugh.
I give him a shocked look.
“What? Why are you giving me that shocked look? Can I not enjoy cheap tacos?”
My lips tilt up in a small smile. “No, I suppose anyone can enjoy cheap tacos. I just didn’t take you for the type.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me…”
“I suppose so,” I smile shyly.
We both order what amounts to a taco sampler platter. The food is phenomenal, the company even better. Harrison is quick-witted, and despite his obvious arrogance, he’s quick to smile and laugh. It’s definitely the best date I’ve ever been on. Not that it’s a high bar to cross.
“So tell me, what do you do for a living?”
I almost choke on my drink at the question. I’m not embarrassed by what I do, but my career choice will probably look like a hobby to someone like him. I chew on my bottom lip for a moment.
“I’m an independent author…” I say, looking down at my nearly empty plate.
He reaches across the table and grabs my hand, lightly smoothing his thumb over my skin. “What do you write?”
I clear my throat, my words completely evading me at his touch. Such a simple touch, and yet I’m completely befuddled by it. “I write romance.”
He gives me a knowing smile. “Do you enjoy it?”
I shrug. “It’s hard sometimes, but yeah, I’ve always loved writing, so it just seemed like a no-brainer to make a career of it.”
“I admire that. Making a career of something you love. Not everyone is so lucky.”
“This is true.” I take a sip of my water, trying to hide my pleased smile. He didn’t judge me or laugh at my career choice. Most guys just laugh at my little hobby, and they assume I write nothing but smut. I mean, I do write smut, but smut with a story to it.
It always makes me mad when people assume my career is less than.
I make more money than most would assume.
I got lucky with my first series. It took one big-name blogger to love it, and then things spiraled from there.
Now I feel like I’ve fallen down several pegs after being called out on lackluster sex scenes.
My mood instantly sobers at the reminder. My muse might be talking to me again thanks to Harrison, but that doesn’t mean that the chemistry is back.
“Hey, where’d you go just then?” Harrison asks.
“Oh, sorry. Just thinking about my new project…”
He raises his brow in question.
“I’ve been struggling a bit with my current book. It’s nothing, really. It happens sometimes.” It’s just not ever happened to me before.
He doesn’t offer any words of encouragement, which I appreciate. I hate when people try to placate me. Especially about work when they know nothing about it. Instead of dragging out the conversation, he quickly changes the subject.
“Do you mind if I ask what made you decide to approach my aunt?”
My cheeks heat with a blush. “Well, I’ve had some terrible experiences dating and decided that dating apps just aren’t for me. I have terrible taste and luck with men.” I blush darker, realizing that I just insulted him. “I mean, present company excluded.”
Harrison gives me a knowing smirk. “I wouldn’t exclude me just yet.”
I give him a questioning look but don’t ask.
He quickly pays the check then leads me back out to the car.
He scoots close to me, his hand curved around my upper thigh.
The way his finger is drawing circles around my exposed skin is maddening.
My whole body is primed and ready for him, but I can’t help his words replaying in my mind.
I wouldn’t exclude me yet.
He’s right. I shouldn’t exclude him. He definitely doesn’t seem like the settling down type. He doesn’t even seem like the second date kind of guy. He’s perfect for what Zoe wants for me, but not at all what I want for myself.
We get to my apartment quickly, and I regret that the date is coming to an end. Once again, he leads me with a hand on the small of my back into the elevator and to my door. I turn to him at my door and look up into his hazel eyes, finding myself trapped by the lust I see there.
Harrison leans in and brushes his lips against mine, once, twice, three times before plunging his tongue past my lips and devouring me.
I wrap my arms around his neck, holding him to me.
His hands go around my waist, and he pins me to his lower body.
I can feel the hard bar of his erection, and it causes my mind to short circuit.
The only thing I can think about is how it would feel deep inside me.
My thoughts are beyond explicit. I’m panting by the time Harrison pulls away. I look up at him with heated eyes, but without his lips on mine, I can think again.
“Invite me in…” he growls, his eyes positively devouring me, promising me all the dirty things he wants to do to me once he has me alone.
I pull away further, knowing despite what my body wants, I’m not ready for this. If I fall into bed with him, I won’t be able to separate my feelings. I didn’t think I would like Harrison as much as I do. Now I have a problem and falling into bed with him feels like a terrible decision.
“I’m sorry…”
He pulls me back into his arms, holding me close. “Don’t ever be sorry for telling me what you need.”
I wrap myself around him, enjoying the closeness and regretting my decision even though I know it’s for the best. He gives me a soft, slow kiss before backing away. “I’ll be in touch…” he promises.
I touch my lips as I watch him walk away. I’m filled with both relief and regret at the same time. I’m so in over my head with him it’s not even funny.