Chapter 6 Jack
CHAPTER SIX
JACK
I freeze as her, “I’m all for starting with dessert,” comment detonates somewhere in my solar plexus. My first instinct is to drag her straight to the bedroom and take her up on the offer. The urge is so bad it vibrates through my bones. But then I see her, really see her, and it stops me cold.
Her eyes are wide and shining, pupils blown so dark the brown has vanished.
I want to drown in them. She’s still catching up to what just happened—one hand pressed to her mouth, the other braced against the door like she needs to steady herself.
My own hands are fisted at my sides, every muscle in my body straining with the effort not to touch her.
That little black dress clings to her like a second skin, outlining every soft curve and subtle dip. Her curls are a wild halo around her face. With her cheeks flushed, and lips still wet from my kiss, she’s the sexiest goddamn thing I’ve ever seen.
My cock is so hard, it’s painful. I have to clear my throat twice before I can trust myself to speak. “You keep talking like that and we’re not going anywhere near a restaurant tonight.”
Her eyes flick to my mouth, then back to my eyes. “Is that supposed to be a threat or a promise, Detective?”
I grip the frame harder, like it’ll anchor me to reality. “You don’t want to test me, Poppy.”
She licks her lips, slowly. My brave little kitten isn’t so shy now. “Maybe I do.”
Fuck. She’s making it so hard for me to do the right thing.
I drag in a slow breath, forcing my heart rate back into something that could pass for normal.
“I want to do this right.” My voice comes out low and rough, more order than offer.
“First I’ll feed you dinner, then we can decide where it goes from there.
” For me, I already know where this is headed.
Poppy Lane stole my goddamn heart the first time I laid eyes on her.
Now, I just have to make sure she feels the same way.
I want to haul her back inside and pin her to the wall, but I manage to keep my shit together long enough to get us to my SUV. My hands shake on the steering wheel the whole drive, and all I can think about is bending her over the first flat surface I see.
We pull into the restaurant’s side lot, and I’m out of the car before she even unbuckles.
I open her door, palm her waist, and help her down.
Poppy stares up at me, cheeks flushed, lips parted.
Heat shoots through me at the feel of her body so close to mine.
Her little dress clings to her curves, and my brain short-circuits.
Fucking hell. I don’t know how I’m supposed to keep my hands off her in public.
I run my thumb lightly over the thin material covering her waist, and she shivers under my touch, looking up at me through thick, dark lashes.
My cock is harder than steel and my brain is seconds from fritzing, but I force myself to step back and tuck her hand into the crook of my arm.
If I don’t keep moving, I’m going to throw her up against the nearest wall and make her scream my name.
The second we step inside, the hostess gives us a bored smile. She checks her list. “Right this way,” she chirps, but all I can think about is Poppy’s sweet ass brushing against me as we follow the hostess to the back booth.
After the waiter takes our drink orders, Poppy studies me for a beat. “So? Did you catch your killer?”
My job is the last fucking thing on my mind right now.
“Yeah. Case was basically gift-wrapped. We had the guy on the security camera, clear as day. Even the ADA joked she could prosecute it in her sleep.” Honestly, it was one of the least complicated murders I’ve ever seen, but I don’t want to talk about blood and crime scenes with Poppy.
I want to memorize every shade of pink in her cheeks and see how many times I can make her bite her lip before the night’s over.
I lean in, crowding the table, and lower my voice just for her. “But I don’t want to talk about any of that bullshit right now. Tonight, I want to hear everything about you. What you’re thinking, what you want… What you’re craving.” My hand covers hers on the table, and her pulse jumps. Fuck yes.
Her cheeks flush, just a little, and I swear she’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Her breathing goes all rapid, her tongue flicks out to wet her lips, and I practically feel her pulse thumping beneath my palm.
Fuck, she’s gorgeous like this. Flustered, hungry, and pretending she’s got any shot at hiding it from me.
She tries to play it casual, but her voice has that telltale, breathy edge.
“What if I told you I’m craving something sweet?
” Her gaze drops to my mouth, and my cock throbs so hard under the table I have to grit my teeth and clench my fists to keep from hauling her across the table and devouring her right here.
“Careful what you ask for, kitten. You keep looking at me like that, and I’m gonna skip straight to dessert.
” The second the words leave my mouth, the universe decides to cock-block me with the arrival of our drinks.
The waiter pops up next to our table, and I glare at him as he plunks down her glass of wine and my whiskey, then disappears fast. Smart man.
I barely acknowledge the whiskey—I’m too busy watching my girl.
Poppy grabs her wine and takes a huge gulp, cheeks flushed and eyes still locked on mine. Fucking hell. That little move is so goddamn adorable my heart does a flip in my chest.
I grip the edge of the table so hard my knuckles go white.
If I don’t focus all my energy on keeping it together, I’m going to drag Poppy across the damn tabletop and feast on her right here in the middle of the restaurant.
My cock is rock-hard and my brain is offline, but somehow, I force a steadying breath.
I have to distract myself. Fast. I lean back in my seat, rolling my shoulders, pretending I’m cool and collected when every inch of me is strung tighter than a fucking live wire. “So, kitten,” I rumble, my voice barely above a growl, “why don’t you tell me a deep, dark secret?”
Her eyes go wide at the question, but I spot the faintest smirk tug at her lips. She’s not fooled for a second.
She leans forward, chin propped on her palm, and gives me a look so smug I want to wipe it off her face with my mouth. “A deep, dark secret, huh?” She lets the words hang in the air, teasing. “You first.”
Fuck, she’s goddamn perfect. “You want me to go first?” I take a slow sip of my whiskey.
“Alright, kitten. Here’s a secret. All I could think about this week was you.
It didn’t matter if I was on a case or in the gym.
You were there. In my head. Under my skin.
” My voice drops, pure gravel and promise.
“Last night, I barely slept. All I did was imagine your sweet little body in that bed, thinking about me.”
Her lips part, and her throat works as she swallows.
I watch her nipples pebble through that dress, and I barely keep from groaning out loud.
Goddamn, she has no idea what she’s doing to me.
Or maybe she does, because at this point, I’m seconds away from tossing her over my shoulder and carrying her out of here like a caveman.
Poppy leans in, a little smirk on her lips. “I’m not sure that’s much of a secret, Detective. I think you’re making it pretty obvious.” She drags her gaze down my chest, lingering at my arms, then lower. Her eyes go huge when she sees exactly how much I’m enjoying this. “Try again.”
I really need to dial this down several notches if I’m going to make it through this fucking dinner. “I hate sushi.”
She laughs. “You liar. You ate three rolls the other night.”
“And I’ll do it again, if you ask.”
She watches me, her eyes softening. “That’s kind of sweet, actually.”
Our salad comes, and we eat. Or rather, she eats and I mostly watch her. She moans when the steak arrives, actually moans, and I have to fight the urge to reach across and pull her into my lap.
The conversation slides easily from classes to case files to Moonpie and Pepper. She asks about my brother and I give her the edited version. She talks about growing up in foster care and how it taught her to be self-sufficient. I want to hear every story.
By the time the waiter drops the check off at our table, it hits me that I never want this night to end.
She leans over, all secretive and close. "So. About that dessert. Your place or mine?"
I meet her gaze, steady. That’s an easy choice "Mine. My brother is babysitting Pepper so we have the place all to ourselves.”