The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 61: Chapter 61

"Now, how do you like your steak?” he asked, glancing back over the menu as if he hadn’t just said things that left her sitting there in a puddle of her own need.
“Uh, rare to medium rare.”
“Good enough,” he said, nodding and signaling for the waitress.
No one had ever said anything like that to Gretchen before. She watched him, frowning a little as he continued to glance over the selections. What was she supposed to do with this information? With the knowledge that this stunning specimen of man had just confessed to wanting her.
She closed her eyes for a second and took a fortifying breath. A levelheaded woman most of the time, she’d never been one to rush into things, but Gretchen already knew where this night was headed. She couldn’t wait. Wanting him was as natural as breathing, and she did, so very much.
He ordered a bunch of appetizers which they shared, then went for king-sized cuts of rare prime rib with au jus. He added creamed spinach and potatoes au gratin on the side, looking at her for confirmation. She simply nodded.
“This way we can share everything, if you like,” he said, and she just nodded in agreement.
Gretchen loved sharing food, but she was still reeling from his little speech. The man had rendered her mute with that lengthy confession.
“Did I make you uncomfortable? I am so sorry, I’m not the best speaker in the world,” he started, but she shook her head.
“It’s not that, it’s just no one ever said those things to me before.”
“Good,” he told her. “I’d hate to have to start a kill list on our first date,” he said teasing her some more.
“Yeah, that's second date stuff.”
After that, she felt relieved. Reg was surprisingly easy to talk to and she shared some of the day’s goings ons.
“I am so proud of you,” he said, and she felt her cheeks heat. “I am sorry if that sounds strange, but I can’t help it. You are one fierce woman, Gretchen Kaepernick. I mean moving and starting a business in the same week? Holy hell, shona, you blow me away.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, ridiculously pleased by his praise.
The food started to arrive, and their conversation lapsed as they ate, and oohed and aaaahed over the dishes. The shrimp cocktail and raw oysters were superb. By the time their entrees arrived, she was almost too full to eat.
Reg solved that problem by placing his fork at her mouth. He fed her a bite of this and that, and before she knew it, she’d tried everything.
At first, Gretchen chewed her food slowly and thoroughly, scared to death she was going to choke from her nerves alone. As the night progressed, she felt her anxiety lessen. Reg was gorgeous, but he was levelheaded and down to earth.
They talked about every subject from politics, and religion, to mundane chatter about reality TV and what books they liked to read. It seemed he preferred fiction, mainly horror, while she enjoyed biographies and the occasional gooey romance.
“You know, you’ve got a lot more to you than meets the eye, Reginald Cray.”
“Reginald? What happened to Reggie?”
“Reggie,” she replied, and scrunched her nose playfully.
After his very forward and panty-melting confession, she had to admit to having a little bit of trouble concentrating. Her senses were going haywire. Whenever he laughed at something she said, and each time she caught him staring at her, Gretchen’s pulse sped up like crazy.
After the waitress took their dishes, she came back with coffee and dessert. Gretchen shook her head. Really, she was so full, but Reg fed her a forkful of chocolate cheesecake dripping caramel sauce from his plate. Gretchen moaned in pleasure at the sinfully sweet taste.
“Wow, you look gorgeous when you eat cheesecake, shona,” he murmured.
“That’s a ridiculous thing to say,” she replied, opening her mouth for another bite.
Gretchen purposefully used her tongue to lick the fork clean and the smoldering look he gave her was reward enough for that. Reg moved closer to her, his big body touching hers, one arm around her back as he fed her another, then a third bite. She lifted her fork, giving him a taste, but he declined.
“I’d rather taste it from your lips,” he said, leaning down and brushing his mouth against hers.
Gretchen swooned then. Like really swooned. Reg’s big body pressed against hers as he groaned into her mouth. His lips, impossibly soft, moved against hers, until she moaned, giving him the opening he needed.
Then his tongue was there, pressing into her mouth, tasting every inch of the hot wet cavern, until Gretchen thought she was going to come from just a kiss alone. It was enough to make her panties damp and her pulse race.
Holy fuck.
There was no going back. She wanted him. Hell, more than that.
Gretchen was desperate to have him.
He stopped their kiss, breathing like an Olympian. His eyes were closed, but she was completely amazed by his passionate display. Thank goodness they were in a secluded corner. She wasn’t much for being gawked at, and who could help but stare when a man that looked that good was all but fucking her in public.
It was only a kiss, but it felt like so much more. Gretchen was on fire, and there was only one thing that could sate her impassioned need.
Him.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said, and took her hand.
Reg dropped a couple of bills on the table and took her outside.
Before he opened it, Reg backed her up against the door of his blood red Jeep, careful to mind the handle didn’t dig into her. She loved how thoughtful he was, and even more, how much he seemed to want her. Gretchen moaned as he pressed his hard body into hers, claiming her mouth again in an all-consuming kiss.
Damn, he felt good. So big and hard and hot. She was ready to jump him right there.
“It might kill me, shona, but please, I am begging you, if you don’t want me to finish this tonight tell me to stop. Tell me no. I will take you home and drive away, sweet Gretchen, but only if you tell me to,” he growled.
She took a moment to think about what he was saying, then opening her eyes and gazing up at his, Gretchen replied with the only thing she could say.
“Yes.”
“okay, I’ll take you home and⁠—”
“No,” she said, grinning. “I am saying yes, Reg. I want this. I want you,” she said, and it was the truth.
She was more than ready for him to do what his eyes promised. More than ready to drop all pretenses and do what it was her body was telling her too.
“Gretchen,” he said her name in a low, gravelly voice that had her entire body going taut with need.
He placed his hands on either side of her face slowly, carefully, giving her ample time to refuse him. But Gretchen wasn’t stupid or crazy.
There was no way in Hell she was walking away from Reg. He leaned forward until all she could see was him.
Larger than life, sexy as sin, the man smelled like chocolate and spice. His hot body was crushing hers, but still, his arms were protecting her from the Jeep’s door. Every inch of him was hot and hard and so fucking sexy.
“Kissing you is addictive, shona, just like I knew it would be.”
“It is?”
“Fuck yeah, and I have been dying to do this, ever since I laid eyes on you this morning, standing on that ladder,” he growled before he dipped his head one more time, and claimed her mouth in a kiss so hot she almost melted.
Gretchen had no choice but to wrap her arms around his neck. Purely for support. At least that was what she told herself, but the truth was, she wanted to rub her body all over him.
She opened for him, an immediate response to his invasion. His flavors burst along her senses as their tongues met and tangled. Desire exploded through her veins.
Everything about Reg was exciting and intense. His strength called to her, made her crazy with need as she felt his muscles flex beneath her searching fingers. She wanted him to touch her, dammit, but his hands remained still, much to her disappointment.
“Reggie,” she moaned when he broke the kiss and pressed his head against hers.
He opened his eyes, and once more, she could’ve sworn they glowed unnaturally in the dark parking lot. Then he was leaning back, stepping away from her, and she shivered, missing his heat immediately. Blinking she realized another couple had exited the restaurant and were heading to their car near to where the Jeep was parked. He shielded her with his body, blocking her from their view.
Shit.
She wouldn’t have stopped if he hadn’t. His thoughtfulness warmed her.
“We have to stop, or I swear, I’ll take you right here.”
She nodded her understanding, and pleasure filled her. He was as out of control as she was.
Good. She wanted him that way. Liked knowing she could throw the big sexy man off kilter too.
Gretchen could see it on his face, his need and lust, and something more. Something wild and untamed. Maybe tonight didn’t have to end with dinner and a promise to call her another night.
Maybe she could have her cake and eat it too.
“Take me home, Reggie.”