“I couldn’t agree more.”
She dug into her meal, watching Gabe from underneath her eyelashes. There were a million questions buzzing around in her head, but she didn’t want to inundate him. As he had said, they had plenty of time to learn one another. Most people waited a little further into that learning curve before jumping into a sexual relationship, but she supposed Gabe was well used to doing things his own way, and damn convention. Besides, it wasn’t as though they were complete strangers. Gabe had been a fixture—albeit a distant one—in her life for years.
The silence stretched between them. She could feel his gaze on her, knew he watched her much as she watched him. Almost like two wary opponents studying one another before engaging in battle. Only Gabe didn’t look as uncertain and awkward as she felt. He looked confident. Like a predator closing in on his prey.
Butterflies took wing in her belly, and lower, until she squeezed her thighs together in an effort to assuage the ache.
“You aren’t eating,” Gabe pointed out.
She stared down at her plate, realizing she’d paused, fork still in hand, her steak only half eaten. She set it down and then calmly fixed her gaze on Gabe.
“This is nerve-wracking, Gabe. This is all new to me. I’ve never been in a situation like this. I’m unsure of how to act. What to say. What not to say. Or whether to say anything at all! You sit across from me staring at me like I’m dessert, and I have no idea if this is a simple dinner. A get-comfortable session. Help me out here because I’m floundering.”
A half smile curved his lips upward. Amusement flared in his eyes. “Mia, darling, you are dessert.”
Her breath stuttered over clumsy lips as she read the hunger in his eyes that had nothing to do with the steak in front of him.
“Eat,” he said in a quiet voice that brooked no argument. It was a command. One he didn’t intend for her to ignore. “I’m not going to jump you at the table. Anticipation makes the final reward all the more sweet.”
She retrieved her fork and knife and cut into the steak, but she had no idea of the taste. She ate mechanically, a tingle of awareness buzzing through her body. Evidently Gabe had no intention of easing into this relationship. But then that wasn’t him. He went full-out at everything. It was his style and what had made him so successful in business. He went after what he wanted with single-minded determination. And now she was the thing he wanted.
She sipped at the wine just to have something to fill the awkwardness. She didn’t know if she wanted to slow way down and take her time with her meal to buy her more time, or if she wanted to dive in and finish quickly so they could move on to…dessert.
Gabe finished before her and sat back, looking unfazed as he sipped at his wine. His gaze never left her, and he watched her every movement. He looked cool and aloof. Until she looked into his eyes. There, it was a completely different story. His eyes burned with impatience and simmered with heat.
Leaving only a small portion, she pushed her plate back and carefully leaned back in her own chair. Though she didn’t speak, the what now? floated almost tangibly between them. Gabe surveyed her lazily and then said, “Go to the middle of the living room and stand, Mia.”
Swallowing and then sucking in a deep breath, she rose as gracefully as she was able, determined that she would be poised. And confident. This man wanted her. Her. Not some other woman. It was time to act like she belonged here.
She walked across the hardwood floors, her heels clicking in the silence. When she got to the middle of the room, she slowly turned, only to see Gabe walk over to the armchair that was situated catty-corner to the leather couch.
He sank into the chair and angled one leg over the other in a casual pose that signaled how relaxed he was. She wished she could say the same for herself. She felt like she was on an auction block, standing before him as he devoured her with his stare.
“Undress for me,” he said, his voice vibrating over her skin.
She stared back at him, eyes wide as she processed the command.
He lifted an eyebrow. “Mia?”
She started to slip out of her shoes, but he halted her.
“Leave the shoes on. Just the shoes.”
She lifted her hands to the three buttons in front and slowly unfastened them. Then she pulled the shoulders down and let the dress slide down her body, leaving her in only her bra and panties.
Gabe’s pupils flared. Raw hunger ignited and his features became primal. An uncontrolled shiver worked up her spine. Her nipples hardened, pressing against the silky material of her bra. The man was lethal and he hadn’t so much as touched her yet. But his gaze. It was like being brushed with fire when he raked his stare down her body and back up.
“Bra or panties first?” she asked huskily.
He smiled. “Why, Mia, I do believe you’re quite the tease. Panties first.”
She hooked her thumbs into the lacy, thin waistband and slowly pulled downward. It was instinctual to try to cover herself, to preserve what little modesty she had, but she forced herself to let the tiny scrap of material drop to the floor. She stepped free and slid the panties away with the toe of her shoe.
Then she raised her hands again, pushing back her hair and then arranging it over one shoulder so she could reach the clasp of her bra. She unhooked it and the cups loosened, baring the underswell of her breasts.
“Move your hair back now,” Gabe murmured.
One hand holding her bra over her breasts, she pushed her hair back with the other hand. Then she carefully lowered the bra, allowing the straps to slide down her arms. She pulled it from her body and then let it fall to the floor with her other clothing.
“Beautiful,” Gabe said, his voice a low growl of appreciation.
She stood, vulnerable, as she awaited his next command. It was clear he was in no hurry whatsoever and he intended to savor seeing her unclothed for the first time.
Her arms crept around her middle and then up toward her breasts.
“No, don’t hide from me,” Gabe said softly. “Come here, Mia.”
She took a trembling step forward. And then another. Until she stood before him, merely inches away.
He took down his leg and widened his knees, leaving a gap. There was a discernible bulge between his legs, straining at the denim fly. He held out his hand, beckoning her.
She stepped between his thighs and took his hand. He pulled her forward and then motioned for her to crawl onto his lap.
Her knees dug into his sides, her legs wedged between him and the arms of the chair. She settled her behind on the backs of her heels and waited. Breathless. Her muscles coiled and taut as she anticipated what he’d do next.