“How about we move on to a lighter subject?” Mercedes requested, picking up her knife and fork and pinning Xander with a look that told him she was not at all interested in the subject.
Fine. He knew when to back off, just like he knew when to push back. For now, he’d let her have her way.
Two hours later, Xander led Mercedes out of the restaurant and to the waiting limo. They’d taken their time through dinner, and once the conversation had detoured to business, it seemed as though Mercedes’s tension level had receded a few notches.
Holding her hand while she climbed inside, he glanced over at Carson. “We’re going to Devotion. No interruptions. And I don’t care how long it takes us to get there. If we arrive before I give you the go ahead, continue to drive until I tell you.”
“Yes, sir,” Carson responded, his face showing absolutely no emotion.
The man had worked as Xander’s personal driver for not quite eight years. He knew exactly what to expect. He was paid well for his discretion and had never once interfered or questioned Xander’s instruction. It was the main reason he was still on the payroll.
Xander climbed into the limo and allowed Carson to shut the door behind him. Reining himself in, Xander waited until the limo had approached highway speeds before he turned his full attention to Mercedes.
“Take off your shoes and come here.”
Mercedes glanced over at him, clearly startled by his request. To her credit, she didn’t question him, rather turned to face him slightly.
“On my lap,” he instructed when it was clear he hadn’t been detailed enough.
Mercedes’s perfectly groomed eyebrow cocked skeptically, but she didn’t argue. He watched as she slipped her shoes off, leaving them on the floor of the car before moving in front of him.
He glided his hands up the outside of her thighs, relishing the warmth of her bare skin as he slid his hands beneath the short, billowy skirt, pulling her toward him so that she could straddle his legs. She clearly understood what he wanted because she slowly eased atop him, her knees on each side of his thighs.
“Much better,” he told her, caressing her cheek as he just stared back at her. “I like you close.”
“I like being close,” she admitted, startling them both with her unguarded response.
He studied her momentarily, taking his time as he continued to caress her smooth cheek with one hand, while sliding his other hand higher and higher on her thigh, but never giving in to the temptation to take it further. Not just yet.
“You’re committed to this?” he asked finally, despite the fact that it wasn’t so much a question as it was an acknowledgement.
“I am,” she told him without reservation. “For tonight.”
“And what about tomorrow?” he questioned, not exactly thrilled with her response. They had five days, and he did not like the idea of her backing out after one night.
“Let’s take it one day at a time.”
“I’m not going to go easy on you because you’re threatening me,” he informed her. “In fact, you might find yourself punished.”
“It’s not a threat,” she assured him softly, her hand coming up to rest on his cheek, mirroring the way he was touching her.
God he loved her touch. Loved the feel of her delicate fingers on his skin. He wanted her to touch him. Everywhere.
Rather than force the issue, he let it drop.
“Do you have any idea how much I’ve wanted you? Or for how long I’ve wanted you?” he asked, not expecting a response.
“No,” she whispered, her head tilting slightly as she leaned her cheek into his palm. “Tell me.”
“How about I show you.”
Letting his finger slide down her cheek, he trailed his hands along each side of her neck, over her collarbone until he reached the swell of her breasts. The turquoise mini dress she wore was beautiful, he had to admit. It accentuated her curves, but more importantly, he loved that it was strapless. And short. Did he mention he liked that it was short because it showed off her magnificent legs?
The woman had killer legs.
If he’d had the chance to request her to wear something, it would’ve been exactly this.
Reaching around behind her, he deftly unhooked the tiny hook and lowered the thin zipper down her spine until the dress fell free to reveal her breasts.
She’d gone without a bra tonight and that realization made his dick harder than he thought possible.
Glancing up, he noticed she was watching him, so he continued on his quest to get personally acquainted with every inch of her. Dropping his head, he focused his attention on her left breast, making a wide circle with his tongue around her areola. He took his time, tasting her, teasing her, inhaling her sweet, sexy scent. Intermittently, he would glance up, wanting to see the expression on her face.