Page 15 of Claimed By the Goalie Alpha
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true." I leaned forward. His eyes dropped to my mouth again. "Whatever you think is going to scare me off, I'm tougher than I look."
"I don't think you're not tough." He lowered his voice and I was glad I was seated because his voice, his cologne and him being so close was making me dizzy. "I think about you constantly. You handle chaos like it's nothing and you don't give up, even when I walked away. That's the problem."
My heart was pounding. "How?" He wasn’t making sense but the intensity of his gaze almost had me slurring my words.
"Because you deserve someone who can be completely honest with you from the start and doesn't have complications."
"Maybe I don't want that. Perhaps I want you."
His hand moved across the table and his fingertips stopped just short of mine. He was so close and I longed to reach over and place my lips on his. And if he put his hand under the table and grabbed my thigh, I’d be up for that too. Heck I was already up.
"Julian."
"You invited me here. You wrote a note that said there wouldn't be any interruptions. So stop interrupting yourself."
A smile unfolded across his face. His fingers finally closed over mine, and the touch made my pulse race. "You're pushy."
"You like it."
"I do."
We finished dinner and all I could focus on was how he stroked my hand and his eyes never left my face.
After he paid the bill, his hand found the small of my back and we walked through the restaurant. Heads swivelled but I stared straight ahead.
The parking lot was quiet and I thanked him for dinner.
"Thank you for coming."
We stood beside my car with the streetlight casting shadows across his face and highlighting his strong jaw.
"No hallway this time." I pressed my lips together.
"There’s no teammate about to drag me away." His hand cupped my jaw and I shivered anticipating his mouth on mine.
"What are you waiting for?"
"Nothing." He closed the distance between us.
The kiss wasn't gentle. It was everything I’d been holding back since that first day in the park with the tangled leashes. His mouth was hot and demanding, and I parted my lips for him. One of his hands slid into my hair while the other gripped my hip, pulling me closer.
I moaned into his mouth, and he growled in response. It was such a turn on and I kissed him harder.
My hands fisted his shirt and he backed me against my car. The cool metal against my back contrasted with the heat of his body pressed against me. His tongue swept against mine, and someone's car alarm went off nearby but I didn't flinch.
When we finally broke apart, with both of us breathing hard, he rested his forehead against mine.
"Come home with me."
SEVEN
RENARD
I’d have preferred if Julian had come in my car because I wanted him near me so I could caress and fondle him. But I understood why he wanted to drive himself.
Instead of keeping my eyes on the road, I kept looking in the rear view mirror at his headlights. Heat prickled over my skin and my heart was beating so rapidly I put a hand to my chest. The thumping against my palm told a story, one that I didn’t need to read. I was excited and couldn’t wait to have a naked Julian in my arms.
