CHAPTER NINE
Tia balled her fists so she wouldn’t fan herself. When he laughed, he suddenly looked so much younger. He looked boyish and playful.
She loved his laugh. And she loved the way he looked at her. He was interested in everything she said, and it was obvious that he was attracted to her but he didn’t ogle her or leer at her. He was sweet and respectful, but sexy as hell.
With Caine so close to her, she could feel the heat radiating off his huge, hard body in waves. And it was sending her into heat.
At least that was what it felt like.
She wasn’t a shifter, so she didn’t go into heat. But she had to admit, she was feeling really, really horny right now.
Caine was a very attractive man, and he looked like he was in his early thirties. His hazel eyes never left her face as he talked to her. His gaze didn’t drop to her cleavage and he didn’t check out her long, bare legs. Neither did he try to put his hands on any part of her body. She would have broken every bone in his hand if he tried anything funny.
There were some men who assumed that a woman drinking by herself wouldn’t say no to a guy sliding his hand up her dress. She’d corrected that assumption on quite a few occasions, very swiftly and sometimes, violently.
Other than that initial handshake, Caine didn’t touch her. He simply sat beside her and talked to her. He was engaging and interested in getting to know her, but Tia didn’t want to reveal too much about herself. Caine was after all, just a stranger. A very hot, sexy, handsome stranger, but still a stranger.
“Well, it’s been really nice talking to you, Caine,” she said, sliding some dollar bills under her glass and getting off her stool. “I should get going. Early day tomorrow.”
Caine stood up. “Tia...”
Tia leaned in to give him a peck on the cheek. He had been good company and a perfect gentleman. She would love to see him again. Maybe...she could ask for his number.
But just before her lips made contact with his stubbled jaw, Caine turned his head and kissed her on the mouth.
Tia’s eyes widened but she didn’t pull away.
The kiss sent a bolt of molten desire right through her body, and she moaned softly against his mouth. Gently, Caine pulled her to him as he deepened the kiss.
When he swept his tongue across her lower lip, Tia parted her lips willingly for him. She suddenly realized that she had been waiting for this moment the whole night. She had been waiting for Caine to kiss her.
She had never been kissed like this before. With so much feeling, hunger and yearning. She was drowning in his kiss, in his arms, and she clung to his shoulders, unwilling to let go.
She didn’t want this intoxicating, heady sensation to end. Her entire body burned with desire and lust, and she wanted more, needed more than just a kiss.
Her eyelids fluttered shut as she surrendered herself to his drugging, scorching kiss. Caine’s strong arms held her and supported her as his lips kept moving against hers.
Tia pressed her hands against his solid chest and felt his heart beating powerfully against her palm.
God, she wanted this man. She wanted to be with him tonight. She just knew that sex with Caine would be amazing.
Caine broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. He cupped her face with both hands and looked deep into her eyes. His breaths were ragged and his glowing hazel eyes reflected her own hunger and lust.
“Tia,” he whispered.
They were at the far corner of the bar, and the bartender was at the other end of the counter. No one had seen them. The pianist was still playing, and quiet, muted conversation continued to flow around them.
Tia gulped. She heard the question in his voice.
He was asking her to spend the night with him.
Just go. Say no and go, she told herself in her sternest policewoman voice.
Make me, her non-cop voice retorted petulantly. I don’t wanna go. Come on, live a little. Live a lot!
One night.
What harm could it do?
They were both adults. They knew what they were doing, and they could protect themselves.
Why was she overthinking this?
“Yes, Caine,” Tia heard herself answer. “Yes.”