I took it slow driving into the city, not just because it was Luna’s first time on a bike, but because the feeling of her clinging to me was fucking amazing. I’d waited so long. Besides, I wanted her to like it, to get addicted. The heat from her thighs and the feeling of her breasts pressed into my back did crazy things to me. I was ready to pull over and beg her to let me make love to her right there. Hell, I was ready to beg her to let me make love to her every day for the rest of my life.

Her hands pressed firmly against my stomach, her cheek resting against my back. The only thing that compared to the feeling of her on my bike was seeing her in that tiny little dress when she opened the door for me. Her pale, bare legs on display, the sweet neckline doing nothing to hide the swell of her breasts beneath.

I was lost. What if she decided after the date that she didn’t want me in her life after all. Fuck, I’d be a lost puppy. I’d probably spend my life trailing along after her all sad and mopey.

When we got to the restaurant, I helped her off the bike. She pushed her dress back down around her thighs and pulled my helmet off. Her eyes were bright and when she looked at me, they lit up like lightning was flashing behind them. She was such a beautiful woman.

“That was amazing.”

I grinned. “Yeah, it’s pretty great. Better with you, though.”

She looked down and then glanced back up at me with a crooked smile on her plump lips. “I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.”

The breath caught in my throat. My bear rose to full height, proud of the impact we’d made on our mate. I felt like the biggest man around after she said that. I took the helmet from her and hung it on the handle before taking her hand and leading her inside.

Seated across from each other in a booth, I had a hard time keeping my eyes off her. Every move she made was like a seductive dance. I squirmed around trying to get comfortable, I was so hard.

“I never knew this place was here.” He gaze traveled over the place, but I noticed her eyes kept moving back to me. “It’s nice.”

I didn’t bother looking around. Nothing I’d rather see than Luna. My bear was alert. He’d already sensed that there were no threats inside the place, which meant I could fully focus on our mate. “You’re so beautiful.”

Okay, I was being creepy. That was probably the fifth time I’d said that, but Luna smiled and her cheeks turned pink, so I didn’t care. The waiter stopped by our table and took our drink orders and then vanished again. “So, you normally eat stuff like this? Vegetarian?”

I glanced down at the menu. No burger or steak section. Nothing. Nada. Chicken? Fish? Nope. I looked back up at her and found her watching me with an amused grin on her face. “Nice for me, not so nice for you. Everything’s vegetarian.”

I shrugged. “I don’t mind. I’m not picky when it comes to food.”

“I’m not so picky, either. And I don’t eat much. We can go someplace else, if you want. I can find food anywhere.”

I reached across the table and covered her hand with mine. “I don’t want to go someplace else. But, maybe you can order for me? Choose whatever you think sounds best for an,” I lowered my voice to a whisper, “omnivore, like me.”

“Definitely a wheat grass shot followed by a tofu and greens burger.” She watched as my eyes went wide and then laughed. “I’m teasing. Do you like mac and cheese?”

I couldn’t help leaning forward in my seat and biting my lip. “Your laugh is so fucking intoxicating, Luna.”

Her eyes flashed and she leaned towards me. “I like when you say my name.”

I dragged in a rough breath and tried to stay in control. “Um. I should ask you more about yourself. What do you do?”

That sweet, pale skin burned red and she was about to answer when the waiter appeared again. He took our order before fading back into the rest of the bustling restaurant.

“Why’d you blush, Luna?”

She leaned even closer, the table digging into her midsection as she did. “It’s kind of inappropriate to talk about on a first date.”

“It’s inappropriate to talk about jobs on the first date?” I hadn’t dated in a while. In the club, there were always just club chicks around if we…well, hell, had dating changed that much?

She giggled and shook her head. “My job is.”

My bear stiffened and I felt a growl rising from my chest. “What do you do, Luna?”

“Nothing bad! I can see that you’re thinking it’s something bad. It’s all over your face, but it’s not bad.” She took a long drink of water and met my eyes. “I test adult products.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Adult products?”

“Yes.”

“What the hell are adult products?” I was thinking of those Depends diapers commercials.

She covered her mouth with her napkin as the table behind us started laughing. I realized I’d been talking rather loudly. I was worried I’d upset Luna, but then I realized she was laughing behind her napkin.

“What?”

“Toys.” Her eyes were watering and she barely got the word out around her giggles. “Adult toys, Pratt.”

“On who?!” My mind filled with images of her testing sex toys out on a whole parade of men and I wanted to rage.

Luna’s laughter died and a slow smile lifted one corner of her mouth. “On myself.”

I swallowed hard. I had to wait until my lungs cooperated by drawing in a breath before I was able to speak. “On yourself?”

She nodded. “I review them. You know, ease of use, durability, practicality, sometimes shape and size. If they stay charged through a long night.”

I was seconds from jumping up and grabbing her and taking her on the table. “Stop talking for a second.”

“Are you feeling okay, Pratt?” She ran her finger along the neckline of her dress and took her straw in her mouth. “You look flushed.”

“You’re a little tease, aren’t you?” I was harder than I’d ever been in my life and in uncharted territory with my mate. We were supposed to be getting to know each other and instead, I was pretty sure we were on a collision course for fucking in the bathroom of a vegetarian restaurant.

“I’m a bunny rabbit. We have huge sex drives. Have you ever heard the expression…” Again, the pink tinge crept up her cheeks. “Never mind.”

She tilted her head back slightly and inhaled through her nose. “And you’re a grizzly. Large, dangerous, protective of your territory.”

“I’m not dangerous to you, Luna.”

She put her glass down and ran the tip of her finger along the rim. “No? Am I your territory to protect?”

The food was dropped off in front of us but I couldn’t look at it. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, not even just to glance away. “You’re not territory, but you are mine to protect. I’m your mate. It’s my duty to protect you. One which I gladly accept and intend to honor with every ounce of my being.”

She fanned her face. “Do you want to get out of here? It’s hot in here, right?”

I pulled out my wallet and threw down a few bills to cover the meal. Then, we were out of the restaurant and back on my bike. Only, that time, she slid on easier. She scooted her hips even closer to me and the warmth of her thighs was only dimmed by the heat coming from her core as she pressed against me. The sharp intake of breath gave away that she was feeling as aroused as I was. Heat. Intense desire and the inability to control it.

“Where am I going, Luna?” My voice was barely a growl and I felt her shiver against me in response.

“Wherever’s closer.”

That was all I needed to hear. I started the bike and sped off in the direction of her apartment.