Page 41 of Embraced in Ink

“What are you getting?” Marcus asked as he helped her into the car. He closed the door behind her and jogged around the front. She shook her head.

He always did that for her, even before the engagement. See? There was nothing awkward about this. She didn’t have to feel nervous.

He sat down next to her, and she inhaled his scent, her nipples going hard.

Okay, apparently, things were different.

“I don’t know, probably a stir-fry of some sort. Although I want their spring rolls. Or just everything. I’m starving.” She paused. “I sort of didn’t eat today.”

Marcus started the car and glared at her.

“Why aren’t you taking care of yourself?”

“I was working, and I was nervous, okay? Stop.”

“No, I’m not. Because you need to take better care of yourself. You skip meals, and then you feel weak, and then you get crabby.”

“You’re the crabby one,” she said and closed her eyes. “Sorry. This is a date. I probably shouldn’t be so rude.”

“Then you wouldn’t be yourself,” he quipped, and she glared at him, only to notice that there was laughter dancing in his eyes. She flipped him off, and he laughed.

“See? Now you’re flipping me off. It totally feels like a date.”

“Are we being awkward about this? And not good at it?”

He reached over and slid his hand across her knee. When he gave it a squeeze, she sucked in a breath, her panties going damp, and her mouth drying.

“Oh, okay, I guess we’re doing this. Okay.”

They were at a stoplight, so he looked over at where his hand was on her skin, her dress riding up a bit. Shivers ran up her thighs and through the rest of her body, and she almost wanted to squeeze her legs together, trapping his hand. Asking him to go a little bit higher.

Dear God, she was a hussy.

“We’re fine, Bristol. Stop overthinking this.”

“I wouldn’t be me if I weren’t overthinking.”

“That’s the truth.” She glared at him again, and he rubbed her knee before turning back to the road and removing his palm. She did not want to feel bereft at the loss, so she ignored it.

But when he reached out and gripped her hand, tangling his fingers with hers, her engagement ring shining in the glow of the streetlights, she let out a relieved breath.

The two of them had always touched, had always held hands, but in the most platonic of ways.

There was nothing platonic now.

Oh, she knew their promise was only an excuse. At least, for her. She had no idea what he was thinking, and she was going to figure it out. But first? She was going to let herself fall.

At least, a little bit.

And hope to hell it wasn’t awkward in the end.

By the time they sat at their favorite table, the owner coming out to see how they were, she was a bundle of nerves and practically squirming in her seat.

She had always thought Marcus attractive, but it was as if there had been a barrier between them before so she didn’t have to feel like this.

Now, she couldn’t help but pant and want more.

She had truly lost her mind when it came to him, and she couldn’t help it. Every touch, every breath, every caress, simply his presence almost sent her over the edge.