The restaurant was suddenly too dim, the atmosphere was too romantic, and Eric was entirely too close—but not close enough.
"Kiss her," she heard one of the other patrons shout. A blush crept up her cheeks and she bit her lower lip.
Eric laughed, then turned to the waiter. "I don't think—"
Ana lifted her hand to his cheek and brought his head around until they were facing. "It's no use," she informed him as she dropped her hand to her thigh and rubbed her palms up and down the denim fabric. "They're not going to stop until we kiss."
"Ana—"
She shrugged. "It's just a kiss."
Her words couldn't have been less true. Whenever his lips met hers, it was never just a kiss. Fucking fireworks went off, angels sang, and body parts started throbbing. It never failed, and that was the reason he'd been unable to resist taking her in a damn coat room—why he'd been unwilling to let her move to Chicago.
"If it makes you uncomfortable—"
"The entire restaurant is focused on us, Eric. I'm already uncomfortable."
His gaze swept over the crowd. She was right; they'd gained the attention of nearly every other person in the room. Everyone at their table was heckling them now, and it didn't seem they were going to let up until he kissed Ana. Luckily what he wanted coincided with what they wanted. "It'll be quick," he promised as his eyes fell to her hands.
She was wiping them nervously up and down her thighs. Was she really that anxious about kissing him again? He reached for her left hand and lifted it until her palm was splayed over his chest, then reached for her other hand and laced his fingers through hers.
She smiled weakly as his head descended toward hers.
Ana knew she was asking for trouble. For weeks she'd been insisting she didn't want him, hoping that if she said it enough times, she'd be able to convince herself it was true. But her body wasn't as easily swayed as she'd hoped.
Her heartbeat accelerated as Eric leaned forward. He gently nipped at one corner of her mouth before his lips settled lightly over hers. His kiss was serene, undemanding, but as Ana fought for control, she realized it was no use; she was unable to mirror his restraint. Her eyelids slid closed, and her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt as she parted her lips, dragging her tongue along the seam of his lips. He opened instantly, his tongue stroking hers. The overwhelming flavor of sake combined with the way Eric always tasted made her groan.
When he would have pulled away, her hand snaked up over his shoulder until she was cupping the back of his neck. The slightest bit of urging brought his mouth back to hers, and cradling her face with his hands, he brushed his lips softly over hers. "I think we're giving them more than they bargained for," he said in amusement.
Ana sighed as his thumbs caressed her cheekbones and reluctantly opened her eyes. She couldn't help but laugh at Eric's satisfied grin.
A cheer from the people around their table jarred her back to reality and she slid back in her chair as she cleared her throat. "I think they enjoyed that," she said. Her voice came out a little throatier than she'd hoped.
"As did I," Eric said. Ana was pleased that his voice sounded as hoarse as hers had.
Damn his lawyers for telling him to stay away from her, Eric thought. And damn his brother for the text he'd just sent.
Hands to yourself, little brother.
Eric had to force back the scowl that wanted to grace his features.
"Are you OK?" Ana asked with a frown.
"Yes," Eric said as he put his phone back down on the table. Before he could stop her, Ana snagged it up.
"How do I unlock it?" she asked innocently.
He reached over and moved his finger across the screen.
"Thanks," she said. "And how do I get to your notes?"
"Why do you want to get to my notes?" Eric asked with a frown.
"No reason," she answered.
"Ana," he said warningly, though God knew she wouldn't heed his tone.
"Fine," she said, leaning back and pulling the phone out of his reach just as he was about to grasp it. "Are you really taking notes while you're out with Kate and Elliot?"
"Who in the hell—Kate," he growled as he leaned over, crushing his chest against hers as he grabbed his phone. He moved his finger over the screen until he found what he wanted and then handed it back to her.
Ana took it, studying the screen for a minute before looking at him, a huge grin breaking out over her face. "These are guidelines on what not to do!" she said.
Eric gave a curt nod. "It only took me one date to realize what a pussy my brother is," he said, returning her grin. "Now it's fun to tag along just to piss him off."
"I think it's pissing Kate of more," Ana informed him, giggling at the startling revelation. "This is amazing," she said as she read through his notes. She pointed to a section of his notes. "Did he really say that to her?"
Eric read the words she was referring to. "Yes," he said distastefully. "And quite frankly, I was embarrassed for him. For Kate, too, though she seemed to like it. I guess there's no accounting for taste."
"Were you really trying to learn how to date?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yes," he answered.
"Why?"
"Do you remember what my first words were, Ana?" he asked dryly.
I wanna fuck you. Ana bit her tongue just in time from saying it aloud. "Yes," she said instead, her cheeks flushing at the memory.
He nodded. "That's why I'm taking notes on dating, Ana. Sex…hooking up. I'm excellent at that."
A fact she could attest to, but his tone seemed to indicate that he wasn't pleased with his prowess. It was almost as though he detested it. "You…want to start…dating?" she asked.
"I'd like something more than a casual fuck, yes. Apparently dating is the way to get there."
Ana swallowed past the sudden lump of disappointment lodged firmly in her throat. Why couldn't she have met him now?
"Yes, dating is a good place to start," she agreed softly as she held his phone out to him. But as he reached for it, it locked back up, and she gasped at the image gracing his screen. Eyes wide, she snatched it back to get a better look, but it must have been on slideshow as the image was no longer there.
"You have a picture of me on your phone," she stated.
"Oh, hell, Ana," he bit out.
"I want to see it," she insisted.
"Ana—"
"Show me."
With a sigh, he took the phone from her and found his images, then brought up the one of her she'd just seen.
She bit down on her lower lip as she studied the picture. She was lying on her side asleep. Her lips were slightly parted and her eyelashes were resting on her cheeks, which were flushed—from Eric's lovemaking, she was sure, as the pillowcase her head was resting on was the same ones they had at The Lux.
"Are there more?" she asked in a near whisper, surprised by her reaction to the picture. She looked…sexy. He'd captured the sex appeal she was certain she only possessed when he was near.
He shook his head. "That's the only one," he admitted.
"Are you sure?" she pressed.
"Yes. Trust me—I remember the events of that night very clearly. I wanted to take another picture of you, but you were so tempting lying there; I decided to wake you up for another round instead."
That she remembered. The memories of his lips on her skin as she'd come slowly awake made her shiver.
"Ana...do you want me to erase it?" he asked hesitantly.
She cleared her throat as she gave the phone back to him. "Only if you want to."
Eric's gaze locked with hers. "I don't."