I swipe my thumb over the tip before letting my—thankfully—soft cock drop heavily against my undone jeans. Washing my hands first and ignoring the ridiculous amount of come painting the inside of the basin, I carefully tuck my cock and shirt in then zip my jeans and push my belt through the loops.

If what just happened is anything to go by, it might just kill me when I finally sink into Ember.

Looking in the mirror, I see the wild look in my eyes and I say a silent prayer that I’m able to keep the promise to myself that I won’t take her until I know I’ve proven myself to her.

When I open the door and see her sitting demurely at the set table, I groan and almost stumble when the tip of my cock—still sensitive as hell from my release—brushes against the denim of my jeans.

Ignoring my needs, I walk around the table and stop directly behind her. I smile when I hear her suck in a breath only to let it out in a moan. My girl enjoys my smell. I reach up, pulling my hair back and holding it in my fists, and I bend. The side of my stubbled cheek rubs against the smoothness of hers on my descent. She shivers, and when I reach her tan, bare shoulder, I turn my head slightly before opening my mouth and sinking my teeth into the tender flesh where her neck meets her shoulder, sucking lightly. She whimpers and shifts her body the best she can since my teeth are still pressing against her skin.

“Good girl,” I rumble low against her skin, kissing the teeth marks and pink bruise my mouth left behind. “It pleases me that you listen when I tell you to do something.”

She doesn’t respond; she just tips the right side of her lip up and looks at me with lust-filled eyes.

Taking my seat, I look down at the plate before me and wonder if I could come again just from the mouthwatering aromas swirling up from the hot food.

“To a first date to remember.” She breaks the comfortable silence around us, picking up the Coke she must have brought with her and waiting for me to do the same with the one in front of me.

“And many more to follow,” I add, touching the top of her can with mine before placing it back down and picking up my fork and knife.

“Better than Mom’s,” she smarts with a wink.

“We’ll see.”

She waits while I cut into the meat, dip it in the mashed potatoes, and bring it to my mouth. I couldn’t hold back my moan if I tried because the second the flavor hits my taste buds, my mouth waters, and I close my eyes. I see her starting to cut into her own food, still smiling, but I’m incapable of talking at the moment. Not while I’m eating the best damn thing I’ve ever tasted.

“You’re right,” I mumble around the mouthful of food. “Better than your mom’s, baby.”

That damn smile just gets bigger, and she silently continues to eat.

It doesn’t take long before I’m about to lick my plate clean, but she just reaches out and places the rest of her dinner in front of me with a knowing look.

“Next time, I’ll make sure to bring more than one helping for you, honey.”

My chest warms when she calls me that, something that I just vaguely recall her using when Julie was in the room, but now that I know she wasn’t saying that for her benefit, I let the pleasure of it fill me.

“You know I didn’t want her here, right?”

She nods, taking a sip of her drink and leaning back in her seat. “I’m not upset about it. I’m just glad I was here to let her know you aren’t on the market anymore.”

I give her a sly smile before asking, “Yeah? I got myself a woman?”

One of her shoulders comes up in a shrug and she laughs softly. “We’ll see.”