She pointed to the small booklet on the table with a dessert menu.
“Let’s share one,” I suggested.
Tatum placed a hand on her stomach, as if to indicate she was full. “I don’t know—”
“Cheesecake?” I said before she could finish.
I could tell that I had struck gold by the look on her face and the way her eyes lit up. I turned to Freya with a triumphant grin.
“One cheesecake with two forks please.”
“Are you always so bossy?” Tatum asked playfully once Freya left to retrieve our dessert.
I shrugged. “My sister seems to think so.”
“That’s Poppy, right?” she guessed. “Yesterday was the first time that I met her, but she seems nice.”
“Sure, she’s nice,” I drawled with some affection. “Stubborn as a mule, though.”
Tatum laughed, the sound light and carefree. “I always wanted a sister. Instead, I have a much younger brother.”
“How much younger?” I asked curiously.
“Twelve years. He just turned sixteen.”
“Oh, wow.”
“Yeah, we’re not exactly close,” she explained. “There’s just too much of an age gap.”
Freya returned with the cheesecake, topped with glazed strawberries. I picked up one of the forks. Tatum did the same, but before she had a chance to use it, I was holding mine out to her with buttery crust, creamy filling, and sweet strawberries speared on it.
She hesitated for only a second before opening her mouth and allowing me to feed her the bite.
Her hazel eyes darkened as she looked at me while wrapping her lips around the fork. Then, she closed her eyes and moaned at the taste, before darting her tongue out to catch a bit of the sticky glaze on her bottom lip.
Jesus. The moment was so erotically charged that I had to force myself to stay in place. All I wanted to do was stand up, drag her across the table, and kiss her—then take her back to my hotel room and make her moan my name while I was deep inside of her.
I gently took away her fork and took turns eating the cheesecake and giving her bites, which only increased the sexual tension building between us. By the time we were done with dessert and paid the bill, it was fully dark outside. We’d taken our time over dinner, and I was ready to head back to the hotel.
Before we went, though, there was something that I had to do. I couldn’t wait a moment longer.
When we stepped out of the restaurant and onto the boardwalk, I pulled her into my arms until she was flush against me. Grabbing her hair, I pulled just enough to make her head tilt back. She gasped softly, but didn’t resist, clinging to my arms and parting her lips as her eyes met mine.
I could see the undiluted desire shimmering there, and it gave me all the encouragement I needed to press my lips to hers the way that I’d wanted to since we met on the plane. A shiver ran down my spine, and I slid my tongue inside of her mouth, getting my first sweet taste of her—so seductive and intoxicating I wanted so much more.
By the time I pulled back, she was breathless, and I felt a swelling of satisfaction at the knowledge that I had that effect on her. That she clearly wanted me, as much as I desired her.
“I’ve wanted to do that since we met,” I told her, my voice low and husky.
Tatum licked her lips but took a step back, that hesitance returning once again. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
I was sure enough for the both of us, but didn’t push the issue. I wanted Tatum, but only on her terms, whatever they may be.
“Let’s head back to the hotel before it gets too late,” I suggested, no innuendo in my words whatsoever.
She let me hold her hand on the walk back, and I intertwined our fingers. We stayed in the sand, but didn’t stroll through the water this time. There was light coming from the hotels and buildings nearby, as well as the bright moon that was mirrored in the water.
We didn’t talk, and I knew that Tatum was debating with herself inside. I didn’t know what exactly was holding her back from our attraction, but I wasn’t going to pressure her. She had to want it as much as I did, and it had to be her choice. No regrets.