Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Ana's heartbeat accelerated in her chest. Was this his way of telling her he wouldn't be opposed to seeing her on a regular basis? After all, if they worked together—the beeping of her phone cut into her thoughts, and Ana reached into her purse. She pulled her cell out and kept her hand under the table, running her finger across the bottom of the touch screen to reveal the text message she'd just received. Her eyes widened, and she had to clench her teeth in order to keep her jaw where it was.

The next time I want to touch you at the dinner table, Ana, I won't ask.

Her eyes flew to Eric, and he quirked his brow at her. Ana scowled. He was constantly quirking that damn brow, she thought as she felt the now familiar flash of wetness between her thighs. The thought of there being a next time—that he was thinking that far ahead—thrilled her.

How did you get my number?!

He reached casually into his pants pocket and pulled out his phone, his fingers flying over the keyboard. A quick glance at Kate and Elliot told her they'd once again forgotten they had company.

I have men who specialize in finding things for me, Ana.

Ana read the return text, then silenced her phone and slipped it back into her purse.

"Did anyone save room for dessert?" the waiter asked, suddenly appearing in front of them.

Ana shook her head. "Just tea for me, thank you," she assured the young man.

"I'll have tiramisu," Kate decided.

"Mmm…that sounds good. Make that two," Elliot said.

"I'll have chocolate mousse," Eric chimed in.

Ana couldn't have forced down dessert if she'd tried. She'd barely managed to eat half of her meal, though she figured it had something to do with the butterflies in her stomach. She shifted uncomfortably, desperate to somehow alleviate the throbbing between her legs.

The waiter cleared their plates, and once again, the awkward silence set in. Ana wondered why Kate had even bothered to invite her. She wasn't complaining; seeing Miller again—Eric, she reminded herself—was more than worth it. She just hoped he thought so, too.

She watched as Kate poured herself another glass of wine, frowning when her friend sloshed half of it over the side of her glass. "Kate—don't you think you've had enough?" Ana asked anxiously.

"I'll make sure she gets home OK," Elliot assured her.

Ana gave him a weak smile. Kate may have been dating him for two weeks now, but this was the first time she'd met him. The idea of sending her friend home with someone who was a stranger to her didn't feel right. But Kate had already admitted they'd spent several nights together.

"Here we go," the waiter said as he set Ana's tea in front of her, then the appropriate desserts in front of everyone else. "Let me know if I can get you anything else." He quickly disappeared after a chorus of 'thank you.'

Ana put her tea bag in the mug and let it steep for a moment, the used her spoon to fish it out and set it on the saucer. She blew lightly on the warm liquid as she brought it to her mouth, then took a small sip before putting it back on the table.

She saw it coming this time, so she didn't jump when Eric touched her. He reached his hand between her thighs and moved it lightly back and forth, urging her to part her legs for him. She swallowed nervously, but submitted to his silent request.

He pulled his hand away long enough to dip it in the whipped cream topping his dessert. A small trail of whipped cream made its way up her thigh, and Ana felt her breath catch as her heartbeat sped up.

Was it the fact that they were in public and chanced getting caught…or was it because it was him? She couldn't help but wonder for a moment before deciding that it must be a bit of both.

His fingertips pushed the panel of her panties aside, then circled her pulsating flesh for the second time that night. She nearly cried out in distress when his touch disappeared. When he thrust two fingers inside of her, her hips bucked forward and she groaned softly—though it took everything within her not to scream. She couldn't stop her pelvis from gyrating; she wanted him to make her feel the way he had in the bar!

"So, Ana, what's your top choice for employment?" Elliot asked.

"Umm…" Ana voice came out as a squeak as Eric's fingers pumped in and out of her. "I don't really…have…one," she told him. "I'd be grateful for anything that came my way really," she said. The last word came out harshly as Eric dragged his fingertips down her inner wall.

"Mmm," Elliot agreed as he took another bite of dessert. "It's a tough market out there for anyone searching right now."

"It sure is," Ana said breathlessly, looking down as Eric's fingers left her. The dim lighting was just enough for her to see his fingers glistening with her moisture. She felt her cheeks heat when he lifted his fingers to his mouth and sucked.

"So, Kate," he said conversationally as he reached for his spoon. "You never told me what your degree was in."

Kate was in no condition to walk home, so Elliot was going to bring her. He'd volunteered to drop Ana off as well, but Eric had assured his brother he could take care of that. The glance they'd exchanged didn't escape her attention, but she was too wound up to ask him about it.

"I live within walking distance," she told him as she watched Elliot's car drive away.

"Then I'll walk you home," he insisted.

Ana nodded and started the way that would lead her to her apartment.

"So…you have men who specialize in finding things?" she asked in an amused tone.

"Yes," Eric replied, his tone clipped. "But they couldn't find you. Is that why you lied to me about your name? So I wouldn't be able to find you?"

Ana laughed nervously. "I didn't lie to you about my name. No one calls me Ana. Kate doesn't even call me Ana—I don't know why she introduced me that way. I…and to be honest…it never crossed my mind that you would want to find me."

They walked in silence for a moment before she spoke again. "Is that why you say my name like you're mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you, Ana," he informed her. "I'm just used to getting what I want."

"And you couldn't have me," she said in a small voice.

"What is Kate going to think when she finds out the guy you went home with from the bar is her boyfriend's brother?" he asked, changing the subject.

Ana hesitated. "She doesn't know I went home with anyone from the bar that night," she admitted.

"You didn't tell her you were going home with someone?" he asked.

Ana shook her head.

"Were you not at all concerned for your safety?"

"I'd already given you what you wanted," she reminded him. "Besides, my fiancé had just broken up with me. How would it have looked if I told her I was going home with another man that very night?"

His silence was uncomfortable, and Ana found herself wanting to chatter to fill the stillness. "Did you know I had to go into an adult toy store because of you?" she blurted out.

That, at least, earned her a chuckle. "What?" he asked in surprise.

"You heard me," she muttered, unable to believe she'd confessed that to him. But the flood gates were open now. "I…I wanted to feel the way you made me feel again, but…I have no idea how to pick up men."

"There was no one in Hawaii?" he asked in a low voice.

"No," she answered in a whisper.

"Did you see anything you liked in the store?" he asked.

Ana felt her cheeks flush again. "I saw lots of things I liked in the store," she admitted. "But Kate wouldn't let me go behind the curtain. She said the things in there would make my eyes pop out of my head," she said with a laugh.

"Did you want to go in, Ana?"

She shivered at his tone of voice. "Yes." Her response was faint.

He tilted his head to the side. "Why?" he persisted.

"Because I…I wanted to see if there was anything back there that could…" Ana gathered her courage and swallowed past the lump of nervousness in her throat. "Spank me."

Eric's hand suddenly found hers, and he hauled her into a dark alleyway. Once they'd reached the darkness, he thrust her hard against the brick wall. "You don't need to buy anything that will spank you, Ana," he hissed. "I can do that."

Her breath hitched as she swallowed nervously. Her heart was racing; her panties, already drenched, became even more soaked when Eric's eyes darkened.

"If you thought it was the only way you could ever see me again, Ana, would you let me fuck you right here?" His voice-a rough whisper-was thick with need.

"I'd let you anyway!" Ana cried, sobbing with desire as she flattened her palms against the bricks behind her. And, oh, God, she would! She wanted him to spin her around, flip her skirt up, tear her panties off, and take her right there.

He leaned forward and placed a rough kiss on jaw bone. As he pulled his head upward, the heat from the inside of his bottom lip grazed over her cheek and she trembled with longing. A whimper escaped her lips when he abruptly straightened; her body felt an immediate chill from his absence.

"You haven't earned another fuck yet," he informed her, any trace of huskiness or arousal suddenly absent from his voice.

Ana's eyes widened. Earned it? What in the hell was he talking about?