Off Limits by Emma Jay

“Are you sure she’s not willing?”
    “I’m not willing.” He didn’t want anyone else. Being around Paige had seen to that. Zach rose and reached a hand to her. From the corner of his eye, he saw her eyes were wide as she looked from one to the other. “We’re going to dance. Don’t be here when we return.”
    He turned Paige into his arms on the dance floor and sensed her impatience. He didn’t have long to wait before she asked.
    “Did he want a—three-way?”
    “Yes.”
    “With—me?”
    His gut clenched. Surely she wouldn’t consider such a thing. “Yeah.”
    “Have you—before? Of course you have, or he wouldn’t have mentioned it. How does that work?”
    He hadn’t expected the curiosity, only judgment. “The way you might imagine.” He hoped she’d hear in his voice that he didn’t want to talk about it.
    “I thought a guy’s fantasy was two girls. Have you done that too?” She angled her head, studying his face.
    He eased back from her a bit. “Paige.”
    “I guess, with your looks, it makes sense.”
    Crap. He could hear the doubt in her voice. “I don’t do that anymore.”
    “When was the last time?”
    “Way before I saw you at the engagement party.”
    “How way before?”
    “Last winter. An ex-girlfriend, her new boyfriend.”
    “I guess I can’t imagine how you’d even approach something like that.”
    “Paige.” He shifted her in his arms, finally looking into her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it, don’t want him to spoil our evening, all right?”
    “Okay.” She cupped his shoulder and moved a little closer, but he could feel tension in her, could practically hear the wheels in her head turning as she imagined it. He didn’t want her thinking about it but didn’t know how to make her stop. He wasn’t used to being uncomfortable in his own skin, not with her.
    Until tonight, he hadn’t realized his past might be just that. Those experiences no longer held the same appeal.
    Maybe they both needed time to think this over. “You want to go? We could try this again tomorrow.”
    “No. No, I don’t want to go. I’m good.” She edged in a bit more and smiled up at him, more of a Paige smile, just a hint of doubt remaining. “No Adam to punch you in the face this time.”
    “And I actually like this dress better.” He forced a smile, then relaxed into it when he saw the affection in her eyes. Pushing his discomfort to the side, he let his thumb brush the bare skin at the small of her back, and she eased closer, her fingers toying with his hair. He angled his head so that her breath brushed over his lips, just the hint of a kiss, a tease, that made him hard, made his blood sizzle. He wanted to drag her to his apartment and get her naked. At the same time, he wanted to dance with her all night and savor every moment in her arms. He looked into her eyes and saw heat there, and decided to build the anticipation, and pray that no one else interrupted them.
    He didn’t even hear the music anymore, didn’t know if it was fast or slow, just moved with Paige at the same pace, her breasts—braless beneath the halter dress—against his chest, the skirt swaying about his legs, her hand warm on his skin. He feathered a kiss across her cheek, another across her temple, and felt her breath hitch.
    “I’m ready to go,” she said, her lips brushing his ear, making his erection strain.
    He wasn’t, but couldn’t resist a kiss to the shell of her ear. “We didn’t eat yet.”
    Her fingers tightened on the back of his neck in reflex. “I’m not hungry.” Her voice was breathy, almost panicked.
    His self-control frayed. This was what he’d wanted for days, and just when he’d decided to drag it out, she’d gotten desperate. God forbid he deny a lady’s request. He turned her so she walked in front of him, hiding his hard-on as they made their way back to the table. He motioned for the check, paid with cash, adding a generous tip, and led Paige to the