Free Werewolves of New York: Nathaniel by Faleena Hopkins

her, he took her breath away as he held them out.
    One foot in front of the other, Michelle.
    “They’re stunning,” she whispered as they met.
    “At the risk of sounding cliché, they’re nothing compared to you.” He smiled.
    Her eyelashes fluttered up. “Thank you.”
    “Your dress is…” His gaze traced downward, lingering awhile.
    “Yes?”
    His eyes clouded and he shook his head like he had to control himself. “Ready to go?”
    The way he looked at her made her feel very beautiful and it gave her a grace where nervous clumsiness might have otherwise been. She climbed into the car knowing full well he was watching her, finally crossing her legs only after he sat down, to make sure he saw her skin touch skin, and her pretty toes peeking out of the front of her heels, so purely feminine. Oh, he saw alright. The driver came around and closed the door–a good thing, because it looked like Nathaniel had forgotten it was open.
    As the car pulled away from the curb, from where she sat beside him in the darkness of the luxurious vehicle, she became very aware that they were alone. The partition was closed and solid–complete privacy. She knew she was damp from the sensations floating over her skin wherever his glance traced.
    “What were going to say about my dress?” she asked, casting a smile sideways to him.
    His gaze dropped to her lips. To her surprise, he reached over and touched her knee, then slid his fingertips lightly up the length of her thigh until they touched her red hem, and paused there. His heated gaze fell to her bare thigh and he held there a moment, then crooked a finger under the fabric and pulled it up just a teasing inch.
    Her body commanded her to uncross her legs and give him access, but she kept very still. Her heart pounded and he glanced up briefly to her chest like he could hear it. Or was he looking at her breasts? Well, now he was. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips and she saw his nostrils flare a little. He ran his middle finger across her skin to the left and right, pulling slightly at the fabric with every slow, calculating motion. It was torture. He leaned in for their first kiss, but as his lips brushed hers, they both jerked forward, the car coming to a violent stop. Nathaniel’s arm went up to protect her from flying forward so fast she didn’t see it until it was there.
    He hit the button. “Nigel! What happened?”
    Muffled swearing grew louder as the divider rolled down for an explanation. Nathaniel drew back his hand. Michelle crossed her legs in the other direction.
    “Sorry, sir! Some asshole ran a red light! Then he acted like it was my fault and flipped me off! Fucking people!”
    Nathaniel smiled. “It’s alright Nigel.”
    “We’re just a block away now. Hang on. Sorry, Miss.”
    “I’m fine. And I love rollercoasters.”
    A grateful look passed over the driver’s face, visible through the rearview as he continued on their journey.
    Nathaniel looked out the window watching the final cluster of popular storefronts pass by. “We’ll leave the flowers here, if that’s okay.”
    “As long as they’re safe,” she teased.
    He met her eyes with disarming sobriety. “Nothing will happen while I’m around.”
    She stared at him and nodded, knowing he truly meant that. The car came to a stop and the door next to her opened a moment later. She took Nigel’s offered hand and rose out of the limo while Nathaniel let himself out on the other side.
    He waited for her to be brought to him on the sidewalk, watching her walk to him, with unabashed admiration. “Thank you, Nigel. I’ll call you when we’re ready.” When she stepped onto the curb, he took her hand. “You like steak?”
    She smiled. “I’m a meat and potatoes type of girl.”
    As he led her into a restaurant chosen to impress, he said, under his breath, “You’re a woman, not a girl.” She watched his profile as he glanced around the dimly lit restaurant. There weren’t many windows