He adjusted his hold, allowing her to pull away and put some space between them. Both man and beast disliked the idea that the woman might be frightened, no matter how horny they were. He moved slowly, guiding her around the dance floor. As arousal slowly replaced the smell of fear, he tightened every muscle in his body, striving for control.
His hands ached to cup her bottom, to feel the heaviness of her body. Her tension eased and he placed both hands on the upper curves of her hip. When she didn’t protest the intimate touch, he squeezed the ripe flesh, letting his fingers splay, his hands cradle the impressive width. That earned him a small feminine glare. He didn’t know if it was because of his intimate touch or where he caressed her. He knew some women were self-conscious of their curves. She’d have to get use to him gripping her hips because he planned on burying himself inside her from behind on many, many occasions.
He wasn’t surprised that when the song ended she tugged at his wrists until he moved his hands. He was grateful she’d allowed his touch as long as she had. Entwining his fingers with hers, he moved them off the dance floor and back to their booth. He knew he was overwhelming her. That his bear, still hidden inside, was overwhelming her. He had a feeling if he let her go completely she would take the first opportunity and run out the front door.
Paige followed Quinn as he led her from the dance floor, her heart still hammering in her chest. She was in such deep shit. Without even trying, the man was turning her into a mass of need. She hadn’t protested when his hands had skimmed over her sides and grabbed a handful of her ass. Never had she liked a man’s hand on her body where he could feel the overabundant rolls of flesh, but she’d been a minute away from begging him to caress each and every one of them.
Their appetizers had arrived while they were gone along with another glass of wine and a bottle of beer. “Uh, shouldn’t you sit on your side of the booth?” she asked when she slid into her side of the booth and Quinn followed closely behind her.
“It’s too lonely over there, darlin’. I like it much better over here.”
“But it’s crowded.” Paige nudged his shoulder with hers, hoping he’d take the hint. There was too much of him, way too close to her. His thigh bumped against hers and she forgot to breathe. She was drowning, drowning in the uncharacteristic lust flooding through her. She wished she had the courage to rip open her blouse and offer herself to him as the first course. The air was thick with longing. Mostly hers, she guessed. Though by the way he was looking at her, some could be his.
“That’s all right, I’ll just eat one-handed.” He put his big arm on the rear of the booth, its massive size hanging over the edge and rubbing against her shoulders. “I can do a lot of things one handed.”
He winked again and Paige’s panties got a little wetter thinking about what he did one handed. She glanced at his lap and saw the large bulge that was still there. Dang, he was big. Would it take both of her hands to wrap around his width?
Even though she wasn’t Quinn’s fated mate, it didn’t mean the bear shifter might not be interested in having a little fun with her. His sister had said he wanted to dip his toes into the relationship waters while trying to find his mate. And she needed someone to help rebuild her self-confidence after her last boyfriend. Maybe they could help each other.
Paige’s heart hadn’t been broken. Just severely bruised by the last man she’d been in a relationship with. When they had hit it off so well, she’d thought he might have been the one. She’d even been willing to overlook the fact that the sex was nothing to write home about. Being a realist, she couldn’t blame a man for not wanting her as passionately as she’d always dreamed someone would. That kind of passion belonged to those thin, skinny blondes. Something Paige would never be, and, frankly, didn’t want to be. She was quite happy with her size and shape, she just had a few insecurities about certain parts of her body.
That didn’t mean she wanted a passionless relationship, which was why she’d said goodbye to Dave. That and the fact that he turned out to be a complete ass wipe. He’d left her owing two months back rent and cleaned out their joint savings account. Not to mention he’d been Facebooking other women the entire time they’d been together. The trifecta of loser boyfriend behavior.
Watching the flex of Quinn’s thigh as he settled in beside her, she thought what better way to get back in the game than with a gorgeous hunk of a bear shifter? Who, she was pretty sure wouldn’t turn down the chance to take a willing woman to bed, even if he was on the prowl for a mate. He was still a male, and Paige was more than willing.