"I'm not sure," Gabe answered, "I'll have to check my schedule."
"Oh you must come!" Annabelle added, "Missy will be ecstatic to have you."
"We'll see," Gabe said simply.
"Well, we'd better get going. We don't want to interrupt your date, darling," Christy said as she reached down and gave Gabe a peck on the cheek.
Once they had walked off, Monica released the breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"So...," she began.
"So…," he replied, not sure what to say.
"Who were they?" she finally asked, unable to contain her curiosity.
"They were old acquaintances of mine--well actually my ex-wife," Gabe answered.
She had been thoroughly enjoying their date up to that point. It felt like Christy and Annabelle had splashed cold water all over her evening. She realized how out of her league she was when she compared herself to them. They were beautiful and had bodies to die for. She was sure they had guys knocking down their doors. Monica realized with a pit in her stomach, that these were the type of women Gabe dated and found attractive. As if sensing her mood, Gabe reached out and squeezed her hand over the table. She looked at him and he smiled at her reassuringly.
"Forget about them," he said. "A perk of being divorced is I don't have to see them often anymore."
Monica smiled at him, aware again of how he could say all the right words to lift her spirits.
"I'm sorry. I'm not usually so…sensitive."
"Don't worry about it," he assured her, "They make the hair on the back of my neck stand up too. I always feel like prey when they're around, like they're waiting to pounce on me." He shivered to illustrate his point. Monica laughed at his antics, and let herself relax in his company again.
"You're a great guy, you know that Gabe?" she said after a while.
Gabe blushed under her praise and she was even more enchanted. She boldly reached out her hand and placed it on top of his larger one and squeezed. "You're not like anyone else I've met before."
"You're not like anyone I've met before either, Monica," he said.
"See? Most guys would be running for the hills if I said that on the first date, but you're different."
"Like I said, I know a good thing when I see it. It's a skill I've honed over the years," he replied seductively.
Monica felt the heat creep up her neck and in between her thighs. She was excited and nervous about Gabe's growing boldness. The wine had relaxed her inhibitions and she was responding to his words as if she were under a spell. His spell. She hadn't been with a guy in so long, her body was tingling with anticipation.
"Hmm what other skills have you honed over the years?" she asked flirtatiously.
He licked his soft lips before giving her a slow sensual smile.
"If you're lucky, I'll show you later on," he answered in a low voice.
Monica's body thrilled at the low seductive growl of his voice and the promise of what lay ahead. She was breathing heavily as she gave him a shy smile.
"I'd like that," she whispered breathlessly.
Gabe called for the check immediately. He dismissed Monica's attempts to split the bill with him, handing the waiter his black American Express card. Once they left the restaurant, Gabe pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed her passionately. His tongue parted her lips and he slipped in, tasting the wine still on her tongue. He broke the kiss once his car had arrived from valet parking. Their breathing was heavy as he looked down at her, lust in his eyes.
"I've wanted to do that since I first saw you," he said huskily.
"We've got all night," Monica answered, surprised at her own boldness.
Gabe's eyes darkened as he looked at her. Grabbing her hand, he led her to his silver Porsche and opened the door for her to get in. Monica was a ball of lust and nerves. Her own needs were crying out loudly to be satisfied, but she so wanted to please Gabe. He had been the perfect gentleman all evening, but she could tell he was barely holding onto his restraint. He looked like he wanted to devour her, and she loved it. She had never felt so desired in all her life. Placing her hand on his thigh, she began to rub up and down.
Gabe sucked in a breath as he felt her hand inch closer and closer to the sizable bulge in his pants.
"If you keep doing that, I'm going to have to pull the car over and take you on the side of the road," he said hoarsely.
Monica quirked an eyebrow at him, teasingly. She loved the effect she was having on him and felt powerful and in control.
"I might like that very much," she responded.
Gabe looked at her hungrily. She could tell he was debating whether to pull over or not. He finally grabbed her hand that was on his thigh and kissed it.