The Proposition (The Proposition #1)(14)

“What sounds good?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“Oh, I don’t know,” she murmured, keeping her eyes firmly on the menu. Food was the farthest thought from her mind. All she could think about was what was going to happen after dinner. What would it feel like to finally be intimate with someone else again? Most of all, she worried she could never live up to the expectations he had set for her.

Emma was never more grateful when the waiter returned with her margarita. She tipped it up and took a long, fiery gulp, sucking half the glass down. She shuddered when the alcohol hit her stomach.

By the time the waiter took their food order, she had guzzled the scorching tequila heavy drink and ordered another one.

“I guess they make a pretty mean margarita here, huh?” Aidan asked with a tight smile.

She bobbed her head enthusiastically. “Totally.”

While Aidan launched into a conversation detailing his promotion to Vice President of marketing and how he was looking forward to all the traveling, Emma worked at draining her second margarita. She barely processed his ramblings about working overseas and within the country for business. Instead, she focused on slurping the liquid courage through the tiny straw. Without missing a beat, she waved the waiter over for another.

Aidan cut himself off mid-sentence and quirked his blonde eyebrows. “Are you trying to get drunk off your ass so you can endure ha**ng s*x with me?”

“No, no, that’s not it at all!” she cried.

He leaned in across the table. “You barely drank half of your margarita last week. Now you’re downing them like a lush fresh out of rehab.”

Emma drew in a deep breath, deciding it was best to be honest with him. “It’s just…I’m nervous that’s all.”

“About us sleeping together?”

Emma nodded.

Aidan’s brows creased. “Are you afraid I’m going to hurt you or make you do something you don’t want to?”

“No, it’s nothing like that.”

“Then what is it?” he demanded.

“I’m afraid of being a disappointment.”

His mouth fell open in disbelief. “How could you possibly think that?”

She shrugged. “Because you’ve been with a lot of women…I don’t have the experience. I’ve only been with one man, and outside of him, I don’t know what men want.”

“First of all, despite what the rumor mill says my number is relatively low, Emma. It’s not like I’ve f**ked half of the city, or I’m Gene Simmons from Kiss. And second, sex is basically the same premise no matter who you’re with. Different people bring different likes and desires to the table.”

She toyed with the straw in her drink. “I guess I’m afraid once you’ve been with me, you won’t want to follow through with our bargain.”

“Like I’d be so turned off by the experience I’d never want to sleep with you again?”

“Yes,” she murmured. When Aidan threw his head back and roared with laughter, her lip trembled slightly. “It’s not funny.”

His amusement quickly faded. “Oh Em, I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. It’s just I couldn’t imagine you would actually believe something like that.”

“Well, I did.” She sighed. “I do.”

He held up his index finger. “Let me make this abundantly clear. There is no way in hell you could ever disappoint me to where I wouldn’t want you.” He drew closer to her—his fiery breath singed the sensitive skin on her earlobe. “I get hard just looking at you.”

Emma’s cheeks flushed at his words. “I can’t believe you just said that!”

Aidan grinned. “It’s the truth. The moment I saw you tonight I wanted to sweep you upstairs.” Taking her hand, he ducked it under the tablecloth and brought it to his lap. “See what you do to me?”

Emma’s mouth ran dry at his words, and the fact he was already at half-mast just like Casey had wanted. She ran her tongue over her lips. The way he was staring at her made her body tingle from head to toe, especially between her legs. God, he was so sexy—a little too sexy for her liking. If he was able to get her so hot and bothered just sitting at the table, she couldn’t imagine what it would be like in bed with him. In that moment, her anticipation won out over her nerves. “I think I’m ready to go upstairs if you are.”

Aidan’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Even without dinner?”

She bobbed her head.

“Let me guess. You’re afraid you’ll lose your nerve?” he asked.

With the ridiculous amount of alcohol pumping through her system, she gave him a sultry smile. “No, I’m just ready for you to f**k me.” The moment the words escaped her lips, she gasped and ducked her head. “Oh my God, did I actually just say that?”

“You keep talking dirty, and I won’t be able to walk upstairs without giving away my condition to the whole room.” He quickly signaled the waiter for the check.

Once he had paid, Emma shot out of her chair, sending the room spinning around her. “Oh shit, I’m dizzy.”

Aidan grabbed her shoulders to steady her. “Are you going to be able to walk?”

“I think so. But whether or not I ever drink again is debatable.”