Marisa Chenery - Forever Claimed

"Since this was my idea, I'll get us our food. You can stay here and save the table.

What would you like?"

Algar scanned the food places. There were quite a few varieties. "I'll have whatever you're having. Here, this should be enough." He pulled out his wallet and took out enough pound notes to cover both his and Kamryn's meals.

She shook her head. "It'll be my treat."

Taking her hand, he put the money in her palm and closed her fingers over it. "I insist. I’m an old-fashioned kind of guy. I won't let the woman I'm out with pay for our meals, and don't even suggest we go Dutch."

"All right, you win. I'm thinking of getting Indian."

"Sounds good."

Algar watched Kamryn head over to the place that sold Indian food. His gaze fell to the sway of her hips when she wove her way between and around the tables. The longer he spent with her the more he craved her. As soon as they finished eating, he would take her someplace not so crowded. Hopefully, she would invite him to her hotel room . . . because she made him hungry. And not for food.

Once she got in line, Kamryn looked over at the table where Algar sat. His gaze was locked on her. She smiled and turned away as the line inched forward, and still she felt him watching when she reached the front to place their orders. She barely stopped herself from smiling like a goof at the woman who worked behind the counter.

To say she was enjoying her time with Algar was an understatement. He had an easy way about him that made her feel comfortable. It usually took her a while to feel that way around a man she'd just met, but that wasn't the case with Algar. She definitely wanted to see where things would go with him today. He was obviously interested in her. His shooing off that sales clerk while he'd held her possessively against his side said as much. Algar hadn't liked the idea of her talking to another man.

Some women may not have liked his show of jealously, but Kamryn didn't mind at all.

For her, a little bit of jealous attentive behavior was better than complete indifference.

One guy she'd dated had been like that. She could have given another man a lap dance and he wouldn't have batted an eye.

Kamryn paid for the food, and, with tray in hand, made her way back to the table. Algar accepted the paper plate she handed him and waited until she had her food in front of her before he started to eat.

She watched him put the first forkful into his mouth. He chewed slowly then swallowed.

"Well? What do you think of your first taste of food court fare?" she asked.

He nodded. "Not bad. I haven't had a lot of Indian food, but this is pretty good, considering where it comes from."

Kamryn picked up her plastic fork. "See. I told you the food wouldn't be bad. It may be cheap and fast, but you can get a good meal."

Algar visibly cringed when a small child at one of the tables near them let out a loud shriek. "The only thing I would change would be the atmosphere."

"I suppose when you're not used to it the noise can be annoying."

"No offense, but I usually prefer to eat in a place that is quieter and a lot less crowded. One more shriek and my ears will start to bleed."

Kamryn couldn't hold back a laugh even though she had a feeling Algar was partly serious. His hearing must be a lot better than hers was if a child's shouts affected him that much. "Once we're done eating we can leave." A bit unsure how Algar would take her next suggestion, she looked down and pushed her food around on her plate.

"We can go back to my hotel room if you want. It'll be nice and quiet there."

When Algar didn't respond right away, Kamryn quickly stammered, "If . . . if you don't want to, I'll totally understand. I'm not asking you to sleep with me. I just thought it would be a good place to get to know each other better."

She looked up when he reached a large hand across the table and stilled hers from pushing around her food nervously. She lifted her head, her gaze meeting his, and she saw the hunger lurking behind his eyes. Her mouth went dry. His stare made her nipples tighten and caused an ache to pulse between her legs. Algar's nostrils flared when he took a deep breath and his hand tightened on hers. If anything, his gaze grew even more heated.

"Of course I want to go back to your hotel room," he said in a voice that had gotten deeper and huskier. "If you don't want to have sex, that's fine. But if you want to have sex, that's fine with me as well." Algar looked suggestively to her lips.

Kamryn bit the inside of her cheek to stop from moaning with want. Wetness pooled between her legs and she resisted the urge to squeeze them together to try and alleviate the ache pounding in time with her rapid heartbeat.

Things between her and Algar seemed to be moving fast, but Kamryn didn't want to slow it down. She had two weeks in England. Not much time to even think she could develop a serious relationship, but there was no reason she couldn't enjoy Algar while she had the opportunity. With the big three-oh creeping ever closer and with no other prospective relationship in sight, why couldn't she seize the moment Algar was offering and see where it would lead? She was a grown woman with needs like everyone else. And, God, did Algar stir those needs inside her. She'd be crazy to pass up the intimacy he seemed willing to give.

Now that she'd convinced herself, Kamryn said what she'd never had the courage to say to another man before. "Sex would be good, and the bed in my room is definitely big enough for the two of us."

Algar let out a low groan deep inside his throat and released her hand. "Eat.

Fast." He then proceeded to shovel his food into his mouth.

After they finished their lunch in what seemed like record time, Algar had Kamryn by her elbow and hurried her out of the food court. Not that she minded.

While they'd eaten, Algar had watched her, his hunger-filled gaze growing hotter as the minutes passed. Once her plate was empty, he'd picked up the tray and dumped their garbage. He returned to the table and silently held out his hand for her to take.

Now, they hurriedly made their way to the mall's entrance, and Kamryn became more aroused as she thought about what she was about to do. Algar didn't slow their pace until they reached his Jaguar. Once he had her strapped in, he slipped into the driver's seat, and they were pulling out of the mall's parking lot within seconds.

At her hotel, Algar parked in the visitor parking and whisked her into the lobby.

Inside the elevator, Kamryn pushed the button for her floor. Though they were alone, he made no move to touch her. He silently followed her off the elevator when it stopped and then to her room. With hands that shook ever so slightly, she took the keycard from her purse and unlocked the door.

She didn't wait to see if Algar followed her inside as she stepped over the threshold and crossed the room to the small round table. She put her purse, the shopping bag, and the keycard on the table. Kamryn jumped when Algar came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.

Slowly, he turned her so she faced him. "You're nervous."

"Kind of. I haven't done this before."

"You haven't had sex?"

She shook her head. "I didn't mean that. I've had sex before." She took a deep breath and swallowed. "I've never slept with a man I just met. I usually ease into it."

Algar smiled. "We can take our time. There's no rush." When she lowered her head, he put a finger under her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. "And just because we're going to sleep together now doesn't mean I'm going to leave as soon as we're done. I like you, Kamryn."

She felt her cheeks warm. "I like you, too."