closer—the half-bitten truffle so close, I could smell the sweet buttery caramel. “This is how it begins.”
My breath caught in my throat. I wanted to taste it more than anything. The music pulsed around us, a melody of haunting violins and crashing cymbals. My heart fluttered as I gave in and closed my eyes.
“Open your mouth, Raven.” His voice was sensual and seductive.
I did as he said and parted my lips. The sweet gooey caramel slid across my tongue and as he nudged the truffle into my mouth, the tip of his finger grazed my lip. It sent a tingling sensation all the way down to the wet spot between my thighs.
I wanted more—more dark chocolate, more luscious caramel. More of his sticky sweet touch. I felt like I was losing my mind. When I opened my eyes, reality set back in. The whispers intensified and one table even snickered as they watched us. Yet Ozi only fixated on me. But no matter what the onlookers assumed, there was no way I was going to sleep with him tonight.
I would break her down and make her surrender. Make her beg for it.
The way she licked her lips…it took everything I had not to throw her over this table and fuck her till she could barely stand. If I had any wonder about her wanting me too, well, I didn’t have to wonder anymore. She was timid and it was clear that she had never known true pleasure before. Love, perhaps, but not true pleasures of the flesh.
Fuck those who gawked at us. Let them whisper. They were just jealous. Most humans were. I had her right where I wanted her—literally eating out of the palm of my hand. I didn’t give a shit about the rules or Enzo or even that she worked for me. I was a predator. Once I got a whiff of her scent, I couldn’t stop hunting her even if I wanted to.
After paying the check, I stood and rushed to help her with her coat. Monster or not, I was still a gentleman. “Let’s swing by my place before I take you home. I have a limited reserve Bordeaux I want you to taste.”
Raven leaned back on her high heels and arched an eyebrow at me. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Maybe another time.”
My heart raced. “So there will be a next time?” I’ll take that as a win. “Come on, darling. Let’s get you home.” I didn’t expect it would be that easy to get her into my bed, but it was worth a try. I had a feeling she wouldn’t be so quick to crack. That excited me all the more.
We pulled up in front of her place and she lingered in my car. “Thank you for a really nice night. The food was amazing and the company was…surprising.”
“How so?” I was curious to understand how her mind ticked.
She blushed and reached for the door handle. “You were more of a gentleman than I thought you’d be.”
I laughed. “Just say the word and I can change that. In all seriousness, Raven, this was a true pleasure. And I meant what I said, I will help you any way I can in your dreams to become a chef.”
She looked back and her eyelids fluttered. I couldn’t move. She had me frozen in place under her stare. Without warning, she slid closer to me across the leather seats. The carnal hunger clawed at me and I willed myself to not devour her. With her fragile fingers, she traced my lips. I let out a soft quiver and tried with all my power to restrain myself.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
She looked up at me with her big green eyes and shook her head. “I don’t know. But I’ve been wanting to do that all night.”
I clasped her hands in mine and drew them down into my lap. “What do you want right now?”
She licked her lips as she eyed me. “I…I had too much to drink. I’m sorry. I should go.” But she didn’t budge.
I leaned forward. Her hands were still inside mine and our lips were just inches apart. Her pulse raced. “Tell me to stop and I will,” I whispered.
She didn’t make a sound as she closed her eyes. The roundness of her lips puckered toward me and I had to push down the guttural growl that threatened to escape. I was going to claim her. She whimpered at the tickle