and turn my face to look out the window. “We're here.” I say, seeing the sign for the restaurant. “But just so you know, and there isn't any confusion, playing is my favorite thing to do.” Smirking, I wink.
The limo stops and the valet comes, pulling the door open, and leaving her no time to lash out at me. I can see it in her eyes though, her fiery tongue, ready to spit facts and tasks in my face.
I step out, turning back to offer my hand to Sylvia. She hesitates for a second. It's brief, but that second of hesitation makes my heart drum and my stomach curdle.
I don't want her to be mad at me for telling the truth or calling her out on bullshit. We're both adults, why dance around shit at all?
She can try to convince herself all she wants that this little charade is necessary, that without Daniel's brilliant idea, and her designing the building blocks for it, my entire world will fall apart.
The truth is I don't need anyone, I just like having people around me; and right now, I want Sylvia wrapped around me. All I want is more. She's a drug and I'm devising a way to get my next high.
Sucking in a deep breath of air, I rake my fingers through my hair. I don't want the night to keep going this way, with us arguing, so I bite my tongue and keep my hand out for her.
“Thanks,” she says softly, looking down at the ground as she finally takes my hand and lets me help her out.
“Chivalry is alive and well.” Smiling, I fold my arm behind my back and bow to her. Standing up straight, I bend my arm into my side. “Shall we?” I ask, holding my chin up high.
Sylvia smiles, a real, heartfelt smile, hooking her arm in mine. “You're a piece of work Phade Manson, you know that?”
“If I weren’t a piece of work, I'd just be like everybody else. That would make for one boring life.” Tipping my head toward the entrance, I flash a smile. “Come on, I'm starving.”
The hostess is already waiting for us inside. She smiles as we walk up to the hostess stand, glancing between us. “Welcome, Mr. Manson, right this way, your table is ready.” I touch Sylvia's lower back very gently, barely applying any pressure.
Goosebumps explode down her arms, and I feel her shiver against the pads of my fingers. I love those little bumps and seeing that reaction. I love watching her not have control over what her body shows me.
She can't hide the goosebumps, she can't stop the shiver, she can't mask the desire in her eyes or the way her body leans in, not away.
A small smile perches on my lips as I walk slightly behind her to the table. I'm tempted to touch her more, to see how many more goosebumps and shivers I can draw out of her body.
My eyes keep going to the exposed skin of her neck. I'm doing all I can to not just sink my teeth into her neck and nibble the tender flesh. She looks so delicious, so edible, so goddamn fuckable, it's killing me inside.
On the outside I'm staying cool, I'm maintaining this control and keeping myself sane. But inside, everything is burning like there's an inferno blazing throughout my body. My brain is like a fucking war zone, and unfortunately I'm not winning this battle.
I want to relive what we had the other night, feel her body on mine, feel my body in hers. We shouldn't be at a restaurant, we should be at my house, fucking till the sun comes up and neither of us can walk.
In my mind's eye, I'm throwing her over the closest table, tearing her dress up to her tits, and fucking her until she falls to her knees because she's lost all feeling in her legs.
“Here we are,” the hostess says, holding out her arm to a private, two person table tucked in the back. “Your waiter will be right with you.”
“Thank you,” I say politely.
Sylvia takes her seat, watching the hostess as she leaves. “Do this often?” she asks. Her tone is dry and cold, like a jealous girlfriend.
Ooh, sassy little thing.
“Not really, why?”
“Well, first off, they know you, and second they had a table ready for you. You're not new here, that's for sure.”
“Everyone knows who I am, Syl, from you, down to the damn cafeteria lunch lady in