at this place and this evening as the night we got our second chance.
After helping me into my chair, Tyler sat down opposite me, his eyes glued to mine. His gaze was the perfect combination of endearing and carnal, showing me that he revered me but also wanted me in such a way that he had never craved another human being.
“I hope you don’t mind,” he began, breaking the silence between us. “Not to sound selfish, but I kind of wanted it to be just us tonight. Is that okay?”
“It’s too bad. I was really looking forward to having to talk loud just so you could hear me,” I joked.
“I missed that smart mouth of yours,” Tyler retorted, winking.
“Is that all you missed?”
He slowly shook his head. “No. Certainly not.”
“Well, tell me. What else did you miss? Oh, I’m sorry,” I added quickly. “I’m breaking the rules.” Grinning, I bit my lower lip. “Truth or dare.”
Tyler’s expression grew wide before his face settled into a brilliant smile. He grabbed a bottle of sparkling water off the table and poured some for me and himself, then placed the bottle back on the table. “Are you sure you want to play this game, Mackenzie?”
“Tyler,” I began, grasping his hand, “I don’t want to forget all the memories I have of you. Do I want to start over? Of course, but I know I saw part of the real Tyler during those two weeks, particularly when you took me here for lunch and we started playing Truth or Dare. You’ve got a playful streak and that lunch was the first time I saw it. So I don’t ever want to stop playing Truth or Dare with you.”
He brushed his fingers across my knuckle just as a gentle breeze blew. There was a light humidity in the air, but it was unseasonably cool for the end of July, making it a pleasant evening to be sitting outside and enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner as we rediscovered us.
“So is that what you like about me? My playful side?”
Freeing my hands from his, I took a sip of water. “I like all the sides of you. I love those moments when I don’t see the brooding, mystery man who picked me up at a bar back in March. Don’t get me wrong. I love your dominance, even though I shouldn’t.”
“Why not?” he asked, rubbing his hands under his chin.
“I don’t know. I swore I would always be the one in charge, that I would keep control over everything in my life…”
“And you do, Mackenzie. Even when I act dominant, as you call it, you still have all the control. You always have. Now, I think you were about to ask me a question.” He winked as I considered his words.
He was right. It was the mystery and intrigue as to who Tyler was that first attracted me to him. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Then, it was his power and dominance which flamed my longing for him even more. But I held all the control from the beginning, even during our one night together. I had the power to walk away, but I couldn’t, no more than I could now.
“Truth or dare?” I raised my eyebrows at him. Placing an olive on my tongue in a seductive manner, I saw his breathing grow shallow, his eyes glancing to the somewhat voluptuous cleavage of my halter dress.
“Truth,” he replied, his gaze intense.
“What else did you miss about me while you were away?”
His expression turned light, clearing the intensity between us for a moment. “Your eyes. I missed peering into them, trying to unwrap all of your layers. There’s a depth to you I saw that first night at the bar. I saw all the pain you were trying to bury under the façade you’ve put on the past few years. The hurt you still feel from having to hide who you truly are is painted in your eyes. I missed staring into them, trying to reassure you with my own eyes that everything would be okay, even if just for a minute.”
“What else?” I asked, almost breathless from the unequivocal sincerity etched on his face.
“Your body.”
I narrowed my gaze at him. “Oh really?”
He grinned. “Yes, really, but not like you’re thinking. I missed the feeling of falling asleep next to you at night, knowing I was there to keep you safe from harm. I was halfway around the world and felt utterly helpless, regardless of all