Toxic - Zoe Blake Page 0,41

you honestly think I would allow anyone to witness the ethereal beauty of you in the middle of an orgasm?”

I relaxed back into his arms at the reassurance.

Picking up a small silver appetizer fork, Richard continued, “Now hearing one of your magnificent orgasms, that’s a different story.”

Gasping, I playfully hit his shoulder. “Richard!”

He held a morsel up to my lips.

“Open your mouth,” he ordered suggestively.

Running my closed lips along the tines of the fork, the bite of food was both salty and sweet. Covering my mouth with my fingertips, I asked while still chewing, “That is so good. What is it?”

“The dish is called sarcive. It’s thinly sliced pork belly cooked in honey and spices served with a coriander puree,” answered Richard as he popped a bite into his mouth.

“It’s delicious.”

“I’m glad you like it. The food tonight is from a little restaurant in The Batignolles neighborhood called Le Faham. They specialize in flavors from the island of Reunion.”

“Reunion? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it.”

“It’s a small island near Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. It’s pleasant, though I prefer my islands a little more remote and isolated.”

Shaking my head, I laughed. “Only you would think a tiny island in the middle of the Indian Ocean was not isolated enough from civilization.”

Richard just smiled.

After feeding me a few more bites, I reluctantly returned to my own seat for the next course. It was a delicate white fish with carrots and bittersweet ginger over crispy white rice.

Richard made another suggestive remark about the ginger, which made my cheeks flame.

As they prepared the table for dessert, I looked out at the twinkling city lights. I imagined all those millions of people below, going about their lives. For some this was home, for others a once-in-a-lifetime romantic trip. Some were probably deliriously happy, others terribly depressed. So many different lives. So many different stories and yet, not one of them came close to the drama, excitement, and pure craziness of our love story.

I returned my gaze to Richard. The hard lines of his jaw and brow were softened in the candlelight. Still, his eyes glowed a dark sapphire, the color of the deep ocean. He was just as unfathomable. Just when I thought I had him… had us… figured out, a squall would appear and wash away everything I thought I knew.

Where was all this leading?

Was a happy ending even possible for us?

Two people addicted to the twisted adrenaline rush of pain and lust.

A roller coaster racing to the top of a vicious drop…

A server interrupted my pensive thoughts as he placed a small charcoal-colored bowl in front of me.

“This is a Chocolate Vibrato with a crunchy meringue and lemongrass tea with an Assam berry sorbet,” he said, rolling his consonants in heavily accented English.

Richard swiped a spoon through the sorbet and held it to my lips. As the tart sweetness melted onto my tongue, he divulged, “Eat up. My next game is about to begin.”

Chapter 16

Lizzie

Just like that… the roller coaster tipped over the top and tumbled down the track into the darkness… only to climb up the very next rise.

I heard a minor commotion on the other side of the apartment door just as we rose from the table. A server immediately approached Richard with something dark draped over his arms. As we got closer, I realized they were furs.

Selecting the top one, Richard held the coat up as I pushed my arms through before he draped it over my shoulders.

As he shrugged into his own fur coat, I stroked my hand down the luxurious softness. Looking up at him in wonder, he winked at me. “It’s chilly outside on the parapet,” he offered as he stepped closer and placed a finger under my chin. “I don’t want my little one to feel cold ever again.”

Understanding his double meaning, I lowered my eyes and nodded.

Message received.

I’m pretty sure the violinist played ‘Heaven’ by Julia Michaels just as we stepped out into the night.

Falling for him… was like falling from grace.

I suspected the violinist knew something I didn’t… or perhaps I did but just didn’t want to face it.

The heights were dizzying as the wind whipped around us. As I snuggled closer inside my fur, I could see what had caused the commotion. Surrounding the iron railing were numerous women. Their backs were turned to us as they faced out to the city. All I could tell was they were all dressed in the same black cocktail dress with their hair