“I’m assuming that guy wasn’t talking about a country club,” I whispered to Alexander as we made our way to the dinner table.

“No, angel. He wasn’t.”

I looked around and wondered how many other restaurant guests were club members. The world I had once considered exclusive to a small portion of the population was obviously more common than I thought. I shivered as I recalled the way Victor eyed me up and down.

“Ugh, he just gave me the creeps.”

“Yes, he has that effect on people,” Alexander agreed with a hint of venom in his voice. “I often wondered how he became so successful. His personality leaves much to be desired.”

When we reached the table, Luca was waiting for us with a bottle of wine in hand and a linen table napkin draped over one arm. Alexander removed his arm from around my waist so that I could slide into the booth that had been prepared for us. His hand lingered for a moment, tracing over the line of my hip, before he moved to sit beside me. Once we were settled, Luca held out a bottle of red for Alexander to inspect.

“Tonight’s main course will be Barley Risotto with Mushrooms and Gremolata. Mr. Donati has chosen to pair it with a 2006 Villa Gemma Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva.”

The words rolled off his tongue with ease, although I didn’t comprehend much more than barley, risotto, and mushrooms. I was reminded of how out of my element I could feel in Alexander’s world sometimes. While I was getting used to it, I would never lose my appreciation for Thai takeout and cheap white wine. Conversely, Alexander seemed to know exactly what Luca said and nodded his approval. After removing the cork, Luca poured a small amount of red wine into a stemmed glass for Alexander to sample.

“Exceptional vintage,” Alexander said with appreciation. He swirled the glass and took another sip before handing the empty glass to Luca.

After Luca poured the deep maroon liquid into two glasses, another server seemed to materialize out of thin air to place a basket of fresh bread and olive oil at our table. Steam wafted from the basket and provoked a rumble from my stomach. During cocktail hour, the only thing I managed to consume was a pancetta wrapped fig. While it was delicious, it was hardly enough to curb my appetite.

Once Luca and the other server were gone, I went to reach for the bread but Alexander beat me to it. Tearing off a piece of the loaf, he dipped it into a small bit of oil and brought it to my mouth. Accepting his offer, I opened my lips for him.

“You’re beautiful. So enticing and radiant,” he murmured.

I blushed at his compliment, never one to accept them graciously, as I moved my mouth around the warm and flakey crust. Swallowing the bread, I reached for my wine. However, Alexander caught my wrist and stopped me. As he had with the bread, he brought the glass to my lips. Feeling awkward over such a public display of intimacy, I gently pulled my wrist free and took the glass from his hand. I took a sip and met his gaze. His eyes were intense as always, but there was something more in them that I couldn’t quite place.

“Matteo has really outdone himself. The wait staff he hired –,” I began. I stopped short when I saw the way Alexander’s eyes flashed hot. Smoldering almost. Baffled, I asked, “What is it?”

“I’ve asked once, but now I’m going to ask you again. Are you trying to give me a hard on in public?”

“What in the world are you talking about? I haven’t done anything,” I laughed.

“Angel, you’re not wearing any panties.”

My eyes widened in surprise.

How could he possibly know that?

But then I remembered the way his hand lingered on my hip right before we sat down at the table. I was fairly confident that was the moment he discovered the absence of my usual lace undergarment.

“Look, I didn’t do it to be kinky,” I tried to explain. “It’s just that the dress is somewhat fitted through the hips and you could see my underwear and stocking lines through it. That’s all.”

“No stockings either?”

“Well, er –,” I faltered. “I have on thigh highs.”

His eyes burned even darker. I was familiar with that expression of burning hunger. I knew it all too well. Alexander was undeniably aroused. That knowledge caused a sudden tightening in my core and I squirmed a bit in my chair. To my astonishment, I felt his hand move up the side of my calf, over my knee and to my thigh. He squeezed, biting into the skin of my leg.

“No panties and not following my instructions. I did warn you that there would be punishment if you were gone for too long,” he reminded me. His voice reverberated through the hum of conversation and the gravely Louis Armstrong lyrics that piped through the overhead speakers.

“I wasn’t gone that long,” I practically squeaked.

I tried to move away, but he gripped tighter and rendered me immobile. My pulse quickened as his hand traveled up further. My breath caught in my throat.

“Angel, any amount of time you’re away from me is too long,” he said in a guttural tone.

I looked around the room. People were everywhere, conversing and eating, completely unaware of what was happening at the booth in the corner. To the casual observer, we were just two people enjoying dinner together. At least I hoped. I silently prayed that the tablecloth was long enough to hide Alexander’s roaming hand.

Inch by inch, his fingers crawled. For some ludicrous reason, the Itsy-Bitsy Spider song began to play in my head. As Alexander got closer to the mark, I began to feel slightly panicked. I glanced around the room again. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. All I saw were normal people enjoying a normal dinner. Except for our table. Nothing about this was normal.

“Alex,” I hissed. “People might see!”

“So what?” he replied to my horror. His voice was deep and husky, challenging me to deny him. When his fingers finally made contact with my sex, I sharply sucked in a gulp of air. My nipples tightened as he slid expertly over my folds until he found a slick bundle of nerves. The fear of being caught was appalling, yet so incredibly erotic at the same time.

He swiped up. Once. Twice. I stifled a moan as I tried to, once again, recall the length of the tablecloth.

It’s long enough to hide. Isn’t it?

It had to be. I was coming apart at the seams. It was all I could do to keep it together. The only thing stopping me from giving in was the fact that Luca was approaching our table. I clamped my legs closed tightly, but my plan to make Alexander stop backfired. I only succeeded in locking his fingers in place.

“Alex,” I breathed. “You have to stop. Luca is headed this way.”

A knowing smile curled up the edge of his lips and his sapphire blues flashed hot.

“Oh, no. This is your punishment, Miss Cole.”

My eyes widened from utter disbelief as I stared at him.

He couldn’t possibly…

My little devil friend twirled with glee as the angel erupted into flames. Luca was getting closer and closer, his arms laden with a tray or something or another. Probably food. I didn’t really care what it was. Alexander had to stop this madness. At the sound of Luca’s voice, my head snapped to attention. I was sure my cheeks were flushed, but I put on the most innocent smile I could muster.

“May I present the first course of the evening. Artichoke Parmesan Crostini and marinated olives. I see you are enjoying the bread and bagna cauda. Can I get you anything else?”

Bagna what?

I couldn’t process Luca’s words. Alexander’s woodsy cologne combined with his wandering fingers clouded my thinking. I grabbed my wine and took a sip in order to avoid speaking. The wine warmed my throat as it went down. I had barely swallowed when Alexander pushed a finger inside, twirling and teasing around my clenched entrance. I wanted to grind shamelessly into his hand, but I couldn’t. We were in a restaurant. Luca was only a mere few feet away. However, none of that mattered to Alexander. He was intentionally driving me to the point of madness.

“I’m all set for now. Everything looks delicious,” Alexander told Luca. “Krystina? How about you? Do you need anything?”

I was thankful that I already swallowed my wine. If I hadn’t, I might have spit it out all over the table right then and there. I looked to Luca who was patiently awaiting my response. I tried not to think about the fingers that were still probing my sensitive tissues.

“I’m good,” I told him, my voice sounding strained to my own ears. The warm trail that began with the wine was now ablaze with flames brought on by Alexander’s merciless exploration.

“Very good then. I’ll be back to check on you momentarily,” Luca responded with a slight bow before leaving our table once more. He seemed completely unaware of my suffering, yet how I managed to get through that was beyond me. Air expelled from my lungs in a whoosh and I started to tremble.

“My, my. That was an Academy Award winning performance, Miss Cole. I’m impressed.”

“I can’t believe you did that,” I hissed, struggling to maintain control.

Heat pulsed through the blood in my veins as he continued to stroke. Regardless of our setting, Alexander always knew how to get me off. My orgasm was building. I could feel it. I wanted nothing more than to spread my legs wider and grant him full access. I was so close, desperate to feel the incredible height that only Alexander could bring me to.

However, I was intensely aware of the people around us. I would need to deliver more than an Academy Award performance if I wanted to conceal the pleasure that was seconds away from tearing through my body. My gaze met his. His stare was intense as he continued to massage my clit with rapid circles. I couldn’t look at him. Instead, I closed my eyes and tried to be still, as if nothing out of the ordinary was going on.

My core had just begun to deliciously tighten, when all at once the incredible release I craved was viciously snatched away. I opened my eyes in shock and looked at Alexander. His hand was no longer under the table, but reaching to sample the crostini. I stared in awe as he casually took a bite, chewed, and then slowly licked his fingers clean.

“My favorite,” he said and eyed me seductively. I knew he wasn’t referring to the food.

He’s toying with me.

Just fifteen minutes earlier, I was aghast at the idea of doing anything sexual in the middle of a crowded restaurant. However, in the blink of an eye, Alexander had me throwing caution to the wind, helpless under his magic. Now here I sat, about to combust from overwhelming sexual frustration.

A wicked smile wrapped around the finger he sucked, making me suspicious of the casual way he slid each finger between his lips. I knew then that this was not a game.

“You aren’t going to let me finish, are you?” I whispered incredulously.

“Only I say when, angel.”

My scowl turned into a full-blown pout. This was, without a doubt, the worst punishment he had ever doled out. It was nothing short of torture. I picked up my wine and threw back a huge gulp. Flustered by my desire and newfound irritation, I channeled my emotion into the food by adding a few olives to my plate. This was going to be the longest dinner of my life.