THIS WAS IT. Never had I been more nervous about a date than right now. My skin flushed, my core stirring expectantly with nerves and excitement. I drained the last of my wine and placed the glass in the dishwasher, careful not to chip my newly French manicured fingernails.
The pearl earrings my father gave me when I left matched the minaudière I’d purchased at a house clearance a few weeks ago. My eyes were smoky grey, my lips glistening with the sheen of pink gloss. A few strands of hair curled around my face, the rest twisted into a loose chignon at my nape.
The outfit Mai persuaded me to buy during Friday’s lunchtime shopping trip was beautiful, if a little more daring than I was used to. The embellished golden 1920s style flapper dress was sleeveless, with a scoop neckline and a deep ‘V’ cut back, showing a serious amount of flesh. The dropped waist gave way to a ruched skirt that hung above the knee.
If I had carpet, my metallic ankle-strap heeled sandals would have worn a hole in it from all the pacing I was doing in the lounge. I stopped to admire them for the umpteenth time and the co-ordinating shimmering bronze varnish on my toes. Mai called them “fuck me” shoes. They lengthened my legs and revealed the arches of my feet—an extremely erogenous zone. I heard a car outside, the sound of a door closing, then a few seconds later my intercom was pressed.
“Hi.” My voice was breathy when I answered.
“Hey, it’s me.” Nate’s tone was warm and inviting, if a little breathless, too.
“I’m on my way down.” I grabbed my clutch and exhaled a large breath of air as I locked my door and made my way downstairs. My steps faltered on the last step when I saw Nate staring back at me from outside. He looked good. Really good.
I opened the door and stepped into the muggy night air.
“Wow.” Nate’s voice hitched and he quietly cleared his throat. He stepped forward, lips grazing mine. I breathed in his cologne—a sensual exotic scent, reminiscent of a stroll through a Moroccan marketplace—allowing it to weave into my senses. “You look incredible.”
“So do you.” It had been such an unexpected kiss, I temporarily lost the ability to think or speak, fumbling with the clasp of my bag instead. Nate’s mouth twitched. He was dressed in black trousers and matching shirt. The undone top two buttons hinted at smooth tanned skin underneath. Effortlessly handsome, sensual eyes and smooth skin, never had I seen a man look so good. Or maybe it had been so long since I viewed one with as much admiration as I did Nate.
“Shall we?” With his hand at the small of my back, he guided me down the path. As his fingers skimmed the open cut of my dress, a soft sigh escaped my mouth.
A tall, burly man, mixed race and possibly mid-thirties, wearing a white shirt, dark tie and trousers, stood next to the rear door of a black Mercedes. It was the same car that had appeared at the wine bar. Nate opened my door and gestured me inside.
Settling beside me, Nate nodded up front as he buckled his seatbelt. “That’s my driver, Ross.”
I smiled shyly at Ross, his eyes acknowledging me in the rearview mirror. Nate lifted my hand to his mouth, kissing the back before lowering our joined hands to the seat between us. His lips sent a tingle up my arm, straight down my core, finally settling with a flutter in my stomach.
That sexual charge of tension hung in the air between us. I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry as my eyes drifted appreciatively over him. The shadows dancing over his face, combined with the inky black of his attire, gave him an extremely captivating, yet almost dangerous aura.
Dangerously beautiful—the perfect description. I didn’t stand a chance.
THE car stopped outside Cleo, a restaurant nestled beneath The Redbury in Hollywood. Nate joined me on the pavement and led me inside. As we walked across the checkerboard tiled floor of the subtly lit lobby, I began to relax. I knew Nate has chosen this establishment with me in mind. It was classy, but not ostentatious. It wasn’t somewhere to flash the cash and intimidate.
Nate guided me past the few patrons enjoying pre-dinner drinks at the bar. A sharp-suited maître de greeted us and led us through a large archway, an illuminated image of an actress from the golden era of silent Hollywood films dominating the wall in front of us.
Candles replaced the subdued mood lighting, flickering in red and blue tea lights on the tables. The hub of noise from the other diners chatter brought a different ambience to the place; it was vibrant and fun, yet remained intimate and romantic.
I slid onto the tan leather studded sofa and tucked my bag beside me. Nate sat, close enough so our legs touched beneath the table. After handing us menus and informing us of the specials, the waiter agreed to bring water before disappearing into the darkness.
“Have you eaten here before?” I regretted the question immediately. Nate bringing other dates here was information I didn’t care to know.
“Never,” he quickly reassured, smiling guiltily, “but I’ve had takeout enough times to know the food’s great.”
I scanned the dozens of dishes on the menu but could barely read it. Too self-conscious and not wanting to put on my glasses, I said, “It’s going to be tough choosing, everything sounds delicious.”
“I can order for us if you like, baby?” The tenderly spoken term of endearment made my already rapid pulse leap.
I exhaled in a rush, relieved. “That sounds perfect.”
The flick of his tongue over his lips drew my gaze to his mouth. I remembered how great they were to kiss and how badly I wanted to do it again. Gently, Nate teased my bottom lip from my teeth with his thumb. I hadn’t appreciated I was biting it. “Dinner will be over before we’ve even eaten if you keep looking at me like that,” he muttered roughly.
The waiter interrupted, so whilst Nate ordered, I took a large gulp of chilled water. The whisper of his words still vibrated through me, the question of how the night would end never far from my thoughts. Nate squeezed my hand, then trapped it between both of his.
“I’m so glad you said yes, Kara.” He spoke quietly, his eyes fixed on our hands, drawing my own to the same place.
I wasn’t sure if it was Nate or the atmosphere, possibly both, but I was being seduced in the most unassuming way. “You’re hard to say no to.” In this intimate setting, I was incredibly turned on, and rubbed my leg intentionally against his.
His head jerked up. He studied me without a word, yet his eyes screamed of his hunger for me. It took a minute for us to acknowledge the sommelier presenting a bottle of vintage Veuve Clicquot.
“Champagne?” I asked Nate as two flutes of my favourite celebratory drink were poured.
“We’re celebrating.” He handed me one then raised his. “To finally having dinner.”
I took a welcome sip, unable to take my eyes off him. My mind raced with thoughts of kissing, touching and feeling him against me. Skin to skin. It was so unlike me. Yet when Nate pierced me with a focused gaze, it was easy to forget the woman I thought I was. In that second, I was all he could see, all he noticed. And I was everything I wanted to be.
An array of dips in bowls, with flatbreads wrapped in brown paper bags, arrived at our table. I sat forward for a closer inspection, tearing off some bread whilst deliberating which to try first. “This looks good, you chose well.”
Nate’s mouth curled at the corners as he did the same, diving straight in and spreading a generous amount over his. “Try this one,” he said, offering it to me.
My hand curved around his and brought it to my mouth, catching his thumb as I ate it. “Mmm,” I swallowed, “delicious.” Nate’s eyes dropped to my mouth, his glazed expression as he sucked the pad of his thumb afterwards making all the muscles low in my stomach clench.
I sipped my champagne, keeping my eyes on him as he attempted to regain his composure. “How was your trip?”
“Good,” he said, preparing some food for himself, “we resolved a lot of issues.”
“Where did you go?”
“New York, mainly.” His lips pressed into a tight smile as he grew distant, consumed by his thoughts.
“That’s on my bucket list.” I’d explored the West Coast, but the East was still unknown territory. I had been in line for a possible secondment to Morgan Sanders’ New York office upon completion of my exams, but it all got royally screwed up when I left.
“Unfortunately, this was all business. There was definitely no pleasure,” he stated harshly. With his lips to his glass, he went on. “I had a brief visit to Rhode Island to meet some students at RISD, then spent two stressful days brainstorming with Star.”
Star Airlines were the No.1 domestic airline in the US and top five internationally. They were revamping their image, expanding into the Asian domestic market, and wanted the leading brand consultants to undertake the daunting task. “Securing that contract must’ve been a real coup.”
“Trust me,” Nate said grimly, setting his knife down, “it wasn’t.”
I wasn’t sure why he was playing down his success and achievement. “Rumour has it they specifically wanted you and RED, and that our competitors never got a look in. It should be very lucrative for you. I’m impressed.”
An uneasy laugh escaped his mouth as he sat back, draping an arm over the back of the chair so his fingers touched my shoulders. “Spoken like a true accountant. You probably know more about my financial affairs than I do.”
His presumption made me uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, I meant impressed by your revered reputation, not by how much money you’ll make. I wasn’t being personal.” Shrugging off his touch, I drained my glass. “Just to be clear, I don’t have access to any of your private accounts. I have no idea how wealthy you are.”
“Hey,” he said, sitting forward, “that information is common knowledge, give or take a few zeroes.” He cocked his head, his lips curling. “I can’t control public information. It’s why I strive to keep everything else private.” His smile faded. “It can be expensive sometimes.”
The sommelier had poured a Sancerre, and the waiter was back to clear the table before another array of tempting delicacies were placed before us. Some sizzled on hot plates, sending steam into the air, leaving behind a pleasant spicy aroma. I drank my wine whilst the waiter dished couscous into bowls followed by some sort of hot broth.
Talk of privacy reminded me of Mai’s internet discovery. I twisted the napkin laying across my lap, wondering whether I should raise it with Nate, but not wanting to spoil the evening.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as he dished some meat into our bowls and passed one over.
“There was a photo…online.” I pushed a piece of chicken around with the back of my fork. Nate deliberated my words, his demeanour giving nothing away. “We were…together.”
I dropped my fork and sank into the chair, searching his broad back, trying to gauge his thoughts. Calmly, Nate reached for his water.
“I know,” he said flatly, taking a sip.
“I had nothing to do with it,” I quickly reassured him.
His eyes shot to mine. “Why would I think you did?” He scanned my face, attempting to fathom something out. Then he cupped my nape, urging me forward until our mouths collided in a fervent embrace. Lust flamed my body, any concerns over this very public display of affection disappearing, overtaken with the way I was responding to his decadent exploration of my mouth. I wanted more, but he broke away, leaving me panting. A devilish grin played over his face as he nudged his nose against mine.
“They can have as many pictures as they want if we get to kiss like that again. Let’s give them something to talk about.” He caressed my cheek. “C’mon, you have to try this food.”
“It did taste good,” I admitted with a shy smile.
Grinning, he handed me my fork and waited until I started eating before resuming his meal. He guarded his privacy fiercely, so the fact he appeared unperturbed by this and understood I wasn’t out to benefit from it, spoke volumes of his opinion of me. But I needed more reassurances before taking this further. Damn my insecurities.
With my bowl almost empty I broached the subject, but not before taking a large gulp of wine for courage. Nate relaxed, one hand on my leg, the other holding his wine. He smiled contentedly, his thumb stroking back and forth across my knee.
“So…what are we doing here, Nate?” I waved a hand through the space between us.
His brow creased. “Having a long overdue dinner date?”
I was suddenly bold, perhaps it was the wine talking, but I had to know if he thought this was going anywhere. “If we end up sleeping together tonight—what then?”
“Then we’d be two very satisfied people in the morning,” he rasped, curving his hand around my knee with a gentle pressure that resonated at the top of my legs.
“You’re that confident in your prowess?” I crossed my legs, snaking my left arm through his right and cuddling into him.
“And yours.” Nate’s eyes held a predatory gleam, his smile full of sexual promise. “When we fuck, you know it’s going to be good.”
And I did. Explosively good. It was all I’d thought about since agreeing to this. “But I want more than that. I want the drama. I want all the impossible guarantees no one ever has in a relationship. You don’t.”
His voice deepened. “Don’t be so sure about that.”
“It’s what you said.” I twisted his platinum cufflink between my fingers. “I know what you want, and I could easily give it to you. I just—”
“You want to.” Insightful eyes met mine. Feeling like he could read my soul, I dropped my gaze to the flickering candles on the table.
“A man like you isn’t interested in dating exclusively or anything long-term.”
Nate nodded his approval for the waiter who’d returned to clear the table, waiting until we were alone again to resume the conversation. “But that’s what you want?”
As much as I desired him, in a stark moment of clarity I realised I couldn’t go through with a one night stand. Sexually, Nate was arrogant without being cocky, an attribute I surprisingly found alluring. My body responded to his touch in ways it never had before, inspiring me to test my boundaries, take risks, be a better, bolder version of my old self. Nate drew it out without even realising. But it was better to be upfront and save myself the suffering in the long-term.
“Yes,” I replied simply.
“Do we really need defining right now?” He set his glass on the table with a frustrated sigh. “Let’s just enjoy ourselves, see what happens.”
“I like you, Nate. More than I have anyone in a long time. But I deserve more. I’m putting myself out there, but I can’t go through it all again…” My whispered voice trailed off to nothing.
Nate studied me closely, his mood impalpable, for a long time before responding with unwavering certainty. “I’m a red-blooded male who thinks you’re sexy as hell, with a firm belief we’d be great together. And I’m damn sure after we’ve slept together, I’ll want to do it again. And again.”
I shook my head, astonished he saw me that way. Nate laced his fingers with mine and raised them to his mouth, warm lips grazing my knuckles. “If I thought I could have a fulfilling relationship,” he continued, his voice softening, “I’d take it in a heartbeat.”
“You would?”
He nodded and blinked away, avoiding eye contact. I was so engrossed in him, I hadn’t appreciated how hard I was squeezing his hand until I felt his fingers flexing in mine. When he faced me again, his expression was deathly serious. Crap.
“I love my family, have great friends, and a career that has surpassed anything I could ever have imagined.” Nate paused, regarding me pensively. “I’d say I’ve had my fair share of good fortune, considering.” All the lightness in his voice had gone, his jaw clenched tight. “That’s no consolation when I’m alone at night in my bed…”
I was transfixed by his eyes. They were so big, the window to his soul wide open and spilling from his mouth. My free hand cuddling his arm bunched in the Italian cotton of his shirtsleeve.
“Everyone aspires to that one all-consuming love,” he said earnestly. “Love that overwhelms you, takes your breath away, drives you insane. I’m no exception.”
His response was unexpected, leaving me unsure what to say. After a minute, he straightened, forcing me away from his side. From his rigid body language, it had caught him off-guard as well. Unaware I’d been holding it, I released my breath and tried processing what just happened in my muddled thoughts.
Slowly, Nate ran a hand through his hair and exhaled, causing the few strands falling over his forehead to lift in the breeze. “You did it again.” He glanced sideways, catching my puzzled expression. “Why can’t I engage my brain to mouth function around you?”
“I’d be happy simply engaging my brain,” I said, beginning to smile. “You make me lose all common sense.”
Nate laughed quietly as he shifted to face me. Tilting my chin up, he gazed at me for a long minute before pressing his lips tenderly to mine.
“Your entrees.” The waiter cleared his throat when neither of us acknowledged him.
“We won’t need those,” Nate told him, eyes never leaving mine, “just the check.”