Chapter5
Savannah found Lucas in her thoughts much more often than not from the minute she got off of the phone with him until he picked her up and took her to a little hideaway restaurant. Hudson Clearwater was on Hudson Street in Greenwich Village, and she quickly saw that Lucas was right about only being able to find it if you already knew where it was.
There was no sign outside; there was no indication at all that there was anything other than a sweet little street in a regular little neighborhood. They strolled down the sidewalk past a long red brick wall, her hand in his, their fingers entwined, when suddenly, he stopped before a rather plain looking dark green door.
Giving her a smile, he reached for the door handle. She stared at the red brick wall and the green door and blinked. “What… what is that?”
“It’s the restaurant. It’s a speakeasy. Come on.” He opened the door and led her into a courtyard, closing the door behind him. The courtyard was filled with little patio tables and chairs, all set about beneath a tree covered in pretty, soft, glowing lights.
“Oh my gosh…” she trailed off. “How is this here?”
He chuckled. “It’s a secret.”
He led her toward a short flight of older wooden stairs, and they went up them, and then into a doorway that led into a restaurant mostly designed in old wood and soft lights. There were different areas in different rooms, and though it wasn’t big, it was comfortable, interesting, and very well done.
They were taken to a seat by the window that looked out over the courtyard. She perused the menu, loving the American food options on it. It was like she’d gone to her grandmother’s to eat, if her grandmother had been one of the finest chefs in the city.
Savannah couldn’t get over the place, she loved it so much. They enjoyed their dinner in the relaxed atmosphere, and when they were sated and happy, they strolled together a short distance to the Village Vanguard, where he was greeted on sight. She was really pleased to know that they recognized him. He was surprised that they recognized her, and they were both delighted when they were given one of the best seats in the house.
Singers and musicians played, and they sipped on bourbon and brandy, enjoying the music and the fine company of the other patrons. They made new friends and greeted old ones, and it felt to them both as if everything could not have been more perfect there.
The lights were low and the singer was partway through a rather sultry ballad when Savannah realized that Lucas wasn’t watching the performance. He was watching her. She looked back at him and smiled, and he smiled at her and leaned close to her ear.
“You are breathtaking tonight, and all I can think about is kissing you,” he spoke softly to her, and she felt his warm breath on her cheek. He drew nearer to her and pressed his lips gently to her neck, just beneath her ear, kissing her long and slow there, and then taking his time, he trailed his kisses just a little lower.
Her breath caught in her throat and she closed her eyes, steeling herself against the dizzy warmth that spun all through her body like a cyclone of passion. Desire swept through her, and her eyes closed as her lips parted in a soft gasp. A moment later, his lips were covering hers, moving over them slowly and teasingly. He took his time tasting her, savoring her kiss, her mouth, and the powerful chemistry that ignited between them both.
When he lifted his mouth from hers, she opened her eyes slowly and found that she was holding on to his arm with a strong grip. She opened her fingers and took a breath, gazing at him as he looked back at her, his green eyes smoldering with the same heat that she was feeling. She pulled the corners of her mouth up into a smile and let out a sigh with a shake of her head.
“Wow,” she said quietly as she chuckled.
He nodded in agreement. “Wow, indeed.”
They turned their attention back to the singer before them just as her song ended and the crowd burst into riotous applause and cheering. When the next song began, he reached for her hand and held it and didn’t let it go for a long while.
When they left, he drove her the short distance from the Vanguard to Max Brenner’s, and they parked and headed into the restaurant. She could smell the chocolate from the outside, and it only got stronger and more delicious smelling the closer they got.
The restaurant was buzzing with activity and people. There were pipes of chocolate flowing throughout the open ceilings, and there were barrels of chocolate being mixed in the front of the restaurant near the gift shop, which was filled with cases of truffles and any number of chocolate treats and accessories. It was a chocolate lover’s paradise.
They were taken to a table upstairs overlooking the rest of the restaurant and the street outside below. They ordered cocktails and dessert, and she was amazed at the delicious offerings that they were spoiled with.
“I’m going to have to make a weekly habit of coming here,” she told him with a grin. He dipped his fingertip into one of the chocolate sauces that came with his dessert and held his finger up to her mouth for her to taste it. She felt sly and sexy as she brought his finger to her mouth and gently sucked off the thick dab of chocolate at the end of it.
He narrowed his eyes and moaned softly as she did, and she felt her cheeks warm. When she let go of his hand, he leaned forward and kissed her slowly, running his tongue over her lips and her tongue, drinking her in. She felt as if she was going to melt at his touch, and her body tingled with electric heat everywhere as his kiss deepened before he finally let her go.
When he did lean back in his seat, his eyes locked on hers, it was all she could do to try to catch her breath and steady her pounding heart. He was bringing out needs and desires from the depths of her that she thought had been long forgotten. She found herself wanting him to bring them out, wanting him to continue his teasing and flirting, his touching and kissing, and making her think things about him that she should not be thinking at all.
They stayed a while, and before they left, he insisted that she choose several of the chocolates from the cases in the gift shop at the front of the restaurant. Then he helped her into his car and drove her home.
She spent several long moments in his arms in front of her door, kissing him and feeling his hands move over her back and her hips as their kisses grew deep and strong. She moaned softly once as his mouth moved down her neck and his lips and tongue teased collarbone and the hollow at her throat. She felt his solid need for her as he pulled her closer, twisting his tongue around hers, and for the briefest second, she wanted to feel more of him. She wanted to feel all of him, but he let her go, and the space and air between them slowly brought her back from her steamy thoughts and fiery needs.
He made himself take a couple of steps back from her, forcing himself to lower his hands as they both stood there breathless and hungry with desire. He shook his head. “I don’t want to rush this. I really like you. I want you, don’t doubt that at all, but I want to take my time with you and savor every single thing about you,” he said quietly. Then he leaned in again and kissed her once more, softly, on the lips. “Good night, and sweet dreams,” he told her quietly.
She smiled at him and wished him a good night as well, and let herself into her home. He left after her door was closed, and she groaned and wondered if she should take a cold shower or just go straight to bed and dream about him all night long.
Savannah could not keep the wide smile off of her face that night, even into the next morning.