“Please, help yourself. I wasn’t sure if you’re vegetarian or not, so I just ordered two platters.” The smile he gifts me makes my stomach flip-flop.
“Thank you. I pretty much eat anything, except for pineapple on pizza,” I tell him, scrunching my nose, which earns me a chuckle from the man sitting across from me.
“Oh? What other pet peeves do you have?” He rests his chin on his fingers, which are threaded together.
“Mm, I love rain but hate snow. I don’t like waiting on something. I’m much more of an instant gratification type of girl.” As the words fall from my lips, I realize how it must sound to him. “Oh God, I didn’t mean—”
“Well, that certainly will be a fun experiment for me to try with you.” Gideon laughs, tapping his lips with his index finger as though he’s pondering all the ways he’s going to torture me with sex.
“I really didn’t mean it to sound like that,” I tell him, but I can’t stop laughing at myself. My face feels like it’s on fire from embarrassment.
“I’m teasing you, sweetheart,” Gideon tells me. “But I really do like the thought of edging you until you’re begging for release.” His voice grows husky as he speaks, and the panties I’m wearing are now wet, and my body is aching for him to do just that.
“I haven’t ventured too far down the rabbit hole of a relationship in the lifestyle,” I inform him. “So, I mean, I could possibly be open to trying it out.” This time, I know my cheeks are aflame because when Gideon reaches for my face and brushes his knuckles along the skin, the coolness of his hands makes me shiver.
“Then I’ll teach you anything you want to know.”
The rest of dinner goes smoothly, and as Gideon’s town car weaves toward my home at the end of the night, I can feel the tension radiating from him. When we finally pull up to the apartment block, Gideon exits the car with me, walking me up to the door.
“Tomorrow night, I’m taking you back to Temptation for a scene,” he informs me then presses his lips to mine before I have time to respond. When we break apart, he winks at me. “Go inside, don’t touch that pretty pussy. It’s mine and only mine.”
I’m not sure how I find my way indoors, and into my apartment, I’m so turned on. But by the time I slip into bed, I’m exhausted from emotions, desire, and excitement.
Chapter 9
Clover
Gideon told me he’d pick me up at seven, and it’s almost time. I’m wearing a dress as he requested, and the underwear he bought for me. Thankfully when he told me he wanted me in heels, I took a breath of relief because Chelsea was always on me to get used to walking in heels. She bought me a beautiful pair of black strappy shoes for my previous birthday.
The doorbell rings, alerting me that my date is here. My heart does a nervous flutter when I make my way through the condo to the front door. Peeking through the spy hole, I see Gideon on the other side of the door.
He looks dashing from what I can tell, but it’s only when I open the door, I realize just how incredibly handsome he looks in a midnight black suit, crisp white shirt, and black tie. His shiny black shoes complete the outfit, taking my breath away.
His dark hair is slightly tousled, making it look like he’s just gotten out of bed. His deep brown eyes are sparkling with mischief as I drink him in like a fine wine.
“Good evening, Miss Brassington,” he says with the corner of his mouth tilting upward, making my stomach flutter wildly. “You’re looking,” his gaze tracks every inch of me, taking in the outfit he commanded I wear, and a smile curls his lips. “Exquisite.”
“Good evening, Mr. Hale. Thank you,” I respond with a shy smile, lowering my lashes and focusing on the floor. He makes me feel nervous, especially when he’s dressed up like a model about to take the runway.
He reaches a hand to me, and I accept the gesture, my purse hanging on my shoulder, my keys in the other hand. Our fingers tangle, as I pull the door closed behind us.
He leads the way, only stopping when the elevator door opens, and like the gentleman he is, he allows me to enter first. Even just standing beside him makes my body respond, my thighs squeezing together instinctively when his fingers find the base of my spine. It’s a possessive gesture, but gentle at the same time.
“You look beautiful,” he tells me in a low whisper as we descend toward the lower floor where I’m sure he’s parked. I wonder where his driver is tonight, unless he doesn’t know about Gideon’s exploits at Club Temptation. Something tells me he likes being in control and his privacy.