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Without another word, we went inside. The restaurant was already fairly busy and we had to wait for ten minutes for a table to be free, but no one seemed to mind. We stood near the counter, ordered our drinks and talked while we waited.
I relaxed as we all ended up with different milkshakes. Lukas ordered the chocolate I’d had the first time with him. It was easy to be calm now that I knew he had no intention of trying to embarrass me and genuinely wanted to make me feel like I was celebrating.
As soon as we were seated, we ordered food, most of us sticking to a simple hamburger, but I made sure I had friesagain. Richard told the tale of the first time he had taken Sarai home to meet his family and how his mother had tried to cook something very fancy, completely ruined it, and ended up ordering takeout for everyone instead.
Although he didn’t say it, I got the impression that Richard had also been the one to pay for it, and hearing the compassion and the sweet way he told the story without bragging, I knew I liked Richard even more.
Lukas had made the perfect suggestion with the exact right group of people, and I hoped I would remember to thank him later.
When our food arrived, Lukas picked up his milkshake and drew everyone’s attention to him.
“To the mind of a brilliant artist,” he said, beaming at me. My cheeks grew hot, nothing I could do to stop them, as usual, but I picked up my shake as well and raised it with the others.
“Thank you,” I replied. “I really have loved working on this project.”
“We’re not done yet,” Sarai reminded me. “But I’m looking forward to the finished designs. It’s almost flown by, but the months have added up. I owe it to several of you that we’ve got this far without too much of a hiccup.”
“Careful, Sarai.” Richard frowned, but his eyes were still smiling and the warning didn’t sound as if it was more than a comment. “Let’s not jinx the project. There’s still quite a few weeks to get through and milestones that aren’t fully wrapped up and in the bag.”
“True,” she replied, shaking her head and letting out a chuckle. “I trust this lot to get us through. We’ve adapted to several challenges already.”
Sarai wasn’t wrong. Several times Lukas had mentioned certain challenges he had encountered with the project, and I remembered the meeting I’d walked in on once where there hadbeen supply issues on a fundamental part of each hut. So far we had tackled every challenge as a team and with skill. Sarai had every reason to be confident.
It didn’t stop me being anxious about delivering the rest, but I pushed the thought away. For now, they were happy, and Lukas was being wonderful to me. That was enough.
We ate and talked for hours. Lukas insisted that everyone try my favorite trick with the fries and chocolate shake, and then finally Richard looked at the time and glanced outside. At some point it had gotten dark, and very late.
Around us, the restaurant had grown less and less busy, until the same chef and manager was sitting behind the counter keeping an eye on the place alone, as had been here the previous time.
“I think we’ll have to get back to work tomorrow after all,” Richard said. He shrugged. Sarai looked a little more irritated, but the look quickly left her face.
“All right, we’ll leave you two lovebirds to your celebrating. Let me know if you need me to pick you up tomorrow, Kit. If not, I’ll assume you can make your own way in.” Sarai gave me a wink as she grabbed her purse and slid out of the booth.
I fought not to blush as Lukas chuckled. “I’ll make sure she gets in safely tomorrow. I’ve still got plans for her.”
This made Sarai and Richard laugh, and Lukas flicked a wink back. I blushed even more, but a thrill of delight ran through me at the thought of Lukas having plans for us. There was just enough suggestion in the way he said it that brought back memories of some of the nights we had spent together so far. Heat pooled between my thighs. I was more than ready for that kind of night.
“Are you ready to go?” Lukas asked as soon as we were alone. I noticed that neither Sarai nor Richard had offered to pay, but Lukas pulled out his credit card when I nodded.
“Good, because I really do have plans for tonight, if you’ll let me lead.” He looked down at me as if he was going to eat me up, his voice low as his gaze wandered. “I’d like to see where you’ll let me take you. I promise you’ll…be rewarded for yourefforts.”
I gulped, growing even hotter and wetter at the way he stared at me as he spoke. Anticipation filled me with both nerves and desire, and it was a heady combination. Unable to help it, I looked away and trembled slightly. Gently, he reached forward and lifted my chin with his finger until he could see my eyes again.
“I promise you, I will always stop if you need me to. All this starts with you feeling safe with me. I don’t want to jeopardize that. Do you feel like you can trust me to listen if you say it’s too much?”
“Yes,” I replied without hesitation, and it immediately made me feel bolder. I could trust him. I didn’t know what he was planning, but this wasn’t the first time he had told me and shown me that my safety and trust were more important than anything else.
“Good, let’s go. I don’t want to get hard here, and I want you, sweetheart. I want you so bad.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
As soon as we were alone in a car Lukas had summoned together, I relaxed a little, but I knew Lukas was about to take me back to his apartment and have his way with me. I was willing, but he was brusque now. He had gripped my hand tightly all the way from the restaurant to the car, leading me along.
It was both exciting and making me more nervous. He was eager, in charge, and I was at his mercy. Yet I didn’t want to resist. I was turned on by it.
Lukas had decided something was going to happen and it was easy to let him take control. He was right that I felt safe with him. All the nervousness and anxiety came from not knowing what he planned, from being kept in the dark and led just one step at a time.
I trusted him; I just didn’t know what he would want.
