“Babe, are you okay?” Vivien said, loud enough to be overheard. “Your hand is clammy. Are you afraid of the dark? You should have told me before we came inside.”
I raised an eyebrow at her. I knew what she was doing, but didn’t appreciate the role she cast me in. “Yes, darling. I don’t care for the darkness. This is uncomfortable.”
The couple turned their heads in our direction, though they could not see us. Still, the tables were close enough that it was easy to converse with them.
“Is this your first time too?” Kay asked, sitting closer to Vivien.
Vivien smiled. “Yeah, I thought it would be a fun night out, but I think my date is a little nervous.”
Kay nodded. “I get that. This is a bit too intense. We’re thinking about leaving.”
“Give it a couple more minutes,” Vivien coaxed. “It’s disorienting, but maybe a drink will calm you both. In fact, have a drink with us, and help me keep my date calm.”
“Oh no, we couldn’t,” Michael started.
“We insist,” I said. “As my lovely girlfriend said, we would love to treat you both to a drink, and I could use the company to relax.”
I ordered an excellent bottle of wine for their table as well. In no time, Vivien was deep in conversation with both of them, while I sat back and enjoyed the unique position of being able to observe without being scrutinized.
The hiss of a zipper drew my attention to the couple on the other side of us. The waitstaff was nowhere in sight, but the couple couldn’t have known that. Still, it didn’t stop the woman from pulling out her date’s erection. Slowly, but surely, she found her way under the table to wrap her mouth around him.
Vivien spat her wine and began coughing.
“Are you okay?” Kay asked, genuine concern in her voice. “See? Eating in the dark is a choking hazard.”
“I’m fine,” Vivien insisted, watching the amorous couple. “But I agree with you on the choking hazard thing,” she muttered.
The woman continued her vigorous attentions to her date under the table while he shoved his fist into his mouth, doing his best not to make a sound. His face screwed up as he reached his climax. Then she was back up in her chair before the waitstaff returned.
Vivien looked back and forth between them and me with an open look of amazement. I did not care for the spark that appeared in her eye. Then she reached over to my lap.
“Don’t even think about it,” I warned. Her fingers stilled on my belt.
“What was that?” Michael asked, thinking I’d addressed him.
“I don’t think we can come this far without having dessert,” I said, smoothing over my reprimand.
Vivien gave me an impetuous look, licking her lips like a hungry predator. Her dress of leather, lace, and spikes was made of sin itself. And while we were engaging the couple next to us now, my brain thought only of reclining the driver’s seat in my Bugatti and positioning her over my face to greet whatever equally sinful lingerie she wore underneath. Or maybe I’d park the car somewhere remote and bend her over the hood. The scratches on the car from her dress would be worth it, to take her in the open night air.
The server returned with their night vision goggles, saving me from Vivien’s wicked designs. Though I still had to reach down and reposition myself, as my desire pounded with insistence.
Not long after, we finished our meal and left, along with the couple we’d met. We all took a moment to adjust, emerging from total darkness into the light of the lobby.
The couple tried not to react when they finally brought us into focus.
“Oh, I recognize you two,” Kay said, her eyes rounding. She tugged on her husband’s arm as she spoke to me. “You own the hotel, Sinopolis.”
I realized how pleasant it was to talk with people without them being aware of my status. It felt so terribly normal. Now that casual air all but disappeared.
“I do,” I said. Pulling out a black business card from my pocket, I handed it over to Michael, who was closest. “And if you two would ever like to get dinner again, we’d be happy to do so. Our treat.”
Vivien squeezed my arm.
“I didn’t realize I was underdressed,” Kay said, appraising Vivien’s outfit.
“Don’t be silly,” Vivien said, waving a hand. “I love your earrings, and I still can’t get over how amazing your perfume smells.” She had a way of gushing over other people that disarmed them.
“How long have you two been together?” Michael asked.
