“I’m still confused.” I pause, trying to find the right words. “Being with you is freeing too, and what you said means a lot to me. But it’s all new to me. I need to think through what I can offer. And then I would very much like to see this face and take you on a proper date. If you will have me.”
“I’d like that. I’ll give you the time you need,” she whispers. She leans her cheek into my palm and kisses my wrist. “Please tell me you’re not doubting it because I’m not … a private members’ club kind of person.”
Does she mean because she’s not wealthy? Have I doubted it? Maybe I did, but now it doesn’t feel like it matters at all. I just want to be near her.
“Or because of my modelling job?”
The way her voice just shrank makes my heart constrict.
“No, absolutely not.” The words tumble out of me before I can control them. Is it even what I was going to say? Is it true? Now I wish I could see her face. Being in the darkness is bearable only for so long.
A server arrives and helps us into the booth.
After giving them our preferences, and we’re alone again, I thread my fingers through Alice’s delicate hand and enjoy the skin-on-skin sensation of my forearm against hers.
“You know, this experience was more than I thought it could be,” I say. “I’ve never stopped and smelled the roses, so to speak. Never heard the crickets.”
“One day I dream of having a garden that sounds like that. I’ll sit in an egg-chair, feeling the light warm breeze on my skin, the sun will dance through the canopy above me and I’ll be content.”
I don’t speak. I can picture it, although annoyingly Alice’s face resembles that frustrating girl from the office in my mind’s eye. Keen to replace that image with what Alice might really look like, I slide a hand up her shoulder to find where her jawline starts. I trace the edge of it to her chin, then up her lips, her cupid’s bow, up her nose tip and across her eyebrow. It doesn’t help change the image, but her breath on my hand, the feel of her skin, makes my body tingle.
The final sensory experience is a taster of Millefleuré’s signature dishes. We’re served a mini degustation, including a chocolate soufflé that makes her moan so much I’m getting jealous.
“I can’t believe how good food tastes in the dark,” she says, humming while finishing the dessert. The sound of the spoon clinking and scraping against the glass or ceramic cup tells me it must be done.
“I can’t believe how good your pussy tastes in the dark,” I rasp, and she laughs. A bouncy, genuinely joyful sound I could listen to forever, and I pinch my eyes shut despite not seeing anything. This went from a date to make sure she’s nothing special, to confirming the exact opposite. Why is that so fucking scary?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
unplanned
MARK
When did things go so awry? A run around the park normally clears my head, but here I am, in the shower, fisting my length as if I’m punishing myself, thinking of last night. I come hard and long, holding on to the wall as my legs shake from the pleasure and a hefty hill-run.
So yesterday was an utter failure, that’s clear.
Alice is still on my mind. Even more so. She’s digging her way into me.
I dry off and attempt to push her out of my mind. I lost precious work-time yesterday, but I must get through the plans for the next quarter today.
I need to focus.
The phone vibrates, and I snatch it up like a love-sick teenager, cursing myself in the process.
Good morning, Merry Man, thank you for last night.
What are you up to? I just woke up
Good morning, wonderland
So if you’re still in bed … what are you up to?
I know what I’m picturing, and it’s not helping me move on with my plans for the day.
Thinking of you… What does Robin Hood wear in the morning?
Nothing. On my way out of the shower
