“Well, um, it’s a new thing that I’m looking into, so I don’t really know what I’m doing.” Ellie starts pulling at the skin on her thumb, and I realize that I might have fucked up. She told me about that while she was really drunk, and I definitely messed up by opening my big mouth.
Thank god for Natalie who knows exactly how to save the awkward situation I just created. “Oh, no worries! You can tell me more as you go. I really do want to go shopping with you sometime if Patrick can spare you for a night.”
Natalie pokes me in the side, and I put my hands up defensively. “Don’t look at me. I’m not even going to think about getting between you two. Ellie has barely given me the time of day since she sat down.”
“Good!” Natalie smiles at me and leans over, not so quietly whispering, “Patrick, how could you keep her from us for so long? Your girlfriend is amazing, and I think I might be in love with her.”
I know that Ellie is not actually mine, but it feels so good to pretend.
Ellie, Natalie, and Megan talk through the whole dinner, chatting about everything and nothing.
I listen to their conversation a few times, but nothing sticks out in my memory. If I’m being honest, I might actually be too scared to interrupt them. There was something about which gas station is the best in Walford. Something else about why the chain coffee shop’s espresso doesn’t taste as good as The Brew's. My breath catches when I hear something about stabbing a man, but in my moments of horror, I quickly realize that they are talking about a book.
For the last course, we got a choice between a crème brûlée and chocolate lava cake, and I try not to drool when the lava cakeis set in front of me. There is a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side and some fancy looking almond crisp on top.
I’m amused when Ellie uses her spoon to crack open the sugar crust on her crème brûlée. She looks absolutely delighted when she tastes it, but what I don’t expect are the seductive moans that come out of her. I’m sure they are just noises of delight, but I can’t stop my brain from going there. If that’s what she sounds like eating a dessert, I can only imagine the sounds she makes when she’s coming.
Despite my best efforts, I can feel myself getting hard, so like the intelligent man that I am, I put all of my focus into the lava cake to attempt to rid myself of these feelings.
Stop thinking about what Ellie sounds like in bed. You’re literally just torturing yourself.
She pops a blueberry into her mouth to polish off her dessert. Smiling, I lean in, “You know, no one will judge you if you lick the ramekin.”
She shoves me with her elbow, giggling, and I don’t think there’s anything that makes me feel as good as making Ellie laugh. It’s not a rare occurrence per se, but I feel accomplished every time I manage it.
I continue to tease her. “I’m just surprised you didn’t save me a bite. I am yourboyfriend. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
The corners of her mouth turn up into a playful smile, and she gives it right back to me. “Well, I thought, if anyone,youwould be the one to understand the importance of one’s own dessert, but if you wanted a taste, all you had to do was ask.”
Confusion falls over me for just a second until she grabs the lapels of my suit jacket and pulls me in for a kiss. It is soft and sweet just like her. I’m surprised by her forwardness, but I lean into it. Despite being fully aware of where we are, I’m not going to let her get away with her attempt at trying to tease me.
Gripping the side of her neck, I slip my tongue into her mouth needing to taste her again. She is compliant under my touch, allowing me to take what I want, and when I feel her need growing, I pull back, sucking her bottom lip for a brief second.“Mm, that was delicious. Thank you, baby.”
She stares at me with her eyes like saucers, pupils blown, and I give her the tiniest peck on the lips, placing my focus back on my half-eaten lava cake. Eyes burn through me as I feel everyone at the table looking at us, but I pretend to be blissfully ignorant.
In my peripheral vision, I see Ellie flustered and shifting in her chair, and I know that I’ve won this round.
Chapter 23
Ellie
Thisnighthasbeenthe most fun I’ve had in a long time. If I’m being honest, I was more than a little worried.
The couple of times I had gone out with my ex and his friends, I never had things to talk about and ended up just sitting quietly while everyone else talked. I always thought there was something wrong with me, but Megan and Natalie made it easy. Whenever there was a lull in the conversation, one of them just brought up something new, and we continued on. What I really appreciated was not having to think for a while. It was refreshing to turn my brain off and just chat, and I’m actually planning on taking up Natalie’s offer to go shopping sometime.
Feeling on top of the world, I offer to go up to the open bar to grab Patrick and I another drink while he goes to the bathroom. The bar is loud and crowded with Patrick’s coworkers catching up. Now that dinner is over, most people have gone back to their hotel rooms, but those who haven’t have made their way to the bar.
As I weave my way through the crowd, I get lost in thoughts of that kiss, and my knees go a little weak.
I was not planning on kissing Patrick tonight, but there was no way to know that he was going to kiss me backlike that.The wetness between my legs has not lessened, and it’s making it hard to focus on anything. Everyone at the table was looking at us when he pulled away and went back to his dessert, and the only thing I could do was sip my water, hoping that the conversation would start up again.
My forearms rest on the bar top, and I cringe at the slight dampness. As I wait to get the bartender’s attention, someone stands uncomfortably close to me, and when I look to my left, I see Patrick’s coworker, Rebecca, leaning against the bar, staring daggers at me.
How can someone look so pretty and mean at the same time?
I push down my nerves and put on my best fake smile. “Hi, Rebecca, right? Patrick’s mentioned you before.”
“What are you doing with him?” Her voice is sharp and direct, and it catches me off guard.
