“Seriously, did you just say that?”
“What do you expect with you looking like that…? Besides, I know what lies beneath that pretty dress of yours,” he said obviously flirting with me and making my mouth droop slightly.
“Yes, well you know I think I could have picked out my own underwear!” I snapped making him reach for my silk wrap off the back of the armchair we had been stood close to before he said,
“Damn, why didn’t I think of that, then you would have been forced to walk out here naked.” I scowled at him without any real heat behind it and said,
“I had a towel, jackass.” He then placed the wrap around my shoulders and told me in return,
“Yes, and I have hands, beautiful…very capable hands.” He emphasized those words with a quick squeeze of the top of my arms, before letting me go.
I rolled my eyes making him lean down slightly so he could whisper in my face,
“And one of them is itching for punishment, so you want to roll your eyes for me again, sugar?”
I swallowed hard and told him,
“Not unless you want to see my ass running.” His lips tipped up on one side before telling me,
“As delicious as that sight would be, especially with me chasing it down like the fucking beast you have the power to turn me into…I think I have had quite enough of the action these last two months.” I sucked in a quick breath before coming back with,
“Right, well better tell Mr twitchy palm to cool off then… yeah?” At this he laughed and said,
“With your sass, then I’m not sure that is possible.” This made me smile, before I walked towards the door and said over my shoulder,
“Make it possible,” I threatened again, making him chuckle before following me. Then just as he turned to close the door, I heard him mutter,
“Even the Gods wouldn’t have that power, sweetheart.”
Wow, so this really was a date then.
“Well, this is nice,” I said after we were shown to a private table that looked to have the best view. It was a rooftop restaurant called the Cheese and Wine and it had the most spectacular views across the Jerusalem skyline. And according to the menu it also boasted the best selection of imported cheese and wine in the city.
The large open space was inviting with its pale woods, wine barrels and pale stone walls. It was also open all along one side with a roller blind of bamboo above, unnecessary without the elements trying to ruin this perfect night. There were also warm yellow waves of fabric swathed over the wooden beams above the long tables, creating an inviting experience of the city. One that was offered with unobstructed views watching the setting sun cast its golden hue over the Old City and at the same time offering you the chance to enjoy fine food and wine. And like I said…
It was perfect.
Lucius gave me a warm smile in return for my comment and took the place of the waiter by holding my chair out for me. The gesture had me unable to hold back a secret grin, knowing that this was Lucius’ way. Along with taking both menus from the waiter, obviously choosing to hand me mine after first seating himself. Then the waiter asked what we would like to drink,
“Would you like a bottle of wine?” Lucius enquired making me say,
“Not unless you’re having some?”
“I’m not really the wine drinking type of guy,” he told me with a smirk making me nod in a way that silently said, ‘yeah, I got that’.
“Then surprise me,” I challenged making him accept it and after scanning a finger down the list, he said,
“I’ll have a Taybeh dark and a Long Island Iced Tea, for my girl.” I had to bite my lip to stop myself from both smiling at being referred to as his and also what he ordered me. But the moment the waiter walked away, I decided to keep up with ice queen pretence, so I leaned in closer over the table and hissed,
“That was mean.” He laughed and said,
“No, what was mean was calling me when I couldn’t get to you and making me miss the opportunity to see you drunk again.”
“So, what is this, your hope at take two?” I asked in a testing tone.
“I am not sure you could handle it again, sweetheart.” I snorted a disbelieving laugh at this, which granted wasn’t the most lady like sound I had in my arsenal, but still.
“I know what you are doing.” I told him making him shrug his shoulders and say,
“And what would that be?”
“You’re goading me into trying to prove how much I can drink so you can get me drunk.” Just then our drinks turned up and once alone again he challenged,
“Does this mean I should call him back and order you a water?” I narrowed my eyes at him, picked up my cocktail and said,
“Challenge accepted, Vampire.” Then I pulled out the straw, dumped it on the table and took a long drink the old-fashioned way. This made him smirk, before he tipped the neck of his bottle towards me then took a long swig himself.
And with that one look alone in his eyes, making them flash amber for a mere second I knew…
I was in trouble.
Chapter 23
Water Fights and Medals
The moment I woke up, I found myself asking my brain if it remembered why I felt like I had made a lot of foolish mistakes last night? And if it could possibly have anything to do with the consumption of lots and lots of alcohol, seeing as it felt like my head had been used as someone’s drum last night. Okay, so granted this was a lot of questions for my poor brain to handle, which was why I closed my eyes again, rolled over and pulled the covers over my head with a groan. But then I felt and heard something I knew I really shouldn’t have and that’s precisely when all my bad mistakes started to crash into me. Starting with the chuckled laughter and shaking of the body next to me.
“Please brain, tell me I am only dreaming again?” I muttered making him say,
“I must say it’s nice to know that dreaming of me in your bed is a regular occurrence.” I groaned before muttering,
“Who said it is?” This was said with the covers still over my head.
“You said the word again.” I closed my eyes tighter and hissed a,
“Damn it.” Naturally, this was Lucius I had woken up next to, so he laughed again. Then he whipped the covers from my head, making me complain with a moan, and not of the ‘making me feel good’ variety.
“Good morning,” he said in a way that sounded far too awake for him to have woken when I had. Hence why I complained,
“Gods, but how can you sound so awake this early in the morning.”
“Because it’s actually the afternoon and you snore when drunk…that, my little Khuba, is why.” I continued to keep my eyes closed, rolled away from him, and said,
“Okay, you can stop talking now.” Again, this amused him. Then I felt him shift his body closer, as he draped an arm around me from behind, pulling me back against his chest…his very naked, hard chest.
“I find it cute,” he hummed behind me, making me warn,
“Lucius, stop talking.” Of course, he ignored me and leaned down to whisper in my ear this time,
“And endearing.”
“Lucius, I said stop talking,” I warned yet again.