135
The restaurant was a sanctuary tucked away from the chaos of the city.
Outside, neon buzzed and car horns sang, but inside the doors, time seemed to slow.
Warm amber lamps glowed against dark wood paneling, the low hum of jazz drifting from hidden speakers.
The air smelled faintly of rosemary and seared butter, of fresh bread and rich wine.
Amanda guided Ericka to the secluded corner table, pulling out her chair with a small flourish that made Ericka smirk. "Someone's pulling out all the stops," she murmured, settling into her seat.
"You deserve all the stops," Amanda replied smoothly, sliding into her own chair, her eyes lingering on the satin curve of Ericka's dress.
It wasn't just that Ericka looked good—she was magnetic, her presence drawing Amanda's focus like gravity.
Candlelight danced against the emerald green of her dress, making her look like she'd stepped out of a dream.
Amanda leaned forward, chin propped on her hand.
"You know you're making this impossible, right? "
Ericka lifted the wine list, arching a brow. "Impossible how?"
Amanda's gaze dipped to the neckline of her dress, then lower, before meeting her eyes again with a mischievous smile. "You look like temptation in silk. I can't even pretend to focus on the menu."
Ericka's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Then perhaps you'll just have to trust me to order."
Before Amanda could answer, Ericka's foot brushed lightly against her ankle under the table. Amanda inhaled sharply, her smirk deepening. "Careful, baby," she whispered, leaning in. "If you keep that up, I'll forget we're in public."
"Maybe that's the point," Ericka teased, eyes glinting.
The waiter returned, and Ericka ordered effortlessly—wine, entrées, and a spread of sides—with the kind of confidence that always made Amanda's heart clench. Watching her command even the simplest exchange made Amanda ache with both admiration and desire.
When the server left, Amanda leaned across the table, her voice soft but earnest. "You realize people are staring at you, right?"
Ericka tilted her head, amused. "Jealous?"
Amanda shook her head, her grin fading into something more tender. "No. Proud. They can look all they want. You're mine to take home."
For once, Ericka's composure cracked just slightly, her smirk softening into something warmer.
Throughout the meal, the flirting was constant.
Amanda teased with whispered comments that made Ericka press her lips together to hide a smile, while Ericka retaliated with subtle touches—her fingers lingering on Amanda's hand when she passed the bread, her knee brushing Amanda's leg again and again under the table.
By the time dessert arrived, Amanda's surprise appeared: a delicate plate with chocolate swirled into the words For My Muse.
Ericka blinked, her jaw softening as her eyes widened. "You did this?"
Amanda shrugged with faux nonchalance, though her grin betrayed her. "Of course. You inspire me, Ericka. You push me, challenge me, make me want more. I wanted you to see that."
Ericka stared at her for a long moment, lips parting. She reached across the table and took Amanda's hand, brushing her thumb gently over her knuckles. Her voice was quiet, almost reverent. "You're dangerous, Amanda."
Amanda tilted her head, pretending to pout. "Dangerous? Me?"
"Yes," Ericka whispered. "Because you make me feel like I could let go of everything I've built... and still be happier with you."
The words struck Amanda deep, her throat tightening. She squeezed Ericka's hand firmly. "Then don't let go. Just let me carry some of it with you."
The moment hung between them, heavy and electric. Finally, Ericka leaned forward and kissed Amanda's hand, the gesture so intimate it made Amanda's chest ache.
They lingered longer than they planned, sipping the last of the wine until the city outside had quieted. When they finally left, Amanda wasn't ready to end the night, and neither was Ericka.
"Driver can wait," Amanda said softly as they stepped onto the damp sidewalk.
They wandered hand in hand, the cool night air brushing against their skin, carrying the faint scent of rain. Streetlights reflected in puddles, painting the pavement in streaks of gold and silver. The city still buzzed faintly in the distance, but here, it was just them.
Without hesitation, Amanda shrugged out of her jacket and draped it across Ericka's shoulders. The fabric swallowed her slightly, but Ericka tugged it close, smirking. "Smooth."
Amanda grinned, sliding an arm around her waist as they walked. "Not smooth. Just in love."
For blocks, they strolled in silence, the rhythm of their steps syncing, their hands brushing every so often before Amanda finally intertwined their fingers. The world felt quieter, softer, like even the city itself knew this moment belonged to them.
At a side street, Amanda tugged Ericka gently toward the glow of a single streetlamp. She pulled her close, cupped her cheek, and kissed her—slow, deep, lingering. It wasn't the hungry kind of kiss they shared behind closed doors. This one was reverent, a claim, a vow.
When they finally broke apart, their foreheads pressed together, breaths mingling in the cool air.
"If this is how you do celebrations," Ericka whispered, her voice low and trembling, "I might let you take the lead more often."
Amanda smiled, her voice rough with emotion. "Then I'll just have to keep giving you reasons to celebrate."
Ericka's hand slid into Amanda's, squeezing it tight as they began the walk back to the waiting car.
The driver opened the back door for them, and Amanda let Ericka slide in first, her satin dress sweeping across the leather seat.
Amanda followed, tugging the door closed behind her.
The divider wasn't up yet, and city lights spilled into the car in fleeting flashes as they pulled away from the curb.
Amanda leaned back, eyes sweeping over Ericka shamelessly. "You do realize you just stole the entire night, right?"
Ericka smirked, turning slightly toward her. "I thought this was your date, Amanda. Shouldn't you be the one in charge?"
Amanda's grin widened. She slid closer, her thigh brushing Ericka's. "Oh, I'm still in charge. But you make it really hard to keep my cool when you look like this."
Ericka tilted her head, the candlelit glow still clinging to her skin even under the harsh city lights. "And what exactly are you going to do about it?"
Amanda chuckled low, leaning in until her lips were near Ericka's ear. "Well, first I'm going to sit here and behave... but only because I don't want to traumatize the driver."
Ericka laughed softly, the sound sending a shiver down Amanda's spine. But before Amanda could lean back, Ericka shifted, her hand sliding onto Amanda's thigh. Her nails traced a slow path upward, stopping just high enough to make Amanda's breath hitch.
"Behave?" Ericka whispered, her smirk wicked. "You don't seem very convincing."
Amanda's hand covered Ericka's, pressing it firmer against her leg. "That's because you're not making it easy."
They sat like that for a few beats, the tension thick, the city whizzing by in streaks of neon and gold. Amanda finally turned her head and kissed her—quick at first, but it deepened fast, mouths molding together until Ericka gave a quiet hum of approval.
Amanda pulled back only enough to speak against her lips. "You taste better than dessert."
Ericka chuckled, brushing her nose against Amanda's. "Careful, or I might start thinking you only planned this dinner to get me to have sex in the car again."
Amanda's grin was wicked as she pressed another kiss to her mouth. "Maybe I did."
By the time the driver pulled up to their building, Amanda's tie was slightly loosened, Ericka's lipstick was smudged at the corners, and both of them were trying not to laugh at how obvious they looked.
Ericka fixed Amanda's collar before the door opened, whispering, "Pull yourself together, or they'll know exactly what we were doing back here."
Amanda winked, whispering back, "Baby, they already know."
The elevator ride up felt longer than usual, though it was only a few dozen floors. The hum of the machinery and the faint glow of the overhead light pressed down on the silence between them, but it wasn't an empty silence—it was electric.
Amanda stood close behind Ericka, her hands clasped loosely in front of her, fighting the urge to reach out.
Ericka's perfume—soft jasmine with a sharp, lingering spice—filled the small space, curling around Amanda's senses until her chest tightened.
Every sway of Ericka's hips when the elevator shifted, every tilt of her head that revealed the graceful line of her neck, was torture.
Finally, Amanda gave in. She leaned forward, lips brushing the bare curve of Ericka's shoulder just above the emerald strap of her dress. A feather-light kiss, nothing more, but Ericka still caught it. She glanced over her shoulder with that subtle smirk that made Amanda weak.
"You're restless," she murmured, eyes glinting with amusement.
Amanda's voice dropped low, rougher than she meant. "Restless isn't the word. Try starving."
The elevator chimed and the doors slid open, releasing them into the quiet of the top floor. Their heels clicked in sync across the polished wood as they walked to the penthouse, the city skyline already visible through the wall of glass at the end of the hall.
As soon as Amanda pushed the door shut behind them, she felt the last bit of restraint unravel.
The penthouse was dim, only the soft glow of the city spilling across the floor-to-ceiling windows, painting the room in shades of blue and gold.
Ericka set her clutch down on the entry table with careful precision, but Amanda was already moving.
Two long strides, and she was there—sliding her hands around Ericka's waist from behind, pulling her back into her chest. She buried her nose into the soft waves of Ericka's hair, inhaling deeply before letting her lips graze the curve of her ear.
"Do you know," Amanda whispered, her breath hot against her skin, "how many times I almost canceled our reservation just to keep you here?"
Ericka stilled for a heartbeat, then slowly turned in Amanda's arms, emerald satin brushing against charcoal wool. Her hands rose, smoothing over Amanda's shoulders, then down her chest until her fingers found the knot of Amanda's tie. She toyed with it, deliberate, her eyes sharp with mischief.
"You showed restraint for once," she murmured, tugging lightly at the silk. "I'm impressed."
Amanda leaned down, capturing her mouth in a kiss that was anything but restrained.
It was slow at first, then deepened, Amanda's hands splaying across Ericka's lower back, pulling her flush against her.
Ericka sighed into the kiss, her lips parting to meet Amanda's, her fingers curling around the tie until she gave it a sharp tug, loosening it just enough to make Amanda's pulse jump.
When they broke apart, Amanda's forehead rested against hers, breath ragged. "Don't be too impressed. I was seconds away from failing."
Ericka's laugh was soft, breathless, her lips brushing Amanda's as she whispered, "So what now? Do I get to see the rest of your plan for the night?"
Amanda's grin was crooked, wicked, but tender. She brushed her thumb along Ericka's cheek, her voice rough with promise. "The plan is simple. You, me, and no interruptions."
She trailed kisses along Ericka's jaw, down the soft curve of her neck. Ericka tilted her head back instinctively, her lips parting as a quiet sound escaped her throat. Her fingers slid into Amanda's hair, holding her close, urging her on.
"Amanda..." she whispered, her voice catching.
Amanda smirked against her skin, her lips brushing the hollow of her throat. "Say my name like that again, and we're not making it past the living room."
Ericka shivered, nails grazing Amanda's scalp as she whispered it again, softer this time, teasing. "Amanda..."