Chapter Twenty-Three Cord #2
I lead us to a hole-in-the-wall Italian place, tensing slightly when I see the hesitation on her face. I know dining out can be tricky sometimes, but I did my research, and there are some good options on the menu if she wants to eat something leaner than the lasagna I plan to get.
I order us a bottle of wine and offer some suggestions for an appetizer, wanting her to make the choice.
She bites her lip, and I try not to think about how sexy the move is.
I reach across the table, giving her hand a quick squeeze. “Athletes watch what they eat, Allegra. You don’t have to eat anything you aren’t comfortable with.”
Her relief is immediately apparent and I wonder if her dates in the past have made her feel guilty or self-conscious about her food restrictions.
I know there are real issues when it comes to ballet and body-shaming and unhealthy habits, but I meant what I said.
Show me a professional athlete out there who doesn’t pay close attention to what they’re eating.
No one would fault a football player watching his food intake, why don’t we offer dancers the same courtesy?
When the server comes back around, Allegra orders the caprese salad to start and the grilled salmon entrée.
“That actually sounds good. I think I’ll take that too,” I tell our server, handing him both of our menus.
She smiles and I feel like I could conquer the world.
“So what did you get up to today?” She swirls the wine in her glass and takes a tiny sip.
“Got in a good workout, spent some time at the theater, worked on a couple of new routine ideas.” I shrug, taking a much larger sip from my own glass.
“Do you normally work on Sundays?”
“It depends on what I’ve got going on, honestly. But I discovered pretty early on that owning my own business means I don’t work a normal schedule, and days completely off are few and far between.”
The server delivers our appetizer and Allegra cuts off a piece of tomato, swiping it through the thick balsamic vinegar.
“That’s something I can certainly relate to.”
“How are you feeling about the new ballet so far?” I spear a tomato and scoop up the extra mozzarella Allegra discarded.
She hesitates before answering.
I pull my eyes from the salad and look at her. “It’s okay to talk about it, Slippers. We don’t have much of a chance as a couple if you can’t talk to me about the most important thing in your life.”
Her cheeks flush and she buries her gaze in her glass of wine. “Are we a couple now?”
“Well, we’re here on a date and I did give you multiple orgasms last night, so…”
She shoots me a warning glare as the flush travels down her cheeks to her neck. “Say that a little louder, why don’t you.”
I open my mouth as if to comply. She rips off a chunk of bread and throws it at me. I drag it through the remaining balsamic on the salad plate and pop it into my mouth.
“Okay, but seriously,” she starts when I’ve finished chewing. “Are we a couple now? Is this a real thing?”
I reach across the table for her hand. “I thought we established last night that this is a real thing, Allegra.”
“I know, but maybe that was just the heat of the moment talking.”
“It wasn’t for me.”
Her fingers tighten around mine. “For me either.”
I grin. “Good.”
Our server delivers our main dishes at that moment, and we spend the rest of the meal chatting about everything and nothing.
She fills me in on the new ballet and I tell her about the new numbers I’m thinking of adding to the show.
She gives me great feedback and I try to focus on the passion in her voice when she talks about dancing.
When the server asks us if we want to see the dessert menu, I ask for the check. There is only one thing I’m interested in for dessert, if you know what I mean, though I plan to hold to my promise to deliver her to her door and allow her to get to bed early. If that’s what she wants.
The walk back to her building goes by too fast, even though we walk at a glacial pace, earning several dirty looks from people trying to pass us on the crowded sidewalks.
When we get to the front door of her building, I pull her to a stop. I want nothing more than to join her upstairs, but I will stick to my word. I cup her cheeks in my hands and kiss her softly. “Thanks for making time to see me tonight.”
She smiles, the disappointment visible in her eyes. “Thank you for dinner.”
I brush back a strand of her hair, tucking it behind her ear. “I know you have to get up early tomorrow and I know that you’re in the midst of very important rehearsals, so even though I want nothing more than to take you upstairs and ravish you, I’m going to say goodnight.”
She groans and pulls me in for another kiss. “What if I want you to come upstairs and ravish me?”
I laugh, keeping our lips pressed together. “I’m glad you do, but I’m not changing my mind. I kind of like that you’re going to go to bed tonight wishing you were in my arms.”
She pouts, and I want to suck that bottom lip between my teeth. Instead, I force myself to take a step away from her.
“You’re being very mature and responsible, and I don’t think I like it.”
“You’ll thank me in the morning.” I lean in, placing a single kiss on her neck. “If I got ahold of you again tonight, I don’t know if you’d be able to walk in the morning. Let alone dance.”
Her breath catches, and something sparks in her eyes. She sighs dramatically and rises on her toes to kiss my cheek. “Fine. Guess I’ll just have to go upstairs and take care of myself then. I’ll think about you as I stroke myself, picture all the things I want to do to you next time.”
I swallow thickly, the cheeky minx. She knows exactly what she’s doing, leaving me with that image in my head.
She turns away from me, unlocking the door to her building and blowing me a kiss, before she lets the door thud shut behind her.
I want to be good. Really I do, but the thought of Allegra touching herself is enough to make me leave all good intentions behind.
Me: Let me in.
Allegra: I changed my mind. You were right. I should just get some sleep tonight.
Well, shit.
Me: Okay. Have a good night then, Slippers.
She’s laughing when she pushes open the door to her building. “I’m just messing with you. Get your ass in here.”
I grin, lifting her off the ground and carrying her over to the elevator. The moment the door of her apartment closes behind us, clothes are flying in every direction.
I make her come four times that night, and twice more the next morning.
The next day she texts me to tell me her director said she danced better at the rehearsal than she ever has before.
It’s going to be hard to keep my ego in check after that.