Chapter 10 #5
‘Other things, huh?’ His smirk deepened, eyes glinting as his fingers curled around the console. ‘This is either the flirtiest boss battle setup I’ve ever seen … or you’re just ruthlessly efficient.’
‘Why not both?’ I shot back, leaning in, enjoying the way he looked at me like I’d just played the winning move.
Jericho leaned back against the driver’s seat, Switch in hand, suddenly all business. The smirk was still there, but now it was paired with a laser-sharp focus that made me laugh out loud.
‘Wow,’ I teased, watching him navigate the opening moves. ‘I’ve never seen anyone look this intense outside of an Olympic event. Should I be quiet so you can concentrate?’
‘Shhh,’ he said dramatically, narrowing his eyes at the screen. ‘Greatness is happening.’
And, honestly? He wasn’t lying. Six minutes later, Phantom Ganon was down, my months of hair-pulling frustration evaporating under the sound of the victory jingle.
I blinked at him, equal parts impressed and slightly annoyed. ‘OK … wow. I don’t know whether to thank you or be offended that it really was that easy for you.’
Jericho flashed me a grin, basking in the glory of his digital triumph. ‘What can I say? Some heroes wear green tunics. Others drive silver Audis and clear boss fights in record time.’
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t hide my smile. ‘You’re kind of insufferable. D’you know that?’
‘Charming, though,’ he shot back, waggling his eyebrows. ‘And, listen – if this becomes a regular thing, we could always play more games together. I’ve got plenty of tricks up my sleeve. Think of it as … bonus entertainment if you keep me around.’
I pretended to mull it over, though my grin gave me away. ‘Hmm. So what you’re saying is, you’d chuck in the gaming lessons for free, as well as some good company?’
‘Exactly.’ He handed the console back to me with a flourish. ‘A package deal.’
Ugh. I wanted him. But I forced myself to play it cool, to keep it cute and composed, at least for now.
Sliding my now-conquered Nintendo Switch into my handbag, I shifted in my seat with deliberate ease.
My legs crossed slowly, a subtle performance, the sheen of my oiled thigh catching the moonlight like liquid gold.
You could cut the tension in the car with a knife.
I didn’t look at him directly, but I didn’t need to. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Jericho’s gaze dipping, lingering on the curve of my legs. His sly, hungry glance told me everything I needed to know.
Got him.
He started the engine and slowly reversed out of the cul-de-sac – using one hand to steer nonetheless (a HUGE sexual green flag for me; I shall not explain!) – as we made our way down Wandsworth Road towards Battersea Power Station and The Alchemist bar.
Less than ten minutes later, we arrived and slipped into a quiet booth at the bar.
The Alchemist had a low, intimate hum tonight – mostly couples on dates, with a few scattered groups of friends.
Jericho slid in beside me, effortlessly helping me with my coat as I took my time easing it off my shoulders.
The body oil I’d so strategically applied to my décolletage shimmered brilliantly under the soft lights – exactly as planned.
‘You have the most beautiful skin; almost looks good enough to eat, if you don’t mind me saying,’ Jericho said, licking his lips. Again, my womb quickened. This guy was GOOD.
‘Well, if you don’t mind me saying – I’ve been told I taste good in the past so you’re probably correct in that assumption, Jerry,’ I responded cheekily. Because why not? I’m paying for the entertainment. Jericho’s grin turned into a wide smile as he winked at me and turned towards the menu.
‘So. Couldn’t wait to see me again, huh? Did I make that much of an impression? Am I that irresistible?’ He laughed at his own joke as I playfully prodded him with the menu.
‘I’m really annoyed that you’re correct in your assumption,’ I replied, trying to be careful with my response. Ultimately, I didn’t want to come off as too desperate to the point where he would feel no way in taking my money for dates – I wanted him to want me.
‘But I suppose you piqued my interest yesterday. I like you, and ideally, I’d really like to get to know you better if that’s … if that’s something you do?’ I peered at him, as I tried to judge his reaction. His face was expressionless as he continued to smile somewhat politely at me.
‘Shall we order some drinks in and get this party started?’ he said eventually, avoiding my question. Too soon, Cassie. Too soon.
After a short wait, our drinks arrived, and we spent the next thirty minutes chatting about our favourite things and catching up on recent happenings.
I found out that his favourite movie was Scarface, that his favourite food was a jacket potato with tuna and cheese, and that in his spare time, he liked to draw. All wholesome. All cute.
By now, we were about three drinks in, and I could feel myself starting to relax. Jericho’s eyes had taken on a hazy look as he lounged back in the booth, gazing at me sleepily. As I sipped on my spicy margarita, I decided to take my chance and amp up the questioning.
‘So. What would you say is your ideal woman? Both from a physical and personality point of view? Hopefully that’s not too personal to ask?
’ I asked, slightly slurring my speech. I figured it would be a good thing to find out before I continued on my offensive with him.
Jericho scratched his head briefly, before finally answering.
‘Haha, not personal at all. Hmm. Well, from a personality aspect I suppose I love a strong woman,’ he replied, staring directly at me with those piercing eyes yet again.
‘I love a woman who knows what she wants, is compassionate, kind, creative, intelligent and funny. I guess it’s one of the things that attracted me to this job, you know?
Being able to meet women who know what they want and are determined to get it at all costs.
Ignoring the gender roles that society puts on them regarding sexuality and desire, and taking the bull by the horns. It’s fucking sexy to me, really.’
I straightened up in my seat as he spoke – transfixed. I felt like I ticked all the boxes under the traits he’d mentioned thus far; so far so good. But what about the physical?
‘With regards to how a woman looks?’ he continued, taking a sip of his drink.
‘Honestly, I wouldn’t say I have a specific type, but I do tend to prefer curves, I guess?
I grew up surrounded by confident, curvy women in my family who celebrated their bodies and were unapologetic in their confidence, so growing up, that was always my norm.
I guess that appreciation naturally carried over into my dating preferences. ’
It took me a second to notice that I had stopped breathing. I subtly got it together, while taking in the information. Before I could allow the sense of relief to wash over me however, I had to ask the crucial question.
‘When you say “curves”, do you mean “Instagram model hourglass curves”, or—’ pointing to myself ‘—my kind of curves?’
At that, Jericho looked at me up and down, slightly biting his lip in the process. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as his eyes travelled from my face, down my cleavage and towards my hips. I subtly moved closer to him, allowing him to get a better view.
‘You’re definitely more my type, Cassandra,’ he said finally, his eyes travelling to meet mine again.
He inched closer towards me as he maintained eye contact, as if daring me to look away.
‘As I said yesterday and tonight, you’re very …
alluring. And before you say anything, I’m not just saying that because of the nature of our date; I genuinely mean it. ’
Far be it for me to swoon under the weight of external validation from a man, but Jericho had captivated me from the very start, and I was completely under his spell.
No man had ever treated me like this; I wasn’t used to this level of attention and focus before. It was like a drug, and I was hooked.
A moment lingered as we both stared at each other longingly, the weight of his words hanging in the air with a degree of sexual tension neither of us saw coming.
At that moment, I wanted nothing more than for him to kiss me, and I stared at his lips, hoping he would take the hint.
Instead, his eyes came up to meet mine and the longing vanished from his eyes as he smiled meekly and sat back.
The moment had gone. What had just happened?
‘So, what if I wanted to get to know you more?’ I said, slightly frustrated and going for the jugular. ‘I know this is only our second date, but say I wanted to keep dating you, would I – would I have to keep paying for it? Even if you liked me too?’
Jericho then switched to take a sip of water, straightening up suddenly. I’d pressed him too much. Fuck.
‘This isn’t the first time this has happened with someone I’ve dated from OuiMeet, Cassandra.
I go on a couple of dates with someone, and then over time, they develop feelings and want to see me for real.
If that were to happen between me and you, I suppose a separate conversation would have to be had but, for now, this is my job so I need to keep those certain boundaries in place.
Do you understand where I’m coming from? ’
I faltered. ‘So … what you’re saying is, in order to keep seeing you, I have to keep paying for you. Even if we at some point ended up as friends and I wanted to hang out with you outside of all of this, with no expectations – you’d still make me pay?’
Jericho sighed and took my hand in his, stroking the back of my hand lightly. I flinched at the warmth and softness of his touch.
‘Essentially, yes. That’s how this arrangement works. At least for now,’ he said, apologetically.