30. Damien
Damien
“ I ’ve never eaten here,” Ella said as we walked up to the 1920’s Mediterranean-style villa in the Meridian-Kessler area of Indianapolis.
“It’s one of my favorite restaurants.”
“Mr. Sinclair,” Evelyn, the hostess, greeted as we entered. “When I saw your name on our reservation list, I saved your favorite table for you.”
“Thank you, Evelyn,” I said with a bow. “This is Ella, my soon-to-be bride.”
Evelyn extended her hand and Ella shook it. “Welcome, Ms. Ella. You have quite a man.”
As Ella looked up at me, I was the one to respond. “I have an amazing woman.”
“Come this way,” Evelyn said.
“She likes you,” Ella whispered.
Placing my hand in the small of Ella’s back, I softly laughed. Evelyn was older than my parents. With her rhinestone glasses and fancy dresses, she enjoyed hitting on all the wealthy men dining at Mama Carolla’s.
And Dani thought men were sexist.
Evelyn led us through the hallway of what had once been a home and out onto a paved patio. Lights were strung overhead and romantic music filtered through the air. The table Evelyn saved was a table for four nestled between a vine-covered hedge and a large fountain.
I pulled out the chair near the hedge for Ella and took the one to her side.
Once Evelyn was gone, I turned and whispered. “I have thought of nothing but your gift since we left home.”
Ella’s smile grew as she sat taller. “You don’t make me disappear, Damien. You help me shine, and I see that now. You make me see the world differently, and I’m seeing you differently.”
“Look over there,” I motioned with my chin. The lights in the fountain changed with the music coming through the speakers.
“It’s beautiful.”
“This is my favorite table because I can see others, but with the vines and fountain, we’re less visible.” Laying my hand on her knee, I gathered the material of her dress.
Ella’s eyes opened wide. “What are you doing?”
“Something inappropriate. Since this is one of my favorite places to eat, I want to taste my favorite juice.”
Pink filled Ella’s cheeks as the waiter arrived.
After ordering our wine and appetizers, I handed Ella a napkin.
“What is that for?”
“Stifle your scream. We don’t want to draw attention.”
“Damien, you are not going to finger me in a restaurant.”
“I am.”
As she turned one way and the next, I knew she was contemplating what I’d said. She was deciding if we could do it—if it could be our secret. The way her breathing deepened and the hue of her décolletage grew a brighter pink, I had my answer.
“Admit it. You want to come, right here.”
“Damien, what if people know?”
“No one will know. Our inappropriate secret.” I leaned closer and whispered. “You started this with your gift. I know you’re not wearing panties. How did you expect me to go all evening without touching you?”
“Anticipation,” she said.
I slid my hand beneath the hem of her dress.
Ella’s eyes widened as she took the napkin in hand.
“Spread those sexy legs.”
The muscles beneath my touch relaxed as she slowly adjusted. I was almost to my goal when our wine arrived. When my gaze met Ella’s, she had the most stunning smile as a nervous giggle bubbled from her lips.
“Sir, would you like to taste the cabernet?”
One of my hands was occupied. “The lady may taste.”
“Oh,” Ella said flustered. “Okay.” She took a deep breath and laid her hands on the table.
As the waiter handed Ella a wine goblet, I moved my fingers higher.
Ella clamped her thighs together as she took the goblet, swirled the wine, and made a show of enjoying the bouquet.
“I can smell the aroma,” I said. “I’m sure it tastes as good as it smells.”
Ella’s expression told me that she knew I wasn’t talking about the wine. After a deep breath, she took a sip. “It’s very good.”
Her legs relaxed and I went higher.
It was as I brushed over her clit that Ella reached for the napkin.
“Is everything to your liking?” the waiter asked.
I turned to Ella. “Is it?”
She nodded and hummed.
I spoke to the waiter. “We’re officially engaged. She’s just excited.”
“Oh,” he said, “it is a celebration. We will bring you a special dessert after dinner.”
“Thank you.” After he left us, I leaned closer and whispered, “I’m about to have my dessert first.”
As Ella’s breathing deepened, she sat forward giving me better access.
One swipe and another.
Warmth covered my finger. “Inappropriate,” I said.
Her eyes came to me.
“Coming on my fingers. You’re soaked.”
She closed her eyes as I continued the ministrations. It was as I pressed and rolled her clit that Ella brought the napkin to her mouth, not before I saw she was biting her lip. Watching her come was one of my favorite pastimes and watching her try to stifle her responsive and sensual reaction was even better.
“Oh shit,” she mumbled as her body trembled. She pressed her hand against the table.
“You are stunning.” I removed my hand and licked my fingers. “Yes, all of my favorites in one place. We can cancel the dessert—I had mine first.”
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “I can’t believe we just…” She looked in all directions.
“No one was watching. They should have. You’re better than anything on the menu.”
Ella shook her head and lifted her glass of wine. “If there’s a wet spot on my dress, you’re giving me your jacket to leave.”
“Your dress is lined for a reason.”
She bowed her head as a new level of pink filled her cheeks. “Now I’m going to think of that every time I wear a lined dress.”
“Good.” I lifted my wine glass. “To many more inappropriate adventures.”
Ella lifted her glass and we both took a sip.
“You are a lot to handle, Damien.”
“And you’re the only one who can do it.”
Night had fallen by the time we drove home. As we traveled north from stoplight to stoplight, I said, “You are spectacular. When do you want to get married?”
“There’s something else I want to do now.”
“You don’t want to marry?”
“I do,” she said, unbuckling her seat belt.
“What are you doing?”
“Payback.”
Fuck.