Chapter 15 #4
He nodded. “You are most fortunate in that respect.”
“I never thought so when I was growing up. I would have killed to have a sibling or two.” I held up a finger.
“Not literally. Being an only child means you grow up only talking to adults, and all the kids at school think you’re weird.
” I shrugged. “It was one of the things I bonded over with Vincent. He was an only child, too.”
“He is not similar to you at all.”
“No, but he understands what it’s like to grow up alone. He was much more coddled than I was, though. His parents spoiled him.”
Involuntarily, I glanced over to see if Gordon and Delilah were still here. I could only just see them, hidden at their table under the stairs. I didn’t particularly want to think about them at all.
I turned my attention back to Donovan. “My mom is stoic and serious and a no-nonsense type of person. My dad was the irresponsible, fun-loving one who could never stay still. Mom and dad are technically still married, although my dad breezed in and out of my life only periodically.”
“Both are still alive?”
I nodded. “I talk to both of them whenever I can.”
Another waiter ghosted in with two huge white plates, slipping both of them in front of us.
I glanced down—a single slice of beef, pink in the middle, with a tiny asparagus spear, the tip shaved carefully to a white point, both lying on a smear of scarlet sauce.
Somehow the dish looked bloody and violent.
I hoped it wasn’t prophetic. Donovan scooped up the whole thing and devoured it.
“I do not understand the culinary practices in this realm, Chosen. The food is delicious, yet it is served in such tiny portions. It is frustrating not to be able to satiate myself on it.”
“I think that’s the point. Always leave you wanting more.”
He locked eyes with me. “I want more.”
I shivered. “So do I.”
“I am not talking about the beef.”
“Neither am I.”
“Shall we leave, Chosen? There is another ritual which we must complete to ensure the courtship proceeds in an auspicious manner. I confess I am eager to get started. It may take several sessions to get exactly right, so we might as well start now.”
“What is it?”
His eyes darkened. “A sacred rite.” He leaned closer and murmured right in my ear. “An exercise in trust and submission.”
“Submission?” My voice had gone squeaky.
“Yes.” His breath tickled the nape of my neck. “First, I lay you on a fur by the fire and bind your hands above your head. Then, I slowly remove your garments.”
I swallowed roughly.
“I will take my time, for the anticipation stokes the magic. Then, once you are naked and spread before me, I kiss every inch of your bare skin, taking particular attention when I get to the apex of your thighs. Then, I will lick you until you scream and beg for mercy.”
I felt like my belly was about to burst into flames. “Is this an actual magic ritual?” I asked breathlessly. “Or are you just making this up?”
“With you, it will be magical.” His eyes bored into mine. “I must have you. I have waited long enough.”
I stared back at him, feeling the heat rise in my belly. Goddamn, I wanted him. The feeling was so intense I could barely move. The rush of blood to my core was too much; I was afraid if I moved an inch, I might overstimulate myself and come right here at the table.
We stared at each other for a moment, locked in sublime tension. Then, Donovan shifted in his seat, adjusting himself, and I realized that he probably couldn't move right now, either.
Suddenly, I could sense it, the swelling tumescence between his legs. It felt like a great monster hiding beneath the crisp white tablecloth.
Oh, dear gods.
My breath felt ragged in my throat. I was close to panting like a dog in heat.
“Susan!” A very familiar man’s voice pierced the sensual fog in my brain. “And Prince Donovan. Hello!”
I didn’t turn. “Fuck off, Dan.”
He chuckled good-naturedly. “It’s good to see you, too. I thought I’d come and say hi.” He scooted into the booth right beside me and signaled to the waiter. “I’m usually here in the VIP section myself, but Cynthia wanted to dine on the floor so everyone could see her.”
“Cynthia should probably have stayed on the floor,” I said, letting out a shaky breath, and turned away from Donovan’s hot gaze. It was probably good timing; Dan’s presence was almost like getting a bucket of cold water thrown over me.
Dan chuckled heartily. “She should have. Poor girl was humiliated. She was so confident she could get the good Prince here to give up his date with you and disappear with her.”
Donovan turned away, grimaced, adjusted himself again, picked up his glass, and threw back the remainder of his whiskey. “Since we have been interrupted, I might take this opportunity to check in with my bondsmen. Do I have your permission?”
“Of course. But do you have to leave me with him?” I jerked my head towards Dan Raine.
“I can hear you, you know,” Dan sang, accepting a glass of whiskey from a passing waiter.
Donovan eyed him stonily. “You are in no danger from him. In fact, he could come in useful. If danger approaches, be sure to use him as a meat-shield.”
I smirked. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
He brushed his lips over mine, and a thrum of delicious expectation rolled through me. “I will not go far. Please excuse me.”
I nodded, and he slid out of the booth. Every single eye followed him as he stalked through the restaurant.
Conversations ground to a halt as he walked by.
I watched as he walked by the table where Cynthia and Jessica were sitting.
Cynthia in particular sat rigidly, holding herself so stiffly she looked like she’d shatter if someone knocked her the wrong way.
“Look at her,” Dan giggled. “She’s never been more embarrassed in her life.”
“Well, local celebrities often overestimate themselves,” I commented. “I don’t know what she was thinking. You get so offended when people don’t recognize you and fawn all over you.”
“Oh, I don’t,” he said. “That’s why I never leave San Francisco. I might be vain, but I’m not stupid.”
I turned to look at him. God, he looked ridiculous, with his stiff, backcombed helmet-hair, his orange-tanned face, and big white teeth. Dan looked like a cartoon character. “You didn’t think Donovan and I were going to kick you out of our booth for interrupting us?”
He shrugged. “It did occur to me. But unlike Cynthia, I’m not here to try to bag myself a hot royal. I just wanted to say hi. And, if I’m being honest, annoy the shit out of my spoiled coworker.” He raised his glass to me. “I should congratulate you, Sue. Your name is back on everyone’s lips.”
Dan was fake from head-to-toe, but he was strangely honest. And now was a good opportunity to get some information out of him.
I was desperate to hear about Audrina, and interrogating Dan would be safer than confronting her mother directly.
“Speaking of minor celebrities, I didn’t know you were such good friends with Jessica Morningside. ”
“Oh, I’m not.” Dan leaned back, making himself comfortable. “She’s a little too old hat for me. She aged out of the gossip columns ages ago. She’s Juliette’s bestie, though, so I put up with her.”
“Is Juliette here?”
“She was. She disappeared about half an hour ago. Some strange, little old man handed her a note, and she took off.” He sat up a little straighter and chuckled lightly.
“She’ll be sorry to miss this. I think she might be a little obsessed with you.
For a while there, she was convinced you were involved in some underground mafia human-trafficking thing.
In fact, I think she still thinks so. And Jessica Morningside still seems to think that you are guilty of something.
She kept glaring at you while we were having our appetizers.
Everyone’s talking about how your Prince just bought this place.
” He whistled between his teeth. “Bought it in an afternoon, like it was a nice pair of shoes rather than the most exclusive restaurant in San Francisco.”
I nudged him back towards the subject I wanted to talk about. “Jessica thought I abducted her daughter, Audrina.”
Another waiter drifted in and dropped a plate of sourdough in front of us. Dan stared at it, almost horrified, and nudged it away until the plate was teetering on the edge of the table.
“Oh, I heard about that,” he said, once the bread was out of his reach. “The cops found her squatting under a bridge, didn't they?”
“Yeah. Jessica blamed me for her disappearance, though; she flung some wild accusations around. I used to speak to Audrina through my bathroom window. Her balcony faces my place, and she was always out there. I haven’t seen her lately, though.”
“Yeah.” He took a gulp of his whiskey. “It’s a shame, really.”
A twinge of alarm ran through me. “What’s a ‘shame’?”
“About her daughter.”
“What about her?” I demanded.
“Well…” He shrugged awkwardly. “Her mental health issues.”
“What mental health issues does Jessica say her daughter has?”
“I dunno.” He wrinkled his nose. “To be honest, I didn’t even know she had a daughter.”
I huffed out a breath, frustrated. “Did she say what she was doing to help her?”
“She probably said something. I wasn’t paying attention.” He furrowed his brow. “You can’t blame me, Sue. Kids are boring. Every time a fan starts banging on to me about their kids, my eyes glaze over and roll into the back of my head.”
Goddamnit, Dan was too self-absorbed; he didn’t know anything. I’d have to talk to Jessica myself. My instincts were screaming at me that Audrina needed help.
But if her mom was here, at one of the best restaurants in the city, then Audrina couldn’t be in too much trouble.
Could she?