Part 10

I.

They had showered and gotten dressed. Dave wanted to take her “to a special place” for dinner and – being a little short of clothes that she had brought – she put on the dress she had been wearing on Friday.

Something had shifted between them. There was something deep between them, a silent understanding and happiness that was reflected in their eyes and warmed their hearts.

She was waiting for Dave to get his wallet and stood by the window, looking out onto the city. People and cars were hustling and bustling busily through the streets to the rhythm of the traffic lights, as usual. But to her, nothing was the same anymore. How could the world still be the same, when her life had been altered completely?

So much had happened in the last few days. She couldn’t believe it was only last Thursday morning when he had turned up on her doorstep and changed her life for good. For the better, too. They had one more day left in their happy bubble, before reality would crash them back down on the ground.

How would their relationship go on from here? Was it a relationship yet? Or were they in some in-between stage? At first, she had thought it might just be some sort of resolving sexual tension between two people. But it had turned into something more, something serious. Did he feel the same? Two hours earlier, she would have answered it with a certain “yes”, but now doubts came creeping up and into her mind.

Would it be enough to survive in every day life? And particularly in the business Dave was in? He had his job, she had hers, would they find enough time for one another to make sure they wouldn’t drift apart again? Their jobs certainly would strain their relationship, but would they be strong enough to hold on to what they had? Or would they give up at the first hurdle, or maybe stumble at the second? Would the fire they had lit from their spark be strong enough to stand the tests – and storms – of time?

She shook her head and tried to let go of those thoughts. Life had taught her the hard way to live in the here and now and not to plan too far ahead. And also to cross bridges when she reached them. Worrying in advance would do no good. But then again, it always was good to keep a realistic view on things. She was afraid she might see it all rose-tinted right now and receive a very harsh wake up call. She was afraid of losing him.

She had been in relationships before, had lived through the highs at the beginning and seen it crash and fall to pieces sometimes within moments, sometimes slowly, even though both had been sure it would last. But then that was the risk of love. It comes without guarantees and lots of surprises.

She sighed and closed her eyes. She was certain about her feelings for Dave. They were growing the more time she spent with him and she felt there was a special bond between them. It would need a lot of work to keep this bond and make it stronger.

Two strong arms snaked around her waist and she felt him kiss her neck gently.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked.

She covered his hands with hers, leaning back into him and enjoying the warmth of his body. Everything seemed so easy in his arms.

“What’ll happen when Tuesday comes,” she said honestly.

He turned her in his arms. “We’ll take one day at a time.”

“I’m being silly, sorry,” she said, hiding her head in his chest.

But he pulled away, gently tilting her head up, his eyes sincere. “It’s not silly, luv. We both know how little it takes to break something like this. But you and I,” he took her hands in his, “we can try to make this work.”

He waited for his words to sink in and she nodded. God knew he had had very similar thoughts just moments ago and he knew there was nothing he could say to make her believe they would not fail. All they could do was work on it. Time would tell. But he knew that he would try his best, his hardest to make it work. He wouldn’t give this up without putting up one hell of a fight. Because it was worth it, she was worth it.

He bent his head and kissed her softly on her lips. “Let’s go.”

* * *

He didn’t tell her where he was taking her and she was getting more and more nervous the more secretive he got. They stopped in a side alley. She got out of the cab, looking around for where the restaurant was, but saw none. He put his hand in the small of her back and led her up some stairs she hadn’t noticed before and knocked on a door. A man in suit and tie opened for them, smiling friendly.

“Good evening, Mr. Gahan, ma’am. Please follow me, your table’s waiting.”

They stepped inside. She was totally surprised at what she saw. This was a most beautiful place: in the huge room, there were several niches, privacy guaranteed by thick, velvety curtains. Some of them were drawn, obviously indicating this space was occupied, others were open, showing elegant tables and chairs.

Undoubtedly, this was quite an exquisite and exclusive dining place. She didn’t even know what it was called, for she had seen no sign at the door.

Dave watched her, smiling, as she looked around, admiring the interior. The maitre d’ led them across the room to their table, where candles were lit. There were no chairs, but a curved padded bench that allowed them to sit closely. The maitre d’ handed them the menus and asked them if they wanted any aperitif.

They both declined and the waiter disappeared, pulling the curtain close. The faint sound of the hall was drowned out and she looked around their little place.

Everything looked really expensive, from the carpet to the table cloth to the cutlery and the candlesticks. Even the menu looked expensive.

He smiled. “I thought you might like it.”

She turned her head back to him. “I do, Dave. Thank you.”

“It’s a special place for lovers,” he said with a low voice.

His hand grazed hers on the table and he intertwined their fingers, giving her a look that made her swallow dry.

He bent his head to her, slowly, breathing in her scent. Then his lips met hers in a slow, soft, promising kiss. He felt a shiver go through her body.

As he broke the kiss, the waiter reappeared again.

“Have you chosen anything yet, sir?”

Dave looked up and said: “We’ll take what the chef recommends.”

The waiter smiled. “Very well, sir.”

He took the menus and disappeared again.

“You’ve been here often?” she asked, winking at him.

He chuckled. “As a matter of fact this is the first time. Martin recommended it to me yesterday.”

Her cheeks flushed at his hot gaze. His fingers erotically stroked hers, his other hand lazily travelled up her back to caress the skin of her back that her dress left exposed. The touch made her skin break out in goose bumps.

She closed her eyes at the feeling and felt his hot breath puff on the skin of her neck, before his mouth grazed the love bite he had left there.

“Mmmh, that looks erotic on you, luv,” he murmured. “You need more of those.”

His lips travelled up her neck, licking and kissing her skin, stilling in one place, gently sucking. He lightly bit down, soothing the pain with his tongue, continuing sucking.

A moan escaped her lips and her head fell back, giving him better access. He slid both arms around her, holding her in place. She felt his hair tickle her jaw, his breath and the ministrations of his lips sending hot fire through her veins again.

Her body was still humming and oversensitive from their previous lovemaking and yet it was so amazing what one look and one touch from him could do to her. She had never before experienced anything like that.

Dave pulled away after some long moments, his heart pounding at the desire he saw in her hooded eyes.

His gaze fell onto the new hickey that started to show on her throat and would be a deep red in a few hours. His index finger lightly outlined it and he smiled.

“Much better.”

Before she could say anything, the waiter appeared again with their starters, a bottle of mineral water and two glasses of white wine. She didn’t like white wine and the waiter noticed her wrinkled nose.

“It’s a special wine, ma’am, added with some spices, you might want to give it a try.”

She hesitantly took a sip. It wasn’t so bad. Very… spicy, herbal somehow.

The waiter smiled.

“Here’s your lovers’ garden,” he said, before he set the plates down in front of them and disappeared again discreetly.

It was a small spicy green salad with some celery and a few oysters.

She picked up the fork, but Dave’s hand on hers let her still. She looked up quizzically and he smiled seductively.

“Let me feed you,” he said huskily.
It left her breathless.

He took an oyster that was cut open and brought it to her lips. She slightly tilted her head, opening her mouth and sipped the content into her mouth. She licked her lips after she had swallowed, locking eyes with Dave.

He was staring hungrily at her lips, pupils dilating. Before he could repeat his actions, she took an oyster from her plate, offering it to him in the same way. Her mouth ran dry as she watched his Adam’s apple bounce up and down again as he swallowed.

It was his turn again and he gulped as she teasingly sucked his index finger into her mouth, too.

By the time she offered him the last oyster, his eyes were dark and burning. He grabbed her hand as he had swallowed, eyes still locked, and pressed an open mouthed kiss onto her palm, his tongue quickly flying out to caress her skin. Her breathing quickened.

There were no more oysters left and they ate the rest of the salad in silence. She could taste all kinds of herbs in it and it was simply delicious.

Dave had moved closer during their feeding game and where their thighs touched, her skin was on fire. Perhaps it really was the food starting to work already, or it was simply Dave sitting here beside her, or the erotic ambience, or all of it, but she was starting to feel rather hot and light-headed.

The waiter re-appeared again with new plates – “lovers’ lances” – cleaning away the empty ones.

White and green asparagus, sweet potatoes, meat wrapped in herbs and spices, topping it off with some chocolate sauce. She smiled and looked up at him.

“Are you trying to tell me something, Dave?” she teased.

“Like what?” he asked innocently.

“Oh, like that you have some plans for tonight?”

He bent forward until his face was only inches from hers.

“Whatever would make you think that?”

“Oysters, asparagus, those herbs… all aphrodisiacs, far as I know.”

His lips were dangerously close now.

“Mmmm… I made a promise, luv. And I intend to keep it.”

Her breath hitched. Oh, she did feel rather sensitive already in her nether regions as it was, but he really seemed to mean it when he had said she wouldn’t be able to walk anymore after that weekend. And it made her physically ache for him.

He saw his words had hit home and with a smug grin, he pulled away, to start eating.

Oh, very well, two could play that game.

She took one asparagus in her fingers and, tilting her head back, she took it in her mouth, sucking off the soft tip, only leaving the slightly woodenly stem. Her eyes were closed and she enjoyed the taste of the vegetable, slowly bending her head back down again, placing the stem on the plate and licking off her fingers. She looked at him and nearly chuckled at the look he gave her.

His mouth was agape, hand with the fork resting in mid-air, eyes dark and glued to her lips and fingers. His breathing was shallow.

She took another asparagus into her mouth, this time watching Dave as she sucked it in again, chewed and swallowed.

He dropped the fork and it landed with a sharp clatter in his plate.

“Are you alright?“ she asked innocently.

“You little minx,“ he growled and pulled her in to crash his mouth hard on hers.

She moaned into his kiss, loving the feel of his tongue and the taste of him. When Dave broke away, she was breathing raggedly. He smiled smugly at how flustered her cheeks were.

He picked up his fork again and continued eating, chuckling at her attempt to keep her act together and try to control her breathing.

After some long moments, she was in control again and they ate in silence, casting glances at each other, their hands “accidentally” brushing, enjoying the meal and the closeness of the other.

The waiter came and went again, bringing them their dessert, but Dave paid no attention to him. Instead, he leaned in, one hand caressing the skin of her back, the other slowly travelling up her knee, under her dress, to draw lazy circles on her inner thighs.

She took a shaky breath and a moan escaped her lips when she saw the feral look in his eyes.

“What do you know about the art of Tantric love making?” he asked hotly.

Her heart skipped several beats before it thudded loudly and painfully against her chest. Hot fire pounded through her body at his words and she nearly had an orgasm right then. She swallowed hard.

“Not much,” she got out in between breaths. “I heard men can go all night.”

Dave smiled at her his particular smile, the one he seemed to have only for her and it made her heart melt.

“That’s right. Let me teach you then,” he murmured, ever so softly kissing her lips, his hand wandering up further, towards her aching centre.

“It is the about giving and receiving pleasure. It is about connecting as lovers, becoming one in heart, soul and body.”
His words sent shivers down her spine and his hand now stilled only an inch before where he knew she wanted him most. He inhaled the scent of her skin on her neck, watching her close her eyes.

“It’s about touching,” his hand found her aching spot and she moaned, her head thrown back, her fingers gripping the edge of the table, and he gently licked up the skin of her now exposed throat.

“And about talking,” he whispered. “God, baby, you’re beautiful when you’re aching for me.”
His lips found hers in a searing kiss that left her skin tingling. She was yearning for him.

“Are you ready for lesson one?”

His husky question nearly sent her over the edge. The power he had over her with his looks, touches and voice was deliciously dangerous.

She nodded her head and opened her eyes again.

“Tantric lovemaking starts with a ritual. Such as,” he took a slice of pineapple with some drops of chocolate on it from his plate and offered it to her, “feeding each other.”

She took the fruit in between her lips, watching him watch her. He licked his lips as she licked hers and dove in to kiss her. Slowly, sensually.

She broke the kiss and offered him a slice, too. As he swallowed, her mouth ran dry when she saw the Adam’s apple bob up and down again. She didn’t resist and leaned in, kissing it. He swallowed at the feeling of her lips and she kissed it again, letting her tongue run up his throat, up to his ear. She took his earlobe between her teeth, gently biting down, to soothe it with a lick of her tongue. She felt him shudder.

His eyes were pools of fire as she pulled away.

“You learn fast,” he remarked, voice tinted with passion. “I think you’re ready for lesson two.”

His gaze held her captivated. Somehow, the waiter miraculously turned up and Dave tended to the bill, eyes never leaving hers. He took her hand and stared down at her, mirroring her passion. His fingers intertwined with hers as the waiter said:

“We hope you had a nice time and everything was to your full satisfaction.”

“Oh, we will be satisfied,” Dave said and pulled her along with him, leaving their niche, walking across the room and out the door.

Down the stairs, there was already a cab waiting. Dave opened the door for her and got in behind her.

“Excellent service, don’t you think, luv?” he said, his arm around her shoulders, their eyes locking again.

She nodded and he gave the driver the address. The drive back home went by as if in a haze. They were under a spell, both aching to be together, their senses on overload due to the food, the erotic atmosphere and the anticipation of what was to come.