Page 11 of Corrupt Crown

Without taking my gaze off her, I smile as I quickly order.

“Prendiamo uno di tutto.”

Then I reach across, plucking the menu from the table in front of her and stacking it with mine to pass it to the wide-eyed server as he stammers, “Uno di tutto sul menu, signore?”

“Si. E non mi piace aspettare.”

He nods quickly and disappears from sight as Elodie fixes me with a glare. “Most women would find it sexy when a hot Italian man orders for them.”

I arch a curious eyebrow as she sits back in her seat, folding her arms with narrowed eyes, her flush deepening in anger. “However…I’m not most women, Rafe.”

The corner of my lips twitch as I lean across the table, resting my chin on my steepled fingers. “You most assuredly arenot, Elodie.”

Lips pursing in thought, her stomach protests more loudly than before. “I won’t eat something I didn’t choose for myself.”

“You didn’t hear what I ordered, hmm?”

“Itold you.” Annoyance fills every word as she grits out, “I don’t speak Italian.”

Suddenly, with a deep frown, she stands, pushing her chair away from the table with a loud creak along the flagstone beneath us.

“This was a bad idea. I’m just going to…” She jerks her thumb in the direction of the exit as she trails off, her eyes filled with irritation. And something else.

Disappointment?

“I’m just going to leave.”

I don’t think so.

Before she can finish her sentence, I’ve rounded the table and taken her hand in mine. She looks around helplessly at the other diners as I lead her to the small dancefloor in the middle of the restaurant, spinning her into my arms.

Her body is tense against mine, and I can practically hear her brain whirring with ideas on how to extricate herself from the situation.

“I ordered one of everything on the menu.”

Her eyes shoot up to mine, confusion dancing across her face as her brow furrows. “What…I—I don’t—you said?—”

“You’re clearly hungry. And I wanted to…” I’m suddenly at a loss for words.

“I wanted to do something nice for you.”

Our eyes hold for long moments as the music plays on until she juts her chin out defiantly. “I don’t like my choices being taken from me, Rafe.”

The hand resting on her hip pulls her closer against me as I gaze at her with an intensity I need her to feel.

“Your choice is yours alone,Stellina.” My voice drops to a hushed whisper. “I would never take that from you.”

Her eyes flicker back and forth between mine like she can’t quite figure me out until, without warning, her body slackens in my hold, and she leans closer to press her cheek against my chest.

A sudden jolt of electricity courses through my veins. Her proximity. Her touch. Her delicate scent.

Her fuckingtrust.

And despite everything else, despite all the outside forces that make anything happening between us an impossibility, I steal this one moment.

I tighten my hold on her waist, and a thrill echoes within my chest when she settles more firmly against me.

We sway softly to the music as plate after plate of steaming hot food is set up along a buffet of sorts at the table we were sitting at.