Page 13

CHARLOTTE

I watch his brothers follow the guy who tried to drug me and lead him towards the elevator.

Having Jimmy with me as I forced that asshole to drink the drugged cocktail made my heart swell.

It’s always me fighting for myself. Having company felt good.

There’s something about him, something that tells me he’s dark, brutal.

But also soft for the right people. Like me.

“You let me design a tattoo for you.”

It’s the first thing I can think of.

He smirks and pulls up his shirt at the hem, revealing his toned stomach, covered in tats.

“Where do you think it should go?” He asks.

Instinctively I put my hand across his chest. I almost tear it away, but it feels so right.

“Many here?”

“A few. Make it small, and I’ll find it a home.” His voice drops almost seductively.

I nod, the temperature rising.

He stands up, which only shows off his height over me as he offers me his hand, and I take it so he can help me off the stool.

He squeezes my hand as he leads me over to a table, secluded in the far left corner. He stops and lets me in the booth first and follows in after.

“I feel like champagne is in order,” he says as he shuffles closer to me. Our thighs touch and I almost melt against him.

“We celebrating the fact I didn’t get drugged and raped?”

His eyes darken, his lips a thin line.

“Don’t say that. He won’t ever come near you again.” The danger in his voice excites me.

I bite my tongue and refrain from telling him I could have killed him with my bare hands.

He’s already seen too much of who I am.

“Good.”

“Now what are we celebrating?” I question, resting my chin on my hand.

“You.”

“Me? Why?”

He leans back, snaking his arm over the chair rest behind my head.

“For being kickass. And for agreeing to have a date with me.” He winks and my stomach does a flip.

“This isn’t a date.” I can’t hide the smile.

Even if the fear is inside me, for once I want to let loose and do something for me.

And I want to have dinner with him and chat.

It’s refreshing to have a normal conversation with someone outside of Vlad’s circle.

“You don’t want champagne?”

“I would love one.” I smile.

“Say it then.”

I roll my eyes and his hand twitches on the table.

“You don’t like eye rolling?” I question.

His deep, rumbling chuckle makes me clench my thighs.

“Instinctive reflex. I wanted to grab you by the neck and kiss you when you did it. Bratty behavior really gets to me.”

I’m intrigued.

“What would you do after that?” I whisper.

He clears his throat and leans in.

God, he smells divine.

“I’d take you back to my room, tie you to my bed, and gag you, so I could enjoy you in peace.”

I shiver against him. My face must be bright red.

“Enjoy me?” I ask, my voice shaky.

“Hmm, mmm. In so many ways. But I’m not telling you how. You’d have to find out firsthand.” He sits back as the waiter appears.

“A bottle of your finest champagne,” he orders.

The waiter hands us both a menu, but I can’t tear my eyes away from Jimmy.

“Of course. Coming right up.”

I scan the page, but I’m not reading the words, I keep gazing over at him as he studies it.

His sharp, chiseled jaw. The ink that runs up his neck.

What the hell am I doing here?

The waiter returns with the bottle and pops it open, pouring us each a glass.

I take a sip and the bubbles dance on my tongue. It’s creamy. Delicious. My first taste of it, actually.

“Mmmm.”

“That’s one of the sounds I’d like to hear,” he tells me with a mischievous tone.

Hiding my face behind the menu, I decide on the steak salad.

“I make you nervous.” His voice is low.

It’s a statement, not a question.

I look down at my leg bouncing.

“I don’t know if that’s the right word.”

Excited. Relaxed. I don’t know. I’ve not felt like this before.

We order our food and slip back into chatting. About everything and nothing.

I’ve learned he loves fixing cars. Whiskey. His favorite color is black.

He wants a dog.

He loves chocolate. Or anything sweet.

As I finish up my last glass of champagne, I’m all giggly. He slides me a napkin and pen; he must have got that on his way back from the bathroom.

“You owe me one tattoo design, heartbreaker.”

His eyes focus on my ink.

“Yours are pretty.” He nods at them.

If only he knew what they represented.

“Thank you. I can’t help but keep adding to it.” I hiccup as I speak.

“You do your own ink?”

“Taught myself. Although, I’ve always enjoyed drawing. But you can see as it goes up the arm, they get better.”

I hold out my arm to show him.

As his fingers wrap around my wrist, my heart beats so rapidly, and my pussy also has a heartbeat.

“Gorgeous,” he whispers, looking directly into my eyes.

How many times can this man make me blush?

As our meal arrives, I study him, trying to get some sort of inspiration for his ink.

Selfishly, part of me wants something he will remember me by. I just know he is going to stick with me for a long time.

The perfect man I could never have.

“This food is so good. Tasty. I haven’t had a meal out in forever,” I tell him.

As I finish my sentence, my harsh reality topples over me. I don’t have friends to go out with. I haven’t lived a normal life in five years. Have I ever really?

This man has no idea what he’s blessed me with tonight.

He stops before taking his final mouthful, and his fork clatters onto the plate.

“You okay?”

“You know what? I am. Thank you for dinner. I needed this.”

Just to feel normal for an evening.

“We could do this again?”

He looks at me warily, not wanting to push me.

“Maybe.”

I give him a sweet smile.

Once our plates have been cleared, I’m given the dessert menu.

“Oh, chocolate strawberries.” I used to love those as a kid.

“My mom used to love those. A Friday treat, we’d have a fondue with all the fruits and candies. She loved chocolate, actually,” Jimmy tells me, I can hear the grief in his voice.

“Hey! My mom was the same. A whole cupboard full of all varieties!” I smile thinking about my mom for the first time since her death.

My eyes glass over and Jimmy puts his hand on my shoulder and squeezes lightly. I bury my feelings away. They make me weak. I want to forget.

“Any memory is a good one, heartbreaker. Don’t let the bad overtake the good ones.” He nods to me and I fight the tears.

“Shall we order some? Start some new memories too?”

He brushes my hair away from my face and I lean into his touch.

“I’d like that,” I whisper.

“I’m just going to the restrooms, I won’t be long.”