On a sigh, Liv returned her attention to Jerry. Not that it mattered, because his gaze remained fixed on his phone. She drained the rest of her Prosecco and wished someone would bring her the bottle. That wouldn’t be too awkward for a first date, right? Right?
“How are you folks this evening?” a new woman asked as she stepped to their table. “I’m Ms. Sanderson, the manager.”
“Well, Ms. Sanderson, we’ve been better,” Jerry said, launching right into a tirade. “We wanted the Kobe filets.”
The manager produced two menus from behind her back like she’d been hiding a present. “I’m happy to recommend some other—”
Jerry blocked the large leather folio from hitting the table. “I don’t use menus.”
It took Ms. Sanderson a moment to recover, but you could hardly blame her. She glanced at Liv like Liv might impose some sanity on the situation, but the sanity ship seemed to have sailed on this date. “Well, sir, that’s really the best way to see what we serve—”
You don’t say, Liv thought, pressing her fingers to her lips to smother the smile that threatened.
“Why are you making this so hard?” Jerry asked. “It’s a steakhouse. I want your best steak.”
“Very good,” the manager said with a seemingly sincere smile. “We have several cuts of Wagyu. If you haven’t had it before, I highly recommend it.”
Red streaks climbed up Jerry’s throat and face. “Wagyu is ridiculously expensive, and this is only a first date,” he huffed.
“You know what?” Liv said, pushing her chair back before she’d really thought about it. “Whatever you order for me will be fine. I just need to use the restroom.”
She’d never run from a restaurant table so fast in her life. Now the question was whether she could run from the restaurant itself. Or, at least, how long she could hide in the bathroom. Or, possibly, whether she ever had to come out at all.
* * * *
Wolf Henrikson watched the sexy stranger flee her table like it was the Titanic and the bathroom was the last available lifeboat. And he couldn’t say that he blamed her. He hadn’t been trying to eavesdrop on the couple’s conversation; it was only that every time the man spoke to anyone from the restaurant’s staff, he shouted like he wanted to make the scene he was in fact making.
What the hell was the cute brunette doing with such an asshole anyway? The few times he’d looked around to see if his dinner companion had arrived, he’d noticed the woman sitting not too far away—and she’d made him do a double take every time. Between her glossy chocolate waves, the bright red paint on her bow-tie lips, and the vintage-style red dress with the plunging neckline and the full knee-length skirt, she had the sex appeal of a pinup girl. He couldn’t help wondering if she wore garters and thigh-highs beneath that skirt.
Wolf almost regretted that he no longer had any reason to stay at the bar because the scene playing out at the nearby table was like a train wreck he couldn’t stop watching. And, oh, he did enjoy watching. People were just so fucking interesting, even when they were off their damn rockers.
But the prospective submissive he’d been planning to meet—in public, at her request—had just called to let him know she’d gotten cold feet. He respected the honesty. The BDSM lifestyle wasn’t for everyone, and it wasn’t something he recommended anyone explore frivolously. But the change in plans left him at loose ends.
Actually, that feeling was a constant presence in his blood these days. Restlessness. Boredom. Dissatisfaction without really being able to pinpoint why.
In anticipation of the meeting, he’d only had water, but he dropped a few dollars on the bar anyway, then pushed off the stool and made for the restrooms at the back. Blasphemy would be hopping soon, and even though he wasn’t scheduled to work a shift, he could no doubt find a willing partner to play with there. Though he was one of the twelve Master Dominants and a one-twelfth owner of the city’s most exclusive BDSM club, Wolf’s particular kink didn’t require all the equipment and special rooms that some did. Really, voyeurism and exhibitionism could be enjoyed anywhere. Which was kinda the point.
As long as he could watch, or knew others were watching, or was with someone who got off on being watched, he was all kinds of good.
Or, at least, he used to be. Something had been missing for him in all of it lately, leaving him wondering whether his role in Blasphemy still made the most sense—for him and his partners. A number of the other Masters had found women to love and to collar, and even to marry. They were committed to the club because it was central to their lives and their relationships. For years, being a part of the scene there had been important to Wolf, giving him a safe place to play and meet likeminded women. But lately, he wasn’t getting the same thrill, the same satisfaction out of it. And it left him feeling like a bit of a fraud. Because the Masters of Blasphemy should be all in. The club and its patrons deserved no less.
On a distracted sigh, Wolf stepped into the narrow hallway that led to the restrooms and nearly bowled someone over. “Damn, I’m sorry,” he said, grasping the woman’s arms to keep from knocking her down. Momentum made it so that he nearly flattened her against the wall, and he got a lungful of a flowery scent from her hair. He prepared for the smackdown his carelessness deserved, but instead what he got was laughter. Full-on, deep belly, throw-your-head-back laughter.
From the sexy pinup girl with the atrocious taste in dinner partners.
“Just…just…an accident,” she gasped between bouts of laughter she tried but failed to restrain. “That full body contact with you…will probably end up being the highlight of my night. Trust me.”
Wolf grinned as he took in her meaning. He wasn’t sure which he appreciated more—her humor, her easy-going nature, or the compliment. Or that dress. Because seeing it up close, damn. The V-neckline emphasized the swells of her breasts, and the full, flaring skirt emphasized a narrow waist over satisfyingly full hips.
“That bad?” he asked.
“Oh, mister. The worst. Like, the God’s honest worst. And my friend can’t rescue me.” She rolled her eyes. “So clearly she’s fired and I need to hire a new bestie first thing Monday morning.”
His grin grew. “From what I overheard, I think you’re fully within your rights.”
She chuckled. “I didn’t even know not using menus was a thing. I mean, who does that?”
“Literally no one does that,” he said, enjoying her playful manner. She had an interesting face, expressive and a little dramatic. He wondered what she looked like when—
Nope. He couldn’t let himself finish that thought. Not unless he wanted her to see exactly how much she appealed to him. And given how her night was going, he doubted that.
“Right? Just my luck. I’m gonna have to cancel my matchmaking service, too. Clearly.” She sagged a little against the brick wall, almost like he’d pinned her there. Or commanded her to hold her position. Trying to rein in his lust for her, he dropped his gaze to the floor, but her calves were like artwork perched on a ridiculously sexy pair of strappy black heels with satin ribbon that tied at the ankles.
Wolf’s mind exploded with ideas of things he’d do to her—or have her do for him—if they’d come to this place together. If she’d been into the same things he was. If she was his. He licked his lips and shook the thoughts away. He didn’t often play with people outside Blasphemy because voyeurism and BDSM were more than most vanilla people could deal with. Admittedly, telling someone that you wanted to fuck them in public where other people could see didn’t easily create a good first impression.
“Sounds like your Monday is going to be busy,” he managed.
She chuckled. “I think you’re right.” She heaved a sigh. “Well, thanks for making my night a little better.”
He tilted his head and considered, and then the words were out of his mouth before he’d decided if they were a good idea. “I could save you, if you wanted.”
“Aw,” she said, peering up at him with striking, brig
ht turquoise eyes. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone has said to me in a really long damn time. But I guess it would be rude.”
“Yeah?” he said, a surprised at how disappointed he was. But her openness and honesty in this short conversation piqued his interest and made him wonder what else she might be open to.
“Yeah,” she said, also sounding more than a little disappointed.
Which officially intrigued Wolf, because she was interested even if she thought she shouldn’t be, given the disastrous date waiting for her. So he held out his hand and threw her a lifeline anyway. Given how he’d been feeling lately, what did he have to lose? “I’m Wolf. I’ll be at the bar. Change your mind, just give me a signal.”
Her eyes went wide as she slid her hand into his. “Liv. Olivia. And I…don’t know what to say.”
Wolf leaned down until he could look her eye to eye. Testing her. Observing her. Commanding her. “Say ‘thank you, Wolf.’”
When the words finally came, they were a little breathless. “Thank you, Wolf.” But she remained pinned to the wall.
Breathing in her floral scent, he waited a moment before he said or did another thing, just to see what she’d do. And all she did was keep her eyes on him. Which was exactly what he’d wanted. Finally, he gave her a wink and then a single nod toward the bar. Only then did she move. With one longing, last glance back, she left the hallway.
And hello, excitement…
Which was the moment Wolf knew he wasn’t leaving this restaurant without her.
Chapter 2
It was quite possible that Liv had never been so turned on in her life. She had no idea how she’d peeled herself off that wall, because she wanted nothing more than to stay there. The brightest green eyes she’d ever seen staring at her. Pinning her. Looking like they quite possibly wanted to devour her.
Wolf. It was a crazy name, but holy wow, did it seem to fit. Because something about the way he looked at her made her feel like he was the hunter and she was the prey.
Actually, she was the one who must be crazy. Because that feeling should’ve scared her. Instead, it gave her post-disastrous-date plans that involved her rabbit and her favorite porn scene about a woman who gets taken by a stranger on a subway while everyone around them watches. And there was more than a little likelihood that Liv would be imagining Wolf as the seducer—and her as the seduced—while she watched.
Hating her urge to be nice even when people didn’t deserve it, she slid back onto her bar stool and tried to smile at Jerry, but that was hard when he started gloating about how his rudeness had gotten them an offer for free dessert. Liv’s hips proved that she could eat the heck out of some dessert, but she’d had her heart set on steak-and-go, so no way did she want to stick around for another course with this guy. At least another glass of Prosecco had been delivered in her absence.
“That’s great,” she managed, her gaze straying over her date’s shoulder to where Wolf was settling onto his bar stool again. He didn’t look at her, but somehow she knew that he was aware of her. Keeping tabs on her, even. Would he really rescue her from this date if she gave him a signal? And what would that signal be? Maybe she could wave her white linen napkin like a general surrendering a battle. That thought finally made her smile. The way the bubbly was going to her head helped, too.
Before long, the manager was personally delivering their steaks to the table. The freaking filet mignon, after all. Fine. Whatever.
“Will there be anything else right now?” Ms. Sanderson asked.
“I’ll let you know,” Jerry said.
Sighing, Liv gave the woman an apologetic smile. “No, thank you.” At her wit’s end, she finally dropped the niceties. “You know, Jerry, you catch more bees with honey. It’s hardly fair to treat a restaurant’s staff poorly because they don’t serve food they shouldn’t be expected to serve because it isn’t even on the menu.”
He shook his head and shrugged. “You never get what you don’t ask for.” He pointed his fork at her. “Remember that.”
She was still processing his insufferable arrogance when he did something even more astonishing. He reached across the expanse of pressed white linen with his fork and knife…and began cutting her steak.
Liv reared back in her chair, her jaw dropping. “What in the world are you doing?”
His gaze rose to meet hers, even while he cut her filet into bite-sized pieces. “I like taking care of little girls,” he said, a tendril of heat slipping into his eyes.
Oh, nope. Nopenopenope. A thousand, million times, nope.
She shoved up out of her chair, and the napkin tumbled from her lap to the floor.
As stunned as she was, she wasn’t sure which happened first—Jerry asking where she was going or Wolf appearing at her side.
“God, Liv. It really is you,” Wolf said. “I worried I’d never see you again.”
Liv blinked, swallowed, and played along as she stared up at that handsome Nordic face, all dark-blond and sharp-jawed good looks. “Wolf. Wow. I can’t believe it’s you.”
He stepped closer. “I see you’re in the middle of something here…”
“Yes, she is,” Jerry said. “If you’ll excuse us.”
Wolf ignored him. “…but after the way we last parted, I promised myself if I ever saw you again, I wasn’t going to let you get away twice.”
Liv was nearly breathless. Was he role-playing or talking about their brief encounter? Either way, her response was the same. “I don’t want you to let me get away.”
She felt out of her element, outside the bounds of propriety, out of control. She had no idea what she was doing here, what she was maybe getting into with this man who was, except for an intense five-minute conversation, a total stranger. She had no idea…except that her head said How could it be worse than my date? And her instincts said Go with Wolf, go with Wolf, go with Wolf. And her body said And climb him while you’re at it.
“Damn, I hoped you’d say that,” Wolf said, green eyes flashing. And then he took her into his arms and kissed her. Right there. In the middle of the bar of a fancy steakhouse. In front of Jerry, who was babbling in outrage that Liv couldn’t hear.
Because Wolf dominated every other sense. His hard chest crushing her breasts and his big hands cupping her jaw and sliding into her hair. His cool tongue licking across her lips. His shower-clean scent adding to the Prosecco to make her head swim. Liv stood frozen and still for long seconds, not because she didn’t like the kiss, but because she did. Oh, man, she really freaking did.
And not just the kiss, though it was by itself the best kiss she’d ever had. It was that Wolf was kissing her where everyone could see him doing it. It was that Jerry’s rising volume was drawing even more eyes to them. It was that people were watching.
Liv thought about that porn scene she’d been planning to enjoy, and suddenly she felt like she was living it. And she didn’t think she’d ever been more turned on in her entire life. Everything tingled as if her nervous system had been plugged in for the very first time. Her nipples puckered so hard they almost ached. Adrenaline had her nearly trembling. And she got wet between her legs. Wet enough that her panties were damp, too.
By the time Wolf released her, she could’ve fallen to her knees. That was how hard he’d rocked her world. Instead, she just said, “Yes, please.”
Something flared in his gaze that she couldn’t name, and Wolf grasped her hand and her purse in a show of possession that made her wetter. He led her away from the table, away from where Jerry gawped and sputtered. Liv was too stunned to even give him a parting piece of her mind.
They passed their original waitress near the entrance that led out to the hotel’s lobby. “Give me a minute, Wolf?” Liv said, gesturing for her purse.
He halted immediately and passed her the bag.
Unzipping her wallet, she grabbed some bills and pressed them into the woman’s hand. “I’m really, really sorry for the way he treated you. And that I didn’t put a stop to
it sooner.”
The waitress shook her head. “Thank you, but I’m just glad you got away. That looked like the date from hell. We’ve all been in the back debating if we should rescue you.”
“I’ve got that covered,” Wolf said, his voice deep, gravelly, sexy.
The other woman grinned up at him. “I see that.” She gave Liv an approving wink. “I hope your night gets better from here.”
Glancing up at Wolf, Liv strongly suspected it would. Exactly what that might mean, however, she wasn’t yet sure. “Yours, too,” she said.
Wolf took her hand again and led her to a private nook in the hotel’s lobby, shrouded in mood lighting and pulsing with the slow beat of a seductive, electronic song. For a long moment, he just stared at her, like he was debating, and then he stepped closer and got all up in her space. “I liked kissing you.”
Liv released a shaky breath. “I liked it, too.” Good God, what an understatement.
“I liked kissing you in public,” he said.
She shuddered as if his words had been a physical caress. “I liked being kissed…in public.”
“Did you now? Well then I wonder, sweet Olivia, what else you might like?”
In public. He hadn’t said those words again, but she heard them anyway.
Tell him, Liv. See where it goes. What do you have to lose?
She felt a whole lot like she was standing on the edge of a cliff—a cliff she’d been peering over for a long, long time. She’d known for years that public displays of affection turned her on. She’d become aware forever ago that the idea of being caught, being seen having sex or being seduced was her favorite fantasy. She had plenty of experience with the fact that nothing got her off faster than imagining that fantasy, too.