“If this is the kind of knowledge you’re going to share tonight, then you’ve already won our challenge. This is fascinating. How long have you known them?”
“Zenobia’s family? For about four hundred years. I met her ancestor Paxe when I first came to Rome. She already had the restaurant then, and the food was just as good.”
Sammy raised a brow. “You’re kind of an uber-regular, aren’t you?”
Dre chuckled. “You could say that.”
Before Sammy could open his mouth again, a younger version of Zenobia approached their table with a carafe of wine and a jug of water. She smiled broadly at them.
“Good evening, Dresalantion, Sammy. I hope you enjoy your meal here.”
The young woman put two clay mugs in front of each of them, filled two with water and two with the dark red wine before she bent slightly forward to ignite the thin white candle between them by blowing on it.
“Thank you, Aulina.”
“My pleasure.” She winked at them and left.
“That was Aulina, Zenobia’s granddaughter.”
“Beauty seems to run in that family.”
“Not only beauty, as you’ve seen.”
Dre picked up his clay mug with the wine. “To a wonderful date in the eternal city.”
Sammy clinked his mug against Dre’s. “Cheers.”
They took a sip of their wine and Sammy’s eyes widened. “This is good.”
“Oh yeah. They know how to make good wine.” Dre looked around before he leaned over the table, closer to Sammy, who had a curious glint in his eyes. “Rumor has it that the wine the Pope drinks during mass on Easter and Christmas comes from here as well.”
Sammy’s grin was so wide that Dre feared it would split his face in half.
“Stop giving the boy weird ideas.” Zenobia had approached the table without them noticing her. She put plates in front of them, a basket with bruschetta slices and a small pot with a greenish spread. “All wine consumed during service isthewine. Everybody knows that.” She patted Sammy’s hand. “Enjoy your meal.”
Dre and Sammy each got a slice of bread, which was still warm, covered it with the spread and took a bite. Sammy moaned.
“Mm-m. So good. What’s in it?”
Dre licked his lips. The food was good, but Sammy’s groans were even better.
“It’s a mixture of ricotta cheese, olive oil, basil and garlic. One of my favorites.”
“I can see why. I could bathe in this stuff.” Sammy took another bite, making appreciative noises in the back of his throat that had Dre’s libido burning. It got worse when Zenobia brought them the next course, linguine with artichokes and a lemon sauce that had Sammy moaning like somebody was licking his body from head to toe. Apparently, Sammy loved food. His reaction to the main course,saltimbocca romanawith young potatoes, had Dre’s cock straining against the zipper of his jeans, and after dessert, a panna cotta with strawberry and raspberry sauce, Dre knew he had made the right decision by bringing Sammy there. When they rose to leave, Zenobia took their hands again, murmuring something in a language they didn’t understand. Once they were out of the door, Sammy looked at him.
“What was that?”
“A blessing. Zenobia likes you a lot. You’re the first date I’ve brought here that she served personally.”
Sammy halted so abruptly that it took Dre several steps before he realized his date was no longer at his side. With a questioning look, he turned around.
“You’ve brought others here?”
The drama in Sammy’s voice might have alarmed Dre if it hadn’t been for the mischievous glint in his eyes. He approached Sammy, slung his arms around his waist and pulled him close. “I hate to tell you that,mo grah thu, but you’re the worst actor I’ve ever met.”
Sammy leaned his upper body back to look into Dre’s eyes. A faint blush tinged his cheeks, making Dre want to devour him right there on the street.
“I’m sorry. It’s just— You’re making me so nervous and I’m trying hard not to start with the verbal diarrhea, which isn’t working so well, considering how you’re looking at me right now. I want this to work so bad, because this is my first date ever and I’m wildly attracted to you and you probably don’t want to go out with me ever again.”
