"Damn," he said, standing and moving to allow me into the corner of the booth. It appeared he didn't want us sitting acrossfrom one another. His hand lingered on my lower back a beat too long. "You're even better than your pictures."
"You too." I settled into the booth, crossing my legs deliberately. His gaze followed the movement.
The waiter appeared with menus and water. Cameron ordered a bottle of relatively cheap wine without asking what I wanted, probably something to try to make it easy to get my dress off if he was an ass.
Joke was on him, I was here for the same reason, not something real.
"So, Ivy." He leaned forward, elbows on the table. "What brings a woman like you to a dating app?"
"Same thing that brings everyone. Looking for something." I took a sip of water, meeting his eyes over the rim. "What about you?"
His grin widened. "I'm here for fun. I like variety. And I'm good at what I do."
Subtle.
The wine arrived. Cameron made a show of tasting it, nodding his approval like he actually knew the difference between a good vintage and boxed swill. Given the price point for it, I wanted to scoff.
The waiter poured for both of us.
"To new experiences," Cameron said, raising his glass.
I clinked mine against his. "To getting what we want."
His eyes darkened with interest. "I like the way you think."
He ordered the most expensive steak on the menu, and I went with a more expensive dish as well, the shrimp risotto, because if I was doing this, I was at least getting a decent meal out of it. Cameron's hand found my knee under the table before the appetizers arrived.
"You're beautiful," he murmured, fingers sliding higher. "I've been thinking about tonight since you messaged me."
I didn't move his hand away. This was what I wanted, right? Validation. Proof that someone found me desirable. That I could be wanted without strings, without history, without?—
Without feeling anything.
The thought landed heavy in my chest.
Cameron's thumb traced circles on my thigh. "My place isn't far from here. We could skip dessert, get straight to the good part."
"We just ordered."
"I'll pay the check now. Who cares?" His other hand reached across the table, fingers brushing mine. "Come on. You know what you came here for."
Did I?
"I think I'd like food first. Keep my energy levels up," I said dryly, and he smirked.
"When you put it like that then…"
The appetizers arrived, but his hand remained under the table. Calamari for him, bruschetta for me. Cameron barely touched his, too focused on touching me instead. His hand on my thigh, my arm, my shoulder. Always moving, always claiming space.
I should have liked it. Should have felt desired, wanted.
Instead, I felt hollow.
"You're tense." Cameron's breath was hot against my ear as he leaned close. "Relax. I'll take good care of you."
Something in my stomach twisted. This was wrong. All of it.
But I'd committed to it, hadn't I? Made my intentions clear. Put on this dress, these heels, this mask.
