“Curiosity killed the cat you know.” The cocky grin is back like he has all the control in the world.
He slows the car as we come up to a small bookshop on a quiet town street. The lights are on and all I can see in the front windows are rows of full bookshelves. He parks right outside and gets out. I open my door and as I go to get up his hand is outstretched for me to take. I accept his help as the car sits low to the ground. His skin is soft to the touch and he practically lifts me to standing without any sign of effort. As soon as I'm up I drop his hand and I straighten my dress. He chuckles and walks towards the book shop. The windows are surrounded by fairy lights and the outside is made of wood painted white. The sign above the door says 'Kitty's Book shop'. As I catch up to Alistair, I notice a metal stand just beside the door with an open book sitting on it. On closer inspection, I realise it’s a menu. We go inside and the smell of Italian food hits my nose.
I've walked past this book shop a million times but I never knew it was a restaurant by night. It's adorable and cosy. There’re rows upon rows of bookshelves and nestled in discrete corners are tables for two with candles and flowers in the centre. Soft classical music is playing in the back ground and you can just about hear other couples at their tables and the clinking of cutlery. An elderly lady meets us at the door and introduces herself as Kitty. She walks us through to a quiet corner near the back. As we sit she hands us a couple of menus.
I'm shocked at how Alistair could have known this place exists. It doesn't strike me as the sort of place he'd go to for a meal. He seems like the type that would be more at home at a place like the Ritz or any other huge high-end restaurant. Not a secret, romantic bookshop. I couldn't think of a more perfect place to go out to dinner.
Alistair orders a couple glasses of pink champagne and as Kitty leaves I feel like we're the only two people here.
“So, what do you think?” That predatory grin is back as he reclines in his chair.
I give him a genuine smile. “It's lovely. How do you know about this place?”
“I make a point of knowing places that are off the beaten track. I find them much more intimate.” His silver eyes flash and my heart flutters. I bite my bottom lip as I look down at my menu determined to not get tangled in the web he's weaving. I don't trust him yet and he's got a lot to do to come close to it, despite what my hormones think.
I put my menu down, lean forward on the table and stare him dead in the eyes. The champagne from earlier is kicking in making me feel a bit reckless. I reach across the table and trace a circle on the back on his hand. “Are you going to tell me what is going on or not? You know a lot more than your letting on and I'm not interested in mind games.” I keep my voice low and look up at him through my lashes.
He leans forward as well leaving just a few inches between us. His voice is barely a whisper. “You are far more important than you know Krista. You are unlike any Nymph that I have had the extraordinary pleasure of meeting before.”
His knowledge of what I am shocks me and I pull my hand away but not before he grabs it in his own and brings it to his lips. A low growl leaves his lips that heats me up from within. He brushes his lips against my knuckles and inhales. “You are divine Krista.” As if broken from a trance his blinks and lowers my hand back to the table. I realise I was holding my breath and manage to snap myself out of it just as Kitty walks over with our drinks.
“Are you ready to order?” She says as she places our drinks on the table.
I haven't even looked at the menu. “Umm...-”
“We'll have two of the Spaghetti Con Polpette please.” Replies Alistair as he passes her his menu. He gives her a dazzling smile and she nods shyly as she takes my menu as well.
He turns back to me all business. “I know you have questions and I fully intend to answer them but first I want to know. Why aren't you running for the hills away from me?”
His question catches me off guard. “I don't know...”
He narrows his eyes at me. “You do know Psychi Mou. Tell me.”
Maybe it's the champagne but I feel bold. “You intrigue me. You have a fog around you that feels dark but for some reason I know that there's more to you than that. You've helped me a lot just lately, maybe I do owe you a favour in return.” I lick my lips then take a sip of champagne without breaking eye contact with him. His eyes narrow and he also takes a sip from his glass.
“I'll be sure to take you up on that someday.” His voice is dripping with promise. It leaves me excited for when he does cash it in. My core tightens and I cross my legs to try and elevate the growing tension between them. He seems to sense my reaction to him and his eyes darken with that familiar cocky grin.
This is going to be a long night and I don't think I want it to end.
Chapter 8
When the food arrives, it gives me chance to come back to my senses. Just yesterday I couldn't stand this guy and now he's getting me wound up so tight I want to jump him right here in the restaurant. It's like I'm stuck in a tornado and getting spun faster and faster. Just Friday I was an ordinary girl going to college. Now it's Monday, I'm a Nymph and on a hot date with a guy I barely know and who is definitely not quite human. Questions fill my mind from the last few days and now I am determined to find out what is up with this dangerously handsome man sitting in front of me.
I take my time enjoying my delicious meat balls and pasta so I don't seem too eager. Then I sit up straight and ask him what I've only been guessing at.
“How did you make Nick and Robbie forget?”
He smirks around his fork. “I wondered when this would come up.” He takes his time twirling some spaghetti around his fork. “It's called compulsion. I can make the weak of mind do what I want them to do. Like forget situations that may be problematic. It's good for damage control.” His intense gaze once again locks with mine. His eyes are such a deep shade of grey-like angry storm clouds. One moment they're so dark verging on black, the next they're lighter. Like white has mixedin to make them softer but no less cold. Which begs the question...
“Can you control my mind?” There's a knot of fear in my stomach and I'm gripping my fork a lot tighter than I need to.
“No, it's impossible. Your mind is strong and also your abilities give you an extra layer of protection against someone like me.” He hooks my leg in his under the table and using his hand brings my foot up to his lap where he places it on the edge of the chair between his legs. He starts running the tips of his fingers up and down my bare calf. It sends tingles up my leg and I squirm in my seat. I bite my lip and his eyes flash darker for a second like a passing black cloud. He blinks and it’s gone leaving his grey eyes a shade darker. “It certainly makes the chase much more fun.”
“Because you can't bend me to your every will?” My voice is slightly breathless whilst he is still perfectly in control. We'll see about that. I shift my leg on his seat and point my toes down against his crotch. I move my foot up and down against him once then stop but leave the pressure of it on him. He stiffens and his hand stops moving on my leg. The sole on my stiletto is quite thick but I can still feel him get hard beneath my foot.
“Something tells me I'll never get you to do as your told.” There's a slight growl to his tone that tells me I'm having quite the effect on him. His hand grips my leg tightly but not enough to hurt. The dark aura around him pulses stronger and the horrible feeling permeates the air around our table. Like a warning. I pull my foot away and he lets it slide out of his grasp. As we compose ourselves, the darkness hanging in the air seems to dissipate slightly.
I eat a bit more of my meal before it gets too cold. I watch him as he does the same. I finish off my glass of champagne and clear my throat. “Why does the space around you feel so dark? Sometimes its barely there and other times it's suffocating.It's....” Dare I say it? “It feels horrible... Like death... It's like an aura around you but I can't see it.” I lean my elbow on the table and rest my chin on my hand.
