"You seem relaxed."
"What can I say? The kinkier the sex, the lower my stress."
He smooths back a strand of hair, the self-satisfied smilestill there. "I'll keep that in mind." Then he leans in. "And next time, we'll take our time."
"Not in public."
"Not in public. I'm neither here nor there on having an audience. I just like the role play, the denial, and the risk."
Enzo flags down a passing waitress and takes two glasses of champagne.
I accept mine with a smile and pretend to sip it. "This is the second time you've let me go out."
"With me. Not alone. With me."
"So, you're the caveat?"
Enzo shrugs. "With me, you're safe. When you're not, things might happen, and I'll worry. But I'm working on it."
"Well, thanks. I appreciate even this small amount of space and freedom. It's nice to see there's still a world."
But there's something in how he let me walk a bit that other night, and how he let me come here, mingle, and took his time in coming to me.
I think I might like his attention more than I thought I did.
"Play your cards right, and I might even let you see your hot friend, Ruby."
I narrow my eyes at him, and his lips twitch.
"Without a chaperone."
"So I can let off steam?"
"Within reason."
I eye him suspiciously, putting my full glass on a table.
I really don't believe for a second he'll let me go out on the town without him, but if he does...it might bode well for getting to see a doctor, too. With Lyndall. I don't want to get my hopes up. Not yet.
Still...
"It's not that I don't trust you, but you're kind of doing aone-eighty. And definitely looking this gift horse in the mouth."
Enzo puts his empty glass on a tray of empties a waiter is carrying and then raises his hands in surrender. "I've learned my lesson, okay? I'm just trying to give you what you need. Besides, Ruby's annoying. She keeps asking after you like I've murdered you or some fucking thing."
I smile and wrap my arms around him. "That sounds great. Thank you."
"My pleasure."
When we get home, Enzo looks at his phone and groans. "We need to put Alex on ice for a while. Half an hour."
"Okay."
"Half an hour, and then follow the instructions. But I need to return this call."
He disappears into his downstairs study, and I start up the stairs, veering off into the living room as a car crash and dramatic music accompanied by hails of improbable bullets blast out.
Lyndall is on the sofa, a light throw over her and popcorn in a bowl. She hits pause when she sees me. "Did you have fun?"
