One of the hostesses leads us to a table near the wall. I notice the other couples and teams have an edge to them, and I wonder if this is more competitive than I anticipated. The hostess returns with our trivia sheets.
When I notice we weren’t given menus, I turn to ask Bash why, but a well-dressed woman appears at our table.
“Hello, I’m Gwenevere, the house sommelier. I’ll be assisting you with your wine selection. Our five-course dinner is paired with a specific wine per item. The theme is French cuisine. Each course will coincide with the subsequent round of trivia. Please let your server know if you have any questions for me or the chef,” the chic woman explains.
I’m in shock at the elevation of the meal. While I’ve never experienced anything like it, Bash remains collected. He thanks her, and she disappears just as quickly as she appeared. Only a few moments later, a truffle and butternut squash bisque arrives paired with a white wine I couldn’t name. Since Bash isn’t making a big deal of this, I delve in.
Once we finish our soups, the trivia starts. The first round is on history, which isn’t my strongest suit. But Bash must have several textbooks memorized because the ones I can’t contribute to, he gets right. Down to the specific date to the exact day of a Roman Empire battle. Unfortunately, we’re not the only team to get them all correct. Two others do as well.
The rabbit dumplings arrive next with a second wine. They’re exquisite, just as the soup was. It dawns on me that I absolutely cannot finish each glass of wine. Even though Bash explained that they’re four-ounce pours for a little more than a taste, I can’t handle the equivalent to three and a half glasses of wine.
The next round is mythology, an ode to the name of the restaurant. Having had a phase of interest in mythology a fewyears back, I’m able to contribute much to this round. We get them all correct. The third round, foreign affairs, proves to be trickier and we miss one when I insist on an answer despite Bash’s disagreement. His guess had been the correct answer.
By the fourth round, I begin to suspect he’s letting me take the lead. He only gives his guess once I’ve given mine, even though he seems to know every answer. There’s a slight ping in my chest at the realization. But when I catch the way his eyes sparkle and his dimples appear when I get excited over an answer I know, it dawns on me that he wants me to experience the thrill of getting the right answer, and he enjoys my excitement. It’s really sweet.
By the fifth course, the dessert course, I’m stuffed. But somehow, I make room for the flourless chocolate torte. Despite no longer drinking the wine, I’m still tipsy by the final round of trivia. But when the topic is revealed to be paleolithic animals, I perk up. I know the answer to every question, and despite the two questions we got wrong in previous rounds, Bash and I win.
The prize astounds me, a night at the five-star hotel in town. Bash, once again, doesn’t seem surprised at the pricey reward. And to his credit, he doesn’t make any comment about us sharing the room. Although, I secretly plan on doing just that.
“You keep it,” I argue. “You paid for this incredible night, and we both know you’re the reason we won.”
“Absolutely not. It’s your prize. And you contributed just as heavily as I did.” He hands me the envelope with the gift certificate.
“Thank you,” I relent, deciding I’ll save it for us to use later. As I shove it in my purse, he leads me to the car. But once we get there, instead of opening my door, he crowds me against it.
“Don’t bring another man,” he demands in a rough voice. The muscle in his jaw clenches, and I can see the war within his eyes.
“What?” I croak out.
He stares into my soul as he leans closer. “Don’t bring another man to the hotel.” I can feel his rough voice all around me.
“I wouldn’t do that,” I assure him breathily. There’s something about the way he seems to be lost to his emotions right now that has my core tightening. It’s wrong to be reacting to it, but he’s too sexy.
He nods then opens my door. Instead of waiting outside, he bends in and buckles me in. His fingers don’t roam inappropriately, but the brush of them has me straining for his touch. When I inhale deeply, I can smell his earthy, manly scent, which has me squeezing my thighs together. Bash pulls back and rounds the car all too soon, oblivious to my reaction.
Yeah, there’s no way I’m using this hotel certificate with anyone else.
Chapter 20
Sebastian
The way she wiggles in her seat makes me feral and depraved. I could feel her inhale when I was buckling her, my lame excuse to get close to her. I saw the way her thighs clenched. Knowing she’s reacting to me, to my presence, has focusing on the road difficult.
An animalistic part of me wants to reach over and push my hand between her thighs. To slide into her waistband and keep going until I reach her center. I’d push into her wet hole, teasing her little nub. I know she’s soaked for me.
And I can’t do a damn thing about it.
Because I swore I wouldn’t touch her first. She has to initiate. Because I need to let her take charge. I need to know she wants this. That our relationship is driven by her interest, not my obsession.
“Bash, thank you for tonight. I had an amazing time,” she says breathily. The sound of my name, the tone, all of it have my swollen cock battling against my zipper. It’d be disgusting if I adjusted myself, so I silently endure the pain.
“I did too. I’d like to do it again sometime. It doesn’t have to be trivia here. Just something between the two of us.” My voice is raspy, nearly giving away my situation.
“I work the next five days, but I should be free after that,” she obliviously answers.
“That’d be great. I can work around your schedule.” As I have done the last six years. She doesn’t know it, but I’ve been using her life as my calendar since I first laid eyes on her.
“I’ll text you,” she offers softly.
