“What if I’d like something different?”
“You like it when I take care of you.” He reaches out and takes my hand, rubbing his thumb seductively over my sensitive palm.
Dammit. He knows me too well.
“Still…” I say, flirty now. “What if I wanted lobster instead?”
“Then I’ll pick up my phone, buy a damn lobster boat, and have a crate sitting on ice by the time we get home.” Nero doesn’t break the stare. “When are you going to learn? I get what I want. And right now, I want my wife happy, fed, and screaming my name.”
I raise an eyebrow, smirking. “I’m not sure how everybody else here would feel about that last one.”
“Fuck them,” Nero says boldly. “I would spread you right here on the table, hike up that dress, and make a mess of your pretty cunt in front of everyone. Say the word, baby. To hell with the rest of them.”
Heat rushes through me. I see it in his eyes, he means it. He’ll do anything he wants…
And what he wants right now is to please me.
A new wave of desire rolls through my core. Fuck, I shouldn’t be turned on by his arrogance, but damn if it doesn’t get me hot, knowing that this powerful, dangerous man is ready to serve my every desire.
To give me pleasure, no matter what everyone thinks.
“Dessert can wait,” I tell him, smiling. “Let’s get through dinner first.”
He chuckles. “Promises, promises.”
Our first course arrives, and of course, it’s delicious. “How was your day?” I ask, feeling weirdly self-conscious now that I know this evening is a date.
A romantic one, too.
Nero shrugs. “The usual bullshit. How about you?”
My guilt rears its head again. “Nothing special.”
“You saw Marissa, right?”
My eyes dart up. Is he trying to trap me in a lie? “No, actually,” I reply, playing it safe. “She couldn’t make it. Last-minute thing. So, I walked around a little, stopped by some galleries.” I take another bite, and thankfully, he lets the subject drop.
I focus on the food, until I realize, Nero has fallen silent. I look up.
“When you said I always have a reason…” Nero pauses, and I tense, bracing myself for the worst. “I guess you’re right. I wanted it to be special when I gave you this.”
He reaches into the inner pocket of his suit and pulls out a small, black velvet box.
My heart stops as he places it on the table between us and opens it, revealing a stunning diamond ring from Sterling Cross.
I gasp. Is he serious right now?
“I know it’s a little too late for an engagement ring,” Nero begins, looking serious. “This isn’t how you pictured any of it. The wedding, the way it all went down. It isn’t what you wanted. What you deserve. So, I wanted you to have this.”
He lifts the ring from the box, and takes my hand, sliding it onto my ring finger next to my wedding band.
“It’s so beautiful,” I breathe, stunned. The diamond is massive, cut in the princess style, surrounded by smaller, pavé stones.
“Juliet helped me pick it out,” he admits, with a wry grin. “I must have looked at every damn ring Sterling Cross had in the building. But I wanted it to be perfect.”
My emotions feel out of control as I stare at it, glittering on my hand, knowing he took the time to select something I would like.
“But, why?” I ask, head spinning. I search his face, looking for a clue. What does this mean?