Anton walks back over to me, and after we tell Anita and Dre good night, he puts his palm on my back and opens the door for me.
I walk through, my jacket over my arm and bag in hand.
As soon as he closes the door, Anton drags his fingertips up and down my exposed back. I shiver with pleasure from the unexpected touch.
“The back of this dress is fucking criminal,” he says in a low tone.
“You gonna arrest me?” I tease.
“You bet your ass. Handcuffs and all.”
“And here I thought you were a nice guy.” I cock a brow.
He laughs and puts both arms around my waist, pulling me close. “You won’t complain about the way you’re treated in my custody, ma’am.”
Finally. Fucking finally, there’s nothing in the way of me and Anton.
Adam pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, paid his fine and went to play hockey for a European league. No NHL teams wanted him. Every time I look up game highlights just to make sure he’s still there, I breathe a sigh of relief. It gets easier every day.
When Anton takes my hand on the walk to his car, it feels good. Warm and secure. No man has ever held my hand before.
He opens the door and makes sure my dress is all the way in the car before closing the door. I think of all the other “dates” I’ve gone on with men who didn’t even pick me up, let alone open the car door. Meeting up at a restaurant, splitting the check and then having a man ask if he’s getting a blowjob doesn’t exactly make a girl feel special.
As soon as Anton gets in the car, I smell his intoxicating, woodsy cologne and get nervous about how good this feels. Is it too good to be true?
“I’ve got huge nipples,” I blurt out, cringing as the words leave my mouth.
Anton’s lips part with shock, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Uh…okay?”
“I just wanted to put it out there. I used to see all the white girls’ nipples in gym class when we were showering and they were teeny tiny. I don’t know if you’ve been with a black woman before, and I just didn’t want you to be surprised. I mean, my nipples are nice, you know, but…they’re big.”
“Oh, Mia.” Anton laughs and takes my hand, bringing it to his lips to kiss my knuckles. “You turn me on harder than any woman ever has. I’ll love your nipples when the time comes. Stop worrying.”
He looks over his shoulder and pulls out of his parking spot. I sneak a glance at his profile. Damn, Anton’s sexy.
“You hungry?” he asks me.
I clear my throat. “Yes.”
“I hope you like what I planned.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it. Where are we eating?”
“You’ll see.”
I give in to my sudden urge to reach over and slip my hand back into his. His hand is resting on his thigh, and his leg is solid with muscle.
He tells me about his afternoon playing darts with Dix as he drives to a building downtown. A valet meets us out front and takes the car, and Anton leads me by the hand through the glass doors of the ornate old building with marble floors and an art deco style.
“Is there a restaurant here?” I ask, somewhat confused.
He smiles and says nothing as we step onto the elevator and he pushes a button. Reaching into his pants pocket, he pulls out a black strip of cloth.
“You trust me?” he asks.
“Yes, but…why?”
“I want to blindfold you.”
My lips part with surprise. “Blindfold me? Are we going Fifty Shades already?”
He hums with amusement. “We can later, if you want. But this is just so I can surprise you.”
My heart beats rapidly in my chest. “Where are we going?”
“Turn around so I can put this on you.”
I do, and he puts the blindfold over my eyes and ties it behind my head. My pulse is pounding from the mystery of it all, and then Anton only takes it further when he moves my hair over one shoulder and kisses my exposed one. His lips are warm and his stubble tickles my skin. I inhale sharply as his lips gently graze my neck and collarbone.
When I hear the elevator doors open, he pulls back and I miss his closeness immediately.
He takes my hand and leads me out of the elevator. We’re outside, I know that from the slight chill in the air and the familiar smells of the city.
I feel Anton’s warmth return as he leans in to speak next to my ear.
“If I have anything to say about it, this’ll be your last first date, Mia. So I wanted to make it memorable.”
He takes off the blindfold and I’m floored by what I see. We’re on the roof of the building, a table for two set with china and glass bowls of hydrangeas. The table is inside a “room” made from potted trees and bushes, floral arrangements, and strands of white light bulbs strung between stakes.