Double Dare

She took the box and as she looked into it, he knelt down beside her to watch her face. The box held a heavy silver filigree chain that grew into a thicker setting at the front. It seemed to represent the irregular patterns of nature's growth, but on closer examination she saw that there were two serpents entwined at the center. Resting between their coiled bodies was a piece of amber, as if they were protecting it with their bodies or fighting over it. It was strange and beautiful and it rendered her speechless.

"It's Lalique," he said and lifted it from the box. "I saw it and it made me think of you. I thought you might like it." He unlatched the chain in readiness to put it on her.

"I do," she whispered. "But why?"

He smiled. "A beautiful thing deserves to be surrounded by more beauty." He stroked her face.

"I am surrounded by beauty." She looked into his eyes, feasting on him. She moved to kiss him and, as she did, his fingers slipped the necklace around her neck.

He turned her back to the mirror to examine the result. Abby let her fingers touch the necklace lightly. It was an exquisite thing and seemed to be the perfect partner for her dress.

"You have such good taste," she murmured as she looked at the chain in the mirror.

"I know." He stared at her meaningfully then chuckled low. "Come on. Let's go eat." He pulled her up from her seat, redirecting the mood of the moment.

Abby laughed as she fell into his arms.

He kissed her. "We'd better go now, or we might never get out of here." His tone was so darkly suggestive and her body trembled with resurgent arousal.

The restaurant he took her to was small, no more than a dozen tiny wooden tables squeezed into a space not much bigger than her office. Ancient candelabras hung precariously out from the walls. The light they gave off was increased by their reflection in the gilt-framed mirrors. A diminutive waiter ushered them in, waving his arm in front of himself, as if clearing a grand passage through the tiny place for them.

As they walked behind him Abby spied the noisy antics of the kitchens through a curtained entrance at the back. When they were seated the waiter carried over a blackboard that was easily the same height as himself, propped it on a chair in front of them and left them to study the enticing meals that were listed there.

Abby chuckled quietly when he left. "It's like a time warp."

Zac leaned in conspiratorially. "Yes...I thought you would enjoy it. What year do you think we are in?"

"1896?" she offered.

He nodded. "And you are Sarah Bernhardt, sitting there adorned by your Lalique jewels and your velvet dress."

Abby threw her head back and laughed, she felt gloriously happy. "And you? Who are you?" She leaned over as if to examine him closely. "You must be a Greek Prince who has come to entice me away from my true path."

He looked serious, drew her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. He said something in Greek. She wanted to know what he had said, but didn't want to ask. She felt as if they were circling each other again, as if he were holding something back. It made her want to offer herself, to beg him to use her.

He looked up from her hand but did not let it go. "What shall we eat?" he said, and gestured to the blackboard, but he was still looking at her.

Eventually she turned and looked at the board. She chose lobster, and he ordered a platter of gifts from the sea. The waiter brought a small carafe of wine that was constantly replenished. Abby felt mellow, content. It was as if the candlelight warmed through her body.

The lobster was delicious and was served with honey dipped prawns and a crazy salad that leapt from the plate in a tangle of colors. Zac constantly tempted her with offerings from his own plate. She watched him eat. His mouth was so strong, so firm, and decisive. When his teeth reached for a plump mussel she focused on them to the exclusion of all else around her. He grinned when he caught her watching then offered her an oyster. She shook her head but stared down at the thing as he squeezed lemon juice over it.

"This one reminds me of you," he whispered and took it to his mouth. His tongue came out and teased it from its resting place before devouring it.

"How am I ever to finish my food? Do you want me to starve?"

He shook his head and gave her an innocent look.

"Well, please stop it." He shrugged and returned to his plate. "There is a legend that says a young Athenian boy discovered that Oysters were good to eat," he said. He didn't look at her as he spoke, but concentrated on his food.

Abby listened and ate.

"As he walked on the beach one morning he spied an oyster yawning and leaned over to touch it, to investigate." Zac was plucking a morsel from its shell as he spoke and she saw him standing on the beach in the early morning sun, his naked body dappled with pools of light. "The thing snapped shut at the intrusion and bit his finger." He reached for his wine glass. "As he sucked the pain away he discovered the flavor of the oyster, and broke the thing open, to swallow the unfortunate creature." He glanced at her. "So the story goes."

Abby picked up one of her honey-dipped prawns with her fingers and took it to his mouth. He took her offering then teased her fingers with his teeth and she smiled. She felt the slide of his leg under the table. It moved along the velvet of her dress and her own leg moved in response, caressing his in return. She sat back, stretched her leg against his and sipped her wine.

For dessert they selected a delicate looking tart with thinly sliced apples arranged in neat lines over its surface. Zac insisted she accompany it with brandy. She turned the glass in her hand and let her eyes slide from the movement of the rich, dark liquid to the rich inviting look in his eyes.

"I've never met anyone like you before," he said.