SUNNY
“This feels wrong.”I take Baron’s hand and lead him into the European Paintings collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. For the past hour, we’ve meandered without any purpose or fear of time. Thanks to him, they stayed open past regular operating hours, and we have the entire museum to ourselves. If this is an actual date, I’m sure it’s the best one I’ll ever have.
“Nonsense. I gave them a large donation, and it’s worth it if it supports the arts and makes you happy at the same time. Are you happy?” The left side of his mouth tips into a sly smile, and one blue eye twinkles under the soft lighting as we amble past a particularly gruesome painting of John the Baptist.
His grin disappears.
“Holy crap, this is chilling.” He stops to examine the macabre details.
I nod and bring his focus back to the artist’s use of colors and the common theme of religious imagery among his contemporaries. “It was probably commissioned by a bishop or a pious aristocrat who wanted brownie points with God. Or maybe it was meant for a cathedral.” I try to supply audio commentary, fearing this choice of venue is a far cry from his typical dates.
No doubt his model or actress girlfriends prefer to go dancing or bar hopping. Poor Baron must be bored out of his mind. But this was his suggestion. When I couldn’t decide where to go, he planned this evening on his own and surprised me with a three-part date. He’s the one who called it a date, but I didn’t correct him.
Then I guess this is a date. But if dinner is part two---what’s part three?
“We don’t have to stay here. You tolerated the antiquities and sculptures.” I turn to face him, but he spins me around in my heels and presses my back to his chest. His arms gently wind around my waist until my muscles slack, and I relax into his embrace. It feels nice. He feels warm and cozy, like my favorite blanket from home.
“Tell me about this one. I love listening to you talk about art. Is that Persephone?” He dips me, angling my torso to get closer to the placard. I giggle at his technique and read the summary sideways. “Yes, it’s Persephone.”
He pops me back onto my feet and twists me to face him. “Hades stole her from her family, yes?”
I nod and blink, my face inches from his. “Yes. He fell in love with her, and some myths say he followed her for years, invisible under a magic helmet until he couldn’t stand to be apart from her anymore.” I hold my breath and get lost in Baron’s dreamy gaze, transfixed by the black pupils overtaking his sky-blue irises. His lips part with intent---what’s his intent? Is he going to kiss me? No, he wants to say something.
“Did she fall in love with him?” He’s so close, I taste his breath on my tongue, and the skin on my arms turns to gooseflesh. I instinctively nuzzle into his chest for warmth and press my taut nipples, shielded only by the silk fabric of my little black dress, against the crisp linen of his dress shirt. It’s not meant to be brazen or flirtatious, but it does the trick.
“Does she, baby?” He groans and slides his fingers through my hair, angling my face until his lips touch mine. Our mouths part together. Our tongues meet, entwining, dancing a sultry tango that kindles a fire and ignites flames deep within my core. I rise to the balls of my feet, tiptoeing in tiny steps as my thighs clench with a hunger I’ve never known.
“She does!” I scream into Baron’s kiss, whimpering against his lips as my arms encircle his shoulders and I shamelessly crawl up his thighs.
“Climb me, Sunny,” he grunts, seals his big hands to my ass, and lifts me onto his hips. “Fuck, I should have been kissing you all week.” He deepens our kiss, punishing my lips with tiny bites and playful nips that send naughty tingles into my hot sex and flood my panties.
“Why didn’t you?” I layer kisses down his jaw, lick my way across his chin and nibble his sexy Adam’s apple with the desperate glee of a harlot. “What took you so long?”
“I’m an idiot, but I’ll make up for it, sweetheart. After our date, I’ll make up for it. I promise I’ll knock your fucking socks off.” His long legs carry us through the French Decorative Arts exhibit towards the closest elevator.
“Where are we going?” I scan the area around us as he leads us into the wall and reaches behind his back to tap down the button. With every bump, his hard pecs drag against my tight nipples, turning them stiffer and making them ache for his touch. Between my legs, I feel the evidence of his arousal jutting into the apex of my thighs, nudging my slick pussy and teasing her to come out to play.
He has no idea how much she’s been waiting.
“There are way too many cameras inside the museum watching our every move, and it’s almost time for dinner anyway.” We move together through the sliding doors and take our last tastes before the jolt of our descent brings us back to reality.
“Dinner?” I loosen my grip on his back and slip down his legs, letting my skirt flow neatly across my damp thighs. Next to me, Baron discreetly shifts the bulge tenting his trousers, first left then right. He catches me looking and smiles. My heart swells with pride.
“We can’t skip dinner, Sunny. This is a real date.” He weaves his fingers through mine and squeezes our hands together. I stifle a girlish giggle and opt for a refined nod. But inside, I swear, I’m dying.
“Do I look okay?” The elevator wall is shiny enough to use as a mirror, but there’s no time to reapply gloss. I brush my fingers through my tousled hair seconds before the doors slide open and the docent appears to guide us through a side exit.
“The car is waiting for you.” He offers a knowing smile, probably having witnessed our spectacle from any number of security cameras, but nods to assure us of his discretion.
“Thank you for staying open. We’re beyond grateful for your hospitality. My girlfriend studies art, and I wanted this to be a surprise.” Baron brings my hand to his lips, wraps one arm tightly around my waist, and snuggles me into his embrace.
“Girlfriend?” I whisper as he slides the sleeves of my winter coat through my arms and settles it onto my shoulders.
“Do you mind that I called you that?” His smile fades, and his eyebrows crease with concern.
I shake my head and lean in to kiss his cheek. “No, I don’t mind. I just didn’t know...you know what I mean.”
“I’m getting ahead of myself and being weird.” He helps me into the backseat of the car and slides in next to me. “You’ll need to stop me when I make you uncomfortable, Sunny. I didn’t start liking you this week. I’ve been crazy about you for a long time. So, in my mind, I’m over here.” He holds his left hand flat as a board and lifts it high over his head. “You may be way down here.” He flattens his right hand and drops it to his lap. “You won’t hurt my feelings by telling me to slow down. I just want to be with you, and I’ll do whatever I can to move you closer to here.” He lifts his right hand higher. “But I never expect you to be as crazy as me.”
I stare, confused and mildly concerned by this stark revelation. “That does sound a little crazy, Mr. Caulfield. How have you managed to hide this from me?”
His expression darkens, and a sexy, smoldering gaze transforms his features. “You’ve known a different Baron most of your life---your brothers’ friend and a friend to your family. I don’t want to be your friend, Sunny.”
Butterflies escape my belly and tickle my throat, making my voice tremble with a nervous lilt. “You don’t?”
“Tonight, you meet the man who loves you. This is who I really am and the only person I want to be.”