Page 45 of About Love and Revenge

“I have to be out of town for about three days. I'll probably leave tomorrow.”

Her face loses some of its color, but she disguises it quickly. “You don't have to tell me anything about your life,” she says and lets go of my hand. “We need to keep the lines clear between us.”

She's right, but the idea of being deprived of her company drives me a little crazy.

“As you wish.”

Before the waiter can pull out a chair for her, I step forward.

There's something about Elina that makes all men want to run to meet her needs at a single glance from her, and to my annoyance, I'm included on that list.

As we entered, heads turned to watch us pass, and while my face is familiar to the island's high society, I suspect it was her presence that drew so much attention.

Her beauty is impressive. There's no way to remain indifferent to my Greek goddess.

Thesommelierapproaches with the drinks' menu.

“Wine?" I ask, when he leaves us to decide.

“I thought it was a work dinner, boss.” She's goading me, I know, but what she’s unaware of as yet is that I never back down.

“It is, although right now I'm trying to guess whether there's a piece of silk protecting the middle of your thighs.” I return the teasing with what she did to me when I went to pick her up, but now my imagination really is stuck on the fact that her sex might be free of any protection under her dress.

She blushes and looks from side to side to see if anyone has heard us. When she's sure they haven't, she leans forward and whispers, “That was a low blow.”

“Really? As low as what you said to me at your apartment door, making me hard all the way here?”

“Are you . . .huh? Of course not?—”

“If we were side by side, I could prove what I'm saying.”

“Stop this.”She scowls, and I smile at her anger.

“If you can't handle the game, don't start playing.”

“Who says I can't handle it?”

“Elina, Elina . . . you don't know what you're getting yourself into.”

“Maybe not even you know.”

The waiter and sommelier return, and after I choose apinot noirfrom Oregon, Elina asks me to suggest a dish without even looking at the menu herself.

And so she shifts again from the woman who keeps me at a distance, from the provocative muse, to the vulnerable being who stirs hidden parts of me.

Hot and cold. Hot and cold.

Annoying and exciting at the same time.

She never lets me predict what she's going to do next.

So self-possessed, yet she doesn't know the simplest things like how to take the subway. She plays with my desire and then, like a delicious temptation, submits to my choice of food and drink.

I could get addicted to it. Addicted to taking care of her.

I've never liked dependent women, but Elina is very complex. She is everything at the same time: the one who drives me mad with desire...and the girl from an island lost in the middle of the Aegean Sea who needs guidance and protection.

I surrender. “I like it when you let me take the lead.”

---