Page 25 of Sexted By a Stranger
He interrupted, standing to move behind me. The jewelry box opened, the cool platinum chain touching the skin at my nape. His warm fingertips accidentally brushed past, sending tiny shivers through me. Click—the clasp closed. That small Starlight diamond settled between my collarbones, cool but carrying his warmth.
He stepped back, his gaze lingering on the diamond for a moment before sitting back down.
My heartbeat was so loud that the entire restaurant must have heard it.
The waiter presented the menu. Beautiful gold-embossed cover, printed with ornate French script, numbers followed by zeros that made me dizzy.
Luca seemed to need no menu at all. He lounged lazily in the high-backed chair, but his gaze stayed fixed on me.
My fingertips traced over "Brittany Blue Lobster with Beluga Caviar," "Périgord Black Truffle Gold Leaf with Wagyu Tartare," "Alba White Truffle Risotto"... My gaze lingered a few extra seconds on "French Pressed Duck with Blackcurrant Sauce" and "Wagyu Filet with Black Truffle Gold Leaf."
"Brittany blue lobster," Luca suddenly spoke, voice low and certain, "with ten-year beluga caviar. Main course—Kobe filet, Périgord black truffle shavings, gold leaf. Medium rare, asparagus tips, change the sauce to black truffle port reduction."He paused slightly. "For dessert, fresh-shaved Alba white truffle ice cream."
Every dish he ordered was an expensive dream my eyes had coveted. The waiter bowed and retreated.
When the appetizer arrived, the waiter was about to serve it when Luca raised his hand. He took the knife himself, the blade gliding through the shell and glistening pearls, movements as elegant as opening a secret letter.
A small piece of lobster was gently placed on my plate, topped with trembling caviar pearls.
"Try it," he said.
Sweet and briny exploded on my tongue. I froze, as if hearing my taste buds speak for the first time.
Looking up, he was watching me with a smile. My ears burned.
The main course followed. Luca picked up the knife again, placing perfectly cut beef wrapped in gold leaf and black truffle slices steadily on my plate.
"Try this one."
I forked a small piece. It melted on my tongue, the exotic fragrance of black truffle and cool gold leaf spreading simultaneously. Sauce accidentally touched the corner of my lips.
The next second, his fingertip had swept across my lips, wiping away that dark spot.
I jerked back as if burned. "You—"
"Sauce," he withdrew his hand.
I lowered my head, heart pounding. For years, I'd been Mom and Leon's shield, but now he handled me like fragile porcelain.
"Luca," I heard myself ask, "do you do this with every girl?"
He set down his knife and fork, gaze piercing through candlelight straight into my eyes.
"Only you, stellina."
My fingers unconsciously clutched the napkin, heart beating so fast it might burst from my chest. His focused gaze left me nowhere to hide.
Before I could recover, Luca forked another piece of gold-wrapped beef to my lips, eyes gentle. "Try more."
His gentleness was like the finest wine. I was drowning in it.
After dinner, I walked out of the restaurant on Luca's arm.
"Come somewhere with me," he suddenly turned his head, lips curving with an enigmatic smile. "You'll like it."
"Where?"
"Somewhere we can see stars."
