Page 86 of One True Love

April has arrived and with it even more showers, so the sight of the Phantom waiting for me outside at 7.45pm on the dot is such a pleasant luxury. When I’m helped into the car by George holding an umbrella over my head, I take a deep breath before ducking in to join Aidan.

He’s wearing a navy suit with his shirt collar open and the cologne he’s wearing is more pronounced tonight.

“Hey you,” he says, and once we’re on the road, he leans over and kisses me.

The privacy screen is definitely raised tonight!

“I missed you,” he says, looking me over.

I’ve dolled myself up since we’re having a proper date. Some dark, sensual eye makeup, not too much, just enough. A red dress with a cowl neck that clings to every curve, my black pashmina to stave off the cold. He brushes my long blonde hair back over my shoulder and caresses his knuckles along my naked collarbone. The touch, and his gaze, sends shivers down my spine.

“You’re breathtaking, Mirabelle.”

“I could say the same about you.”

He flips up the armrest and commands, “Come here.”

I scoot across the seat towards him and he pulls me into his body, kissing me passionately on the back seat. His hand cups my thigh and he brings my leg across his. I clutch his short, dark hair and bite his lip, his tongue, his finger when he brushes it along my bottom lip.

“Jesus, should we skip dinner?” he growls.

“Maybe we should,” I whisper, moving my hand down to feel his chest and that thumping heart beneath. He’s let his stubble grow out this week and he looks like a dark, Italian stallion. It’s droolworthy. “But I get very snappy if I haven’t been fed.”

“And we can’t have that,” he drawls, sucking my bottom lip into his mouth.

“And we’ve got the ride back home to yours later to fool around. That could be interesting.”

“Two or three courses?” he asks, desperate.

“One, perhaps. We could grab our puddings to go. Or, you might dine on something sweeter during the car ride home…”

“That would be most acceptable, and maybe a couple of cocktails, what d’you think?” He’s nearly panting now.

“A cocktail sounds delicious.”

He’s dipping his tongue in my mouth when the Shard comes into view in the distance. He laughs and rearranges himself, meanwhile I reapply my lipstick using my compact mirror, then help him wipe his mouth clean on a tissue from my bag. Red, the colour of passion.

We kiss all the way upstairs in the elevator, Oblix our destination. It’s not the most expensive restaurant in town nor do I need it to be. The prospect of the views alone made me agree to come dine with him tonight, even if my slight vertigo will kick in, given it’s thirty-something floors up. I know those sparkling lights and the outline of the Thames will be worth every sickening floor.

After my first cocktail in the lounge however, the sultry sounds of a jazz singer in the background adding to the experience, I’m more than relaxed and have forgotten how high up we are. Aidan rubs his thumb in circles at the small of my back as we share a small couch, his eyes on me nearly all the time, except when we’re interrupted by waiters asking if we need anything. Soon we’re moved to our table for the evening and I can’t help how good it feels to have a man walk behind me, guiding me by the small of my back, his height diminished by my own this evening since I’m wearing four-inch heels.

The food is too good to miss so we do end up ordering starters and mains, promising each other that should dessert still seem agreeable at the end of the meal, we’ll take those home in doggy bags.

I’m grinning and teasing the pointed toe of my shoe under his trouser leg, when a flash of something catches my eye. I ignore it at first, staring into his eyes as we wait for his steak tartare and my crab cakes.

Then we’re both having lobster for dinner.

“How was your week, honey?” I ask him, delighted by how seriously he’s staring back at me, those piercing eyes seeing nothing else in here tonight.

“It was satisfactory,” he replies, “so I’m hoping for something rather spectacular tonight. Since underwriting seems pointless now when seated opposite the most beautiful woman in the room. The city, even.”

“You flatter me.”

“It’s totally true. I’d give it all up to—”

Our starters are delivered and we’re left to our food. He finishes his sentence, “…to service you all day long.”

I laugh and begin attacking my starter. “Someone has blue balls?”

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