Page 5 of A Lesson in Deceit
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Seems like a place you take someone if you are trying to impress them.”
“So, what if I am?”
“I prefer to be impressed by conversation, not sophisticated restaurants.”
He leaned back in his chair, his crisp button down pulling against his defined chest. “I’ll have you know I happen to really like the food here, and they make a really good Sex on the Beach, which I know is your favorite.” I opened my mouth to remind him of my age, but he waved his hand. “Don’t worry, put your fake ID away, gorgeous. It’s fine. My conversation is pretty on par, so I’d like to learn about you authentically. No mind reading.” He leveled his gaze at me. The way he refused to look anywhere else had me wanting to rub my thighs together from the heat that rushed between my legs.
I crossed my legs, getting more settled in my chair. I picked up the menu, flipping it open and holding it up to my face, only letting my eyes peek over the top. “Impress me.”
Two hours and too much pasta later, I was laughing so hard I had to hold my stomach. I had learned so much about this man, and he had eagerly asked so many questions about me. Every topic from my family to my friends, all the way to what I wanted to do after high school was discussed. He just nodded when I told him about community college, letting me know that that’s exactly what his best friend, Grayson, did before he got a scholarship and transferred to Mystic Riegan.
He talked about growing up in Berkley and eventually moving to San Francisco at a young age with his brother. River told me the whole story about how immensely freaked out he was the first time his power emerged. I had giggled, considering that hearing people in your head was probably something no one is prepared for. He admitted that he hadn’t always used it with the best intentions, and I appreciated his honesty. He spoke vaguely about his brother and even less about his own parents. It felt like a delicate subject so I wasn’t going to push.
The waitress set our dessert down, smiling at each of us before leaving us alone again. I grabbed one of the forks, digging into the chocolate cake, when I realized that River was staring at me.
“What?”
He licked his lips and smiled. “Nothing. I’m just having a really good time.”
“You don’t miss being able to read my mind?”
“Not in the slightest. I kind of like not being able to know how you’ll respond. It’s kind of a rush. Bit of a turn on.”
My cheeks started to fill with heat and I suddenly became very interested in the cake in front of us, picking some of it up and placing it in my mouth.
He picked up his own fork, sliding it around the chocolate sauce underneath. “There is something I do need to tell you.”
“Is this where everything goes downhill?” I asked, swallowing down my piece of cake.
He shook his head laughing. “No, gorgeous. Well, I hope not.”
I nodded, absentmindedly, not really knowing what else to do.
“I’m pansexual. Is that a problem?”
I blinked and blinked again. I wasn’t upset. If this was who he was, I was more than fine with that. I did want to clarify something, so I could fully understand. “Okay. Remind me what that is again?”
He stuck a piece of cake in his mouth, swallowing it before answering me. “Sex and gender aren’t something I consider when it comes to my attraction. I just like you for you.”
I tapped my fork against the plate, considering his statement. “People have a problem with that?”
River let out a hmph as he ate another piece of cake, letting me know that it had likely been a problem for others in the past.
“You’ll have to do better than that to make me dislike you.” I smirked at him as I pointed my fork in his direction.
“Are you trying to turn me on even more with that fucking smirk of yours?” He tilted his head, the studs in his ears glittering from the light on the wall near us.
I took in a breath, nearly choking on nothing but fucking air. “Can I ask a personal question?”
“I’m an open book.”
I pressed my lips together, pulling my napkin from my lap and placing it on the table. “I’m just curious. Have you been with both men and women or…? Totally fine if you have, but I’m going to have that one on my mind for the rest of the night if I don’t ask it now.” I heard myself rambling and willed my tongue to stop working. “Or you can tell me to fuck off.”
River’s deep laugh eased the tension in my shoulders. He placed his hand under his chin as if he was utterly enthralled by me. “Yes Riley, I have.”
I mirrored his hand placement. “Cool. Well, I haven’t. Man or woman. Is that a problem?”
A stunned look clouded his facial features for only a moment before he rallied. “No, not at all.”
