Page 16 of Sail Me to Ruin
“You can’t keep running from me because I want to know you. It’s not a crime to find you beautiful and intriguing. And if it was, I would gladly plead guilty. Now, can we please go to dinner and just give me a real chance to get to know you and for you to get to know me. I know what your lips taste like but I want to know more. Please, Elodie...”
The request lingers in the air while my fingers remain on the handle of the door, and I know what I want before I say or do anything.
“Okay…” I release the handle and intertwine our fingers with my other hand. “No more running. There’s just something about you that makes me want to fight and run all at once, and you’re right, I’m not used to the attention so it makes me nervous.”
He nods in understanding, gently squeezing my hand before taking his back to shift the car out of park.
CHAPTER SEVEN
elodie
The restof the ride feels lighter with our fingers intertwined. We sit in silence the rest of the way.
When we pull up to the restaurant, there are tons of people out front in outfits similar to both of ours crowding the sideway. I try to see what they’re waiting for but I can’t see anything. Blaise pulls up right out front and a young man in a valet suit makes his way through the crowd to the car. He opens my door, letting me out and Blaise crosses around the car to give him the keys with a tip.
The kid's smile widens when he sees the bills and heads to take the car off to park.
Blaise takes my hand again, making his way through the throng of people to the front of the restaurant.
The moment the hostess sees him, she’s batting her eyelashes. “Hi Mr. Vexley, we’ve been waiting on your arrival. Right this way to your table.”
He keeps pace behind her, holding me right up against him. The moment she looks back and sees our hands joined, she scrunches up her nose but says nothing.
Smart girl.
The table is a corner booth in the back. It’s much quieter than the other tables we passed. The hostess waits until we sit then takes off back to her post.
“Mr. Vexley, huh? Seems like you’re a big deal here. Care to tell me why? Also, where are the menus?” I look around the table to find where she put them.
“There are no menus, baby. The chef will prepare three courses for us both, including wine pairings. However, do you have a drink preference until then? I think I noticed you like your tequilas. Would you like a margarita? And yes, Vexley, have you heard of me?” Blaise eyes me skeptically and his demeanor shifts slightly that I am almost not sure if I saw that correctly.
I arch my brow. “I’d love a margarita to start, but no, I haven’t heard of you. Should I? I assume you have money based on the way you dress and all of this.” I gesture with my arms to the restaurant.
He laughs, relaxing immediately.
The waiter comes to the table, asking what we would like to drink and he orders for us both with ease.
“Yes, I do have quite a sum of money. I’m an investment consultant in New York. How about you, my pretty little Storm? With a mouth like yours I’m sure you’re a lawyer. Am I right?”
He leans forward and captures all of my attention with a handsome smile. I can’t help but want to laugh at how far off he is about my profession that I also crack a smile.
“Is that your final guess, Storm Hunter?” I grab the margarita the waiter set at the edge of the table and take a sip.
“Final guess, I am a good judge of character. I’m sure of my guess.” The smug look on his face is almost as great as the fall I know will come.
“Interesting. I don't remember taking the Bar and that’s a pretty big thing to miss. I’m a kindergarten teacher in Maine. I wrangle all sorts of little angels and devils. But I don’t usemy smart mouth for that. Do you think I’m missing out on my potential? I could add it to my resume?”
His jaw hangs wide at my words, causing me to giggle at his visible shock.
The dinner flows on in a mix of drinks, flirting, and getting to know each other between delicious courses of food. He tells me he’s on the cruise with his heartbroken brother, Knox, who has been known to meddle in his brother's affairs. Which explains the initial reaction I received. I tell him about my dad passing and my mom being suffocating. By the time dessert is served, we’ve gone from across the booth from each other to sitting side by side in the middle, sharing the savory plate.
I polish off the last bite of chocolate cake, scooping it up before he could finish it himself. Blaise feigns being appalled before his lips are on mine. The kiss tastes like chocolate and sin mixed up into a heady concoction.
His fingers slip into my hair, and I deepen the kiss, swirling our tongues together to let him have a taste of the bite he lost to me. Instead of fighting for dominance like our first kiss, I let him take the lead, tilting my face up to give him better access. His fingers tug gently against my scalp, causing it to sting. I moan softly and he swallows the sound.
Breaking the kiss, he looks at me, keeping me locked in place with his hand in my hair.
“The next time I hear you make that sound for me, I want you underneath me, writhing in pleasure. And you’ll be much much louder.”
