Page 13 of The Bones We Break
“The wine menu, sir. We charge per bottle.”
Ricky takes the black menu from our host, his ocean eyes bounce over the words that are printed on the other side. It only takes him a couple of seconds to decide for us. “We’ll have the Cuvee Cathelin Chave 1998.” He hands the menu back, then slides his hand into the inside of his suit to retrieve his wallet before opening it and pulling out his gold Amex card, handing it over to the host as if he does this all the time. My eyes trail every movement. The gold card beaming under the warm lights of the room. They’re so much shiner in real life. I’m trapped under Ricky’s gaze again as he places his elbows on the table, his slender fingers running across his bottom jaw and I trace his every movement as if he’s putting me under a spell.
“Best five thousand dollars I’ve ever spent.”Fucking hell!My eyes almost fall out of my head like an old cartoon.
“Wait, what? You just spent five thousand dollars on a single bottle of wine?” I say, confused and shocked.
“Yes, and? It’s a delicious wine and you’re worth it.” I must look at him like he’s sprouted another head. My jaw hitting the table. That’s more than I make in a month, and he’s just spent it as if it was loose change that was leftover.
“Get out of your pretty little head, sweetheart. I wanted to have this date with you so I’ll spend my money how I see fit, and what I say, goes.” He says with such charm that I feel my insides go all gooey at his remark. I’ve never been taken care of like this before. Never had someone make these choices for me and it’s kind of refreshing to feel.
The night flows on with easy conversation and light flirting that bounces back and forth between us. The red wine and decadent food is delicious, and I moan every time I take a mouthful. Ricky’s eyes seem to darken a deeper shade every time. The stormy irises are now clouding over, almost like rough waters at sea and I would happily drown in them. There’s no conversation about our case work tonight, only sharing bits of ourselves with each other. Ricky tells me about his casino and I tell him about my job at Franklin and Co but that’s as far as it goes, we don’t mention the case that I’m representing him in, almost like it’s too taboo to talk about. We don’t touch too much on our past lives, other than that we both don’t speak to our parents anymore. It brings me a small comfort that there’s also someone else who is in my shoes. I almost feel less lonely in this situation. Ricky is very closed off, I’ve come to learn in the short space of time. Anytime I try to dig deeper into him, to get to know him, he dodges the questions with ease, almost like he’s trained to. My brain short circuits over the mess of emotions that are firing around in my head.
I clean my plate with efficiency, not missing a single crumb, like I’ve never been fed before and I feel Ricky’s eyes on me, causing me to look up. His hard gaze starts at my mouth before going further south and then back up again. He doesn’t say anything, but I’ve seen that look before from people. The one where I finish my meal a little too quickly or my portion size is a bit bigger than someone else’s. Closing my eyes for a moment, I brush that hurtful thought away, I’m getting in my own head again. He wouldn’t be thinking that. Would he? He’s done nothing but shower me with compliments from the moment we sat down.
I’m being stupid.
I shake the annoying voices away and thank him for thewonderful meal. The host arrives back at our table to collect our plates.
“I hope the food was up to your standards, sir.” His head bows slightly as if he’s nervous about our reply, I quickly open my mouth before Ricky.
“It was wonderful. Thank you so much.” I give him a warm smile, hoping to convince him that my answer is truthful. He returns the gesture and retreats with the plates. The firm muscle starts to tick in Ricky’s jaw, his shapely brows furrowing in the middle.
“Is everything alright?” He doesn’t reply for a moment and I begin to think he hasn’t heard me. I go to speak again before he schools his features, the mask of charm sliding back over his face.
“Everything is fine, sweetheart. Don’t worry.” he says quickly, brushing me off. I let it go.
“I’ll let Nico know that we’re ready to leave.”
Ricky pulls the phone from his jacket, his fingers flying over the screen before he locks it and places it back into his jacket. He rises to his feet, rounds the table and pulls my chair out for me as I stand then places his hand out, palm upwards for me to take.
“Shall we?” I give him a sweet smile and nod before slipping my hand into his large one. His fingers engulf mine and he gives them a small squeeze before leading me out of the restaurant. As we come closer to the exit, the host pulls Ricky aside to probably give him his credit card back.
“I won’t be a moment, sweetheart.” He gives me a wink before walking up to the host, taking his card back. Ricky wraps his large hand around the gold card and the host’s hand before speaking low to him. His grip, deadly. I strain, trying to hearwhat’s being said but Ricky’s voice is too quiet. The host’s, once friendly and warm face now completely drains of colour, almost matching his stark white shirt. He begins to nod rapidly, almost lost for words before quickly dropping Ricky’s hand and placing his own, back behind his back. He turns swiftly on his heel and walks away without making eye contact with me.
Strange.
Should I ask what’s going on? Then again, it’s none of my business. I choose to keep quiet, not wanting to overstep. Schooling my features I put on a neutral face before Ricky comes back over and takes my hand in his again. I simply look up at him and smile, and he returns it tenfold.
The black town car sits idle at the edge of the pavement, the engine running. I let Ricky lead me to the back passenger door before he opens it for me. He sways his arm inside of the car, gesturing for me to climb in.
“After you, love.” God, this man and his pet names. I swoon internally and dip my head to climb into the car, shuffling over to the other side so Ricky can get in after me. The cool leather of the seats is a welcoming sensation on my heated skin, being in this close proximity with Ricky is suffocating. His rich scent overrides my senses and I struggle to breathe in the thick air of the car.
“Take us for a drive, Nico.” he says and Nico simply nods. “Yes Boss.”
My mouth starts to dry at the uncertainty but, the tension between us is slowly burning hotter and hotter. I’m being torn in two different directions. My emotions pinging off eachother. Ricky leans over to the centre console and presses one of the buttons on the keypad, a black screen starts to rise between us and Nico, completely blocking us off from view. My breathhitches, the wine buzzing through my bloodstream makes my head swim. A small bead of sweat runs down the centre of my back, my words fall short as I try to say something. I’m so turned on at Ricky’s presence but I’m already frightened with the situation at hand. Both emotions battle for dominance.
Ricky sits back, his large shoulders taking up almost all of the seat, then he turns to face me, before tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his fingertips brushing over my sensitive skin. My skin cells burn under his touch as his hand leaves my ear and skims down my jaw until he reaches my mouth, then he runs the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip, pulling it down before releasing it. The soft flesh bouncing back into place. His stormy eyes lash into me and I have no choice but to keep eye contact, the gravitational pull dragging me under.
Ricky carefully leans in, his warm breath fanning over my exposed skin. Tilting my head, I grant him access, even though I know he could just demand it from me. The thought is scary but the throbbing between my legs says otherwise. He runs his perfect nose up to my ear before taking the lobe between his teeth. An electric shock fires across my skin, boiling the blood inside my veins. Pure desire takes over me, a moan slips free from my lips before I can stop it, my breaths become heavy and wanting. A satisfied smirk graces Ricky’s handsome face.
“You moan so pretty for me, sweetheart. You’re desperate for my touch aren’t you?” He whispers into my ear. My chest rises and falls in rapid succession, my heavy lids falling closed over my eyes.
“Answer me, Annabelle. Don’t keep me waiting.” His dominance has me nodding my head. He’s right, I am desperate. Ever since that night on the dance floor I’ve needed his touch more than I’ve needed oxygen to breathe. Every night his stormy eyes and skilled fingers would infiltrate my mind,leaving me breathless and wanting. The smoothness of his hand splays against the creamy skin of my thighs and I jump at the electric touch. He nips at the sensitive skin under my ear whilst his hand starts the slow, agonising trail up my inner thigh.
I can’t breathe.
The sensations override my system.
