Emerald Eyes (38 page)

“I’ll get right on it, sir.”

“Thank you, Max.” Eric hangs up. “See? Piece of cake.” He winks at me.

I smile, “You know, you’re super sexy when you command people? I hate being bossed around, but with you it’s if it’s
my
pleasure to comply to you.”

“I’m just a man that knows what he wants, kitten.”

“And what is that?” I ask intrigued.

“You.” Eric glances at me, allowing me to see the sincerity in his luminous eyes.

I groan, “You’re lucky you’re driving or I would have kissed the senses out of you.”

“How is that lucky?” Eric asks deadpan, making me giggle.

“You’ll get lucky later, tiger.”

Eric makes a few left and right turns and I find us in Tribeca. I’ve always loved it here. The buildings are an architectural marvel, colored in earthy hues and adorned with beautiful arched windows.

“Duane Street.” I read the street sign as he makes a left.
 

“Yep. Ready?” Eric puts the car in park.

“For you? Always.” I wink and his sensual lips curve into a smoldering smile.
 

Eric
leans closer to me and kisses the sensitive spot below my ear, then murmurs, “Stay.” He leaves the car and opens my door, holding out his hand for me. I place my hand in his and his long, elegant fingers wrap around my hand securely, pulling me up.
Eric’s hand leaves mine and moves to my waist. Pulling me closer to him, so close I feel his heartbeat. He closes my door and locks the car.

“I got you, kitten.” He whispers then kisses the tip of my nose.
 

I smile and wrap my arms around his middle. “Yes, you do.”

Eric
smiles contently and keeps me anchored to him while we make our way to the sidewalk. I can’t stop thinking about what he’s got planned for us tonight. A thousand possibilities cross my mind, and as if he senses it, Eric asks, “What’s on you mind?”

“What’s the surprise?” I look up at him.
 

Eric laughs, shaking his head, “You are so bad, so persistent. Well… we haven’t gone on an official date yet, so this is it. This is our first official date.”

I smile up at him, “You’re too good to be true, you know that?”

“Only with you, kitten. You bring out this new side of me that I didn’t know even existed. It scares the living daylights out of me, but excites me at the same time. Only
you
do this to me.” his arm tightens around me, pulling even closer to his hard body.

I’m stunned at Eric’s admission. Giddiness and pleasure fill my heart at being the only one to experience this side of him. My heart swells in my chest and I feel the sting of tears in my eyes. Sucking a deep breath, I reach up and place a soft kiss on his lips.
 

I love you. My God, I want to scream it!

When we reach the sidewalk, Eric’s arm loosens slightly but he doesn’t let me go.
 

“And here we are.” he whispers.

I look up at the beautiful building, the color of burnt Sienna.
 

“Scalini Fedeli.” I read and look at Eric, “Steps of faith.” I murmur.

“Yes. Italiano bella.” Eric smiles and cups my cheek.
 

I know he’s referring to the first meal he made for me after we slept together for the first time, the first time I took my step of faith with him when we connected on a deeper level, which I had never experienced before, physically and emotionally. I look up at Eric, into his pure and warm turquoise eyes, realizing that this magnetizing, sexy and charming man is all mine. My heart triples its speed and I inhale a deep breath.
 

Ah, the hell with it…

“Mi sto innamorando di te.” I whisper.

A light breeze caresses my hair, as I stand before Eric, scared yet hopeful while my heart thunders in my chest. Eric eyes widen a fraction but other than that, there is no sign of panic or happiness.

I just told you I’m falling in love with you. Say something!

Just when I start believing it was a mistake, Eric’s hands grab the nape of my neck and he clashes his mouth to mine. He’s kissing me like a madman, with possessiveness, with desire and with reverence, uncaring to the fact we’re standing on a sidewalk with people milling around us. My hands cling to his jacket as his tongue sweeps over mine, slowly manipulating it, making me moan into his mouth. Eric breaks the kiss, panting, he whispers desperately, “So am I, kitten. Only with you.”

Oh my God. Eric feels the same? He’s falling in love too?
 

I suck in a desperate breath and look into his eyes. Eyes I could get lost in forever, and I want to. I’ve never thought about marriage before, but with Eric it’s different. It’s like he’s the definition of happiness for me and I want that. I want my happily ever after with him, only with him. I smile softly and fight the tears that are threatening to show.
 

“Let’s go.” I say quietly, remembering we’re standing at the entrance of the restaurant.

Eric takes my hand and leads me inside the restaurant. The moment we step inside, my breath halts in my lungs. It’s breathtaking. Soft lights illuminate the vaulted ceiling, creating a romantic and intimate atmosphere. A big bouquet of flowers draws my attention as I scan the beautiful space. It’s beautiful, overflowing with lilies and roses. Each well-spaced, cloth covered table holds a lit tall tapered candle and a small vase with red roses.
 

Eric leads me to the host, our fingers interlocked. After checking us off the list, the host leads us to table in the corner. We
settle down and a waiter approaches us. Eric requests a bottle of Bordeaux ’82, and our pleasant waiter leaves us to browse through the menu.

“It’s beautiful here.” I murmur.
 

“I hoped you’d like it here. It was my parents’ favorite place. Well, the one in Chatham, New Jersey. This one opened a few years ago. I always thought about bringing my special someone here, making it
our
favorite place, and here you are.” Eric smiles softly, and it reaches his eyes.
 

It reaches my heart. I love this man more and more with each passing moment.

“Thank you.” I whisper through the tightness of emotions that’s gripping my throat.

“So, what are we having?” Eric looks down at the menu.
 

I can’t take my eyes off of him. He just said I am his special someone and brought me to his parents’ favorite place. I feel my heart expends some more with all the love I hold for him. I smile at his focused expression as he’s studying the menu, his eyes sharp and eyebrows slightly furrowed.
 

Eric looks up and smiles at me, “Stop stripping me with your eyes, look at the menu.”

I giggle and come out from my stupor. I scan the dishes quickly and decide on what I want. Our waiter comes back with our wine and a small basket with fresh baked bread, a small dish and a small bottle with olive oil. We place our orders and the waiter departs.

“The bread is delicious.” Eric picks up a piece of bread and swirls it around in the olive oil, then bites down on it.

“What?” Eric asks with a strange expression.

“How can you eat olive oil just like that?” I’m sure my face looks like I’ve tasted something sour.
 

“So you don’t like olive oil?” he picks up a second piece.

“I don’t hate it but I can’t eat it like that, just raw. It needs to be cooked or something. I don’t know.” I shrug.

“Interesting. Tell me more about the foods you like and don’t like.”

I can’t resist and smile, “Why? So you could make a menu of your own?”
 

“Oh yes. I love watching you eat what I’ve made for you. You eat sexy.” Eric winks.

“How can a person eat sexy?” I ask, amused.
 

“Ahh… well, your eyes roll back and you moan when you first taste it, you chew it slowly and moan some more, you sip some wine and that alone is something to behold, how your lush lips touch the rim, how your delicate neck moves with each swallow.” Eric’s eyes darken as his velvety voice describes something so ordinary sound so sensually, that I feel my skin heating up.

Eric sucks in a breath and continues, his voice raspy and low, “And if you got some sauce at the edge of your mouth, you’ll pick it up with your thumb, then suck on it and when you’re done, you’ll slowly lick your lovely lips clean.” I suck in a deep breath and he winks, “Told you, sexy.”

“You really did watch me eat, didn’t you?” I feel my cheeks heat up for the third time since forever.

“Yes, I did. It’s very hard not to stare when your girlfriend moans about a meal you just made for her.”

“You just inspired me to cook something for you, just to see how you’ll react to it.” I smile.

“Well, the first time I’m probably not going to like it, you know, since you never cooked.” Eric says deadpan then shrugs.
 

I smack him lightly on the arm, “You will
love
it!” I say, mock-hurt.
 

Eric laughs and nods, “I will, I will, I promise. Whatever it is even if it’s bad, I’ll eat it all.”

“You better.” I giggle and at that moment our friendly waiter is back with our food.

Our dinner flows smoothly. We feed one another bits of each other’s dishes, sip our wine and talk about silly things.

“You can’t be serious.” Eric looks at me, shocked.
 

“Dead serious.” I nod.
 

“You’ve never watched the classic, Pulp Fiction?”

“Nope. I have heard of it, but never actually saw it.” I shrug then steal a mushroom off his plate.

“No. I won’t have it. It’s a crime against all movie lovers. Sunday we’ll watch it with a bucket of popcorn.”
 

“Why not Saturday?”
 

“We’ll be busy Saturday.” Eric whispers, he reaches for my hand and entwines our fingers, when his thumb brushes over my wrist, my core tightens with need.

I bite my lower lip and look at him. His smallest touch ignites my body, sending goose bumps down my arms. My breathing alters and my heart speeds up. His beautiful turquoise eyes darken with his lust and he lifts my hand to his lips, softly kissing the inner side of my wrist. Eric takes my hand and puts it against his cheek, leaning into it.

“How are you feeling?” He whispers.

I swallow hard, “Needy.” I whisper and hold his seductive gaze.
 

He places my hand back on the table but doesn’t let it go.
 

“I’ve got something for you.” Eric reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small, black leather jewelry box. He places it before me and the room has officially stopped supplying oxygen. I look up at him, wide-eyed.
 

“Wow. You look like a deer caught in the headlights. It’s not what you think, not yet.” Eric reassures me quickly.

Simultaneously, relief and disappointment rush over me, but I don’t understand why I’m feeling disappointment. It’s too soon for any of that. We haven’t been together long enough. But a primitive part in me, wants me to be his, in every possible way.
Oh God…
no wonder men can’t understand women, we can’t understand ourselves. I find the ability to breath again and look down at the box. Now that I look at it, it
is
too big to be a ring box.

“Open it.” he whispers.

I take a deep breath and take the box in my hands. I push the lid up with my thumb and gasp. A necklace. The thin, platinum chain is tucked under the black velvet and at the bottom of the chain, a gorgeous pendent of a leopard’s head holding a simple ring in its mouth. The head is covered completely with white and black diamonds, the black diamonds being the spots. The leopard’s eyes are breathtaking, beautiful emeralds that shine in the candle’s light. My gaze shifts to Eric, finding him smiling at me.

“I love it. It’s beautiful.” I whisper.

“When I saw it, I thought of your eyes, but it doesn’t do them justice, though.” Eric’s fingertips brush against my cheek.

Overwhelmed with gratitude and my ever-growing love for him, I feel my eyes rim with tears but I bite down on my lower lip, fighting them, trying to calm myself.

“Thank you, it’s lovely. I love it.” I smile.

“Let me put in on you.”
 

Eric rises off his chair and stands behind me, blocking the view of other patrons with his body. I pull the necklace out of the box and unclasp the lobster hook. I hold both ends while Eric slowly sweeps my hair to the side, caressing my neck with his elegant fingers. A shiver runs down my spine and I suck in a deep breath at the instant burst of desire that awakens in me. Only Eric can get me panting and ready with one simple touch, in a restaurant. Eric takes both ends from me and secures it behind my neck. Taking his time as the tips of his talented fingers slowly stroke the side of my neck, teasing me with each masterful caress.

“There.” He murmurs.
 

Eric leans down to kiss my cheek and then whispers, “I want you to wear this tonight, and only this, nothing more.” His hot breath tickles my ear and I shiver as my core tightens with hunger.
 

I feel my panties dampen and I expel a sharp breath.
We need to get out of here. Now.

When Eric returns to his seat, I see the knowing white-hot hunger in his eyes. He knows what he did to me, but he is not unaffected. Eric’s breath comes faster and his demeanor is sharper, like a predator on the hunt.

“Let’s get the check.” I say breathless.

“You read my mind.” Eric rasps and signals the waiter.

While we wait for the check, Eric’s Blackberry buzzes. He looks down at it then frowns. “It’s Max.”

“Take it.” I say.

Eric picks up the call, “Max.”
 

Eric’s frown deepens while he listens, then he looks up at me. “He can’t get your car into your building. He says he needs a key.”

“Tell him to call Laura through the intercom. It’s right by the gate.”
 

Eric relays my words to Max then pauses to listen to his response. Shaking his head, Eric looks at me again, “He tried it, no answer.”