Page 89 of Too Sweet
Toby shrugs, shoving menus into a drawer. “My girl’s not like yours. She doesn’t need wooing.”
“Won’t hurt, though, will it?”
“Oh, don’t look so sour,” Mia chuckles. “Sex can wait. Aisha won’t tell you this, but she’d like to be more than a booty call.”
“She is! Don’t give me that shit. You know I love her.”
I spin in my chair, one eyebrow raised. “You lost my number, man? Why am I not in the loop?”
Instead of explaining why he didn’t call me, he shrugs like it’s not a big deal. Maybe it wouldn’t be if this wasn’t the first time since I’ve known him that he proudly admitted to being in love.
“Fine, dinner it is,” he mumbles. “Let me get changed.”
I wrap my hands around Mia, my chin on her shoulder. “Tell me you know I trust you.”
“I do,” she admits quietly, toying with my fingers. “I like it when you do that.” She tilts her head back a little, whispering in my ear. “When you hold me like I’m so precious.”
“Most of the time, that’s all I want to do, baby. I know you need to have fun, but you’re mine now, and I need to know you’re always safe.”
She spins on her heel, her fingers back on my cheekbones, and the softest, sweetest kiss on my lips. “I am yours. Your girl. And your girl does as she’s told.”
“In bed, Mia. That applies in bed.”
“Everywhere,” she insists. “If you do something I won’t feel comfortable with, I’ll tell you, but until I do, you can be sure I don’t mind how controlling you are.”
She shouldn’t have said that.
Managing my paranoia is mission impossible on a good day. Knowing Mia will submit to my will makes it much harder to rein in my overbearing personality.
Aisha’s ready within ten minutes as promised, and no more than half an hour later, Mia sits across from me at my favorite table, tucked by the window overlooking the ocean. She tied her hair back on our ride here, leaving a few blonde locks dancing around her face that taunt me as she studies the menu, her lips swollen from my kisses, eyes glassy, happy, relaxed.
She’s gorgeous. So fucking gorgeous.
I catch her hand, brushing my fingers across her knuckles.
“What are you having?” she asks.
“You choose. I want to know what you like.”
Another smile, another tight squeeze in my chest. It’s surreal that I want to lock her up in my bedroom so no one can touch or look at her. We’ve been officially dating for a week, but tonight’s the first time I took her out. It’s the first step of millions I have to take to avoid getting carried away.
The waiter stops by the table, his eyes lingering on Mia one second too long as they sweep between the four of us. That’s enough to make my spine straighten like a metal rod.
“Are you ready to order?” he asks.
“Yes.” Aisha beams, setting the menu down.
She and Toby get their orders in while I focus on Mia’s pretty face to drown out everything else.
“We’ll have the grilled prawns and halloumi for starters,” she says as her turn comes around. “And I heard the souvlakis here are the best, so we’ll take that twice with a side of Greek salad. A glass of Chablis, and...” She peers up at me over the menu.
“Water,” I supply.
“So? What’s new?” Aisha asks once we all have drinks. “I, for one, am writing a new book, and you two...” She points between Mia and me, “...are my inspiration.”
Mia’s cheeks instantly burn bright. “Please don’t. Your books are full of sex. I don’t want you imagining us...”
Aisha squeals, bouncing in her seat. “Youhadsex?!” she whisper-shouts. “Oh my God! When?! Why didn’t you tell me?” She playfully shoves Mia away. “Was it good? Did it hurt?”
