Page 83 of Masters of Pleasure
“I… uh, sure.Yeah, we could do that.”The words were spurred by the disappointment she’d felt when she’d thought he was writing off the experiment.
“Great.Come down to the bar when the show is over, and I’ll come out as soon as I can.”
Before she could respond, Nick was on his feet, and Avery instinctively looked up at him.Cupping her chin, he held her in place as his lips descended.Heat and need rose fast, her body responding to his kiss.It was rough and deep, meant to claim and conquer rather than reassure, and it left her gasping.
Winking at her, Nick sauntered out of the room, leaving her staring after him, wondering what had just happened.
Nick
Taking a minute to go to the downstairs office, Nick safely tucked the file folder in with his extra chef coats.He liked to keep two on hand at all times in case something happened in the kitchen, and he had to go into the dining room—he had an image to maintain, and the white coats he wore picked up some stains throughout the evening.It was a shared office, so there wasn’t a guarantee of privacy, but no one else should bother his chef coats.
Energy buzzed through him, even more than usual.Despite everything, he felt on top of the world.
Avery was going to give him a chance.He knew it.
He’d expected to be a little more hesitant about getting into all this domination stuff, but if it was what Avery wanted, he was going to make sure he was the man who could give it to her.Nick had always been a fast learner.
If he was completely truthful, he could also admit he wanted to understand the new world his brother had entered.It was hardly the first time his older brother had done something first, but Nick couldn’t remember the last time Luke had done something that Nick hadn’t understood.He was a little nervous about the idea of having to hurt Avery, but hey, what was the point of being the one in charge if he couldn’t say ‘no, we’re not doing that?’
“Chef, I have a special request at table twenty-seven.”One of the servers, one of the few he actually liked, came to a halt in front of him, looking a little nervous.Everyone knew he hated changes to his dishes.Nick put them together in a particular way for a reason, and that’s how they were meant to be eaten.If someone didn’t like part of a dish, they should order something else.Of course, that’s not how most diners felt.
“What?”
Alanna tucked a strand of auburn hair that had fallen free of her ponytail behind her ear, apology in her blue eyes.
“They have a shellfish allergy, but they really like the look of the scallops and lobster.So, they were wondering if they could get double scallops and no lobster.”
“Oh, yes, that’s fine.”Allergies were one thing he would never mess around with.“Put the allergy in all caps when you put in the order.Table twenty-seven you said?”
“Yes, Chef.”Alanna smiled brightly at him and scurried off to put in the order.Nick went to his place on the line, joining the expediter, who was currently plating the food.George was efficient and very good at what he did, but on the weekends, it usually took two people to keep things moving as fast as Nick wanted.
“Keep an eye out for table twenty-seven when it comes in,” Nick said, giving George a nod of greeting before turning his attention to Darnell, who was on the sauté station.“Shellfish allergy.They’ll be getting double scallops.”
“Yes, Chef,” Darnell said without pausing his motion of basting the fish he was working on.
Rolling up his sleeves, Nick got to work.
At least, he tried.He’d never had trouble focusing on work before, no matter what was going on in his personal life, but tonight was different.He was supposed to be garnishing the dishes and handing them off to the food runners for the correct tables, but he kept thinking about how Avery had looked in that corset, the way she’d been almost shy, and wondering about that list in the office.
Wondering about the short glimpse of things he’d seen on it.
“Uh, Chef?That’s for table thirty-two, and that one is for table fourteen.”George eyed him warily as though he wasn’t sure whether he should actually say anything.A little older than the other servers, in his mid-thirties, he was about the same age as Nick, which was part of why Nick enjoyed having him as expeditor rather than food runner on the weekends.He wasn’t as intimidated by Nick as some of the others were and would speak up when it was necessary—although he’d never had to make as big a correction as just now.
From across the line, Darnell glanced up, frowning in Nick’s direction.Not with judgment but concern, but it still didn’t feel good.
“Right, sorry.Got distracted,” Nick said gruffly, putting down one of the plates and handing the other one to George.“I need to run to the bathroom.I’ll be right back.”
He’d splash some cold water on his face and get his shit together.Time to get his head in the game.He’d see Avery later—after his shift and after the show she was watching.
ChapterThree
Avery
Thankfully,there hadn’t been much time for Domi and Rae to interrogate her before the show started.She’d barely had time to put in her dinner order before the lights dimmed, the music swelled, and the room had fallen to a hush.
She gave them a quick summary of everything that had happened once they’d left her in Olivia’s office.They hadn’t had time to respond, which was good because she wanted to get her thoughts and emotions in order before she had to answer any of the questions she’d seen bubbling in their eyes.
She wasn’t sure she had answers.
