His grin widened. “I strive to knoweverything about you, but there are just some things I can onlylearn by spending time with you.”

She returned his smile and glanced at thecouple again when he gripped her hand.

“Are we going to stay here all night watchingthese two or go make our own fun?”

She wouldn’t mind staying to watch theconclusion, but something in his voice and statement urged her awayfrom the amorous man and woman. Yes, she wanted to make her own funwith Mr. Black.

Two blocks later, her feet started to ache.Luckily they arrived at their final destination only a few minuteslater. It looked like an upscale restaurant and when she peeredinto the window, it was bustling with well-dressed patrons.Suddenly feeling exposed in her see-through dress, she began tohave second thoughts. Without a doubt people would see her nakedbody underneath, possibly even her tattoo. What a distressingthought.

Mr. Black seemed to sense her hesitation andsmiled down at her as if amused with her discomfiture. She wouldn’tgive him the pleasure of her humiliation this evening and shestraightened herself with pride.

As they waited for a table, a man whorecognized Mr. Black approached them.

“I’m to be called by my given name inpublic,” he whispered in her ear.

“Victor!” the older, gray-haired and well-puttogether man put his hand on Victor’s shoulder.

The man’s eyes immediately focused on herface first then slowly moved down her body. Her face flushed underhis probing gaze and she scanned her shoes - the ones that said,yes, she did like being fucked in bad ways. Undoubtedly, Victor wasenjoying this.

His hand rested on the small of her back,giving her comfort when she felt a finger on her chin, bringing herface up.

“Say hello to District Attorney DrewMatheson.”

Elsa cringed but forced a smile. Here she wasdressed like a call girl and meeting the esteemed District Attorneyfor Richmond. He thrust his hand at her and her good manners kickedin. She shook his hand and made brief, polite conversation aboutbeing new to the area. He seemed authentically interested as wellas surprised, though she had no idea why.

“This is a treat,” he added when there was abreak in conversation. “I can only think of one other time I’veseen Vic in the company of a female and that was a very long timeago. You remember that, don’t you, Vic?” he glanced at Victor.

The muscle in Victor’s jaw quivered withagitation.

“You must be one special woman,” Drewadded.

Her demeanor immediately brightened and herembarrassment abated. Victor’s large hand slipped around her waist,drawing her nearer to him as his expression darkened. Glaring atDrew, his grip tightened. He held her so close against his body,his heat could be felt penetrating the delicate fabric of herfrock.

“She is special,” he commented, stunningElsa. He leaned down into her ear and whispered so softly she couldbarely hear his words, “and mine.”

Too shocked at what he had just said and theway he reacted, she didn’t hear the rest of their exchange. Wasthis the real Victor in front of her or the Game Maker? She staredat him, dumbfounded and turned on. Never in a million years wouldshe have guessed this man to be the jealous type – not with all hisconfidence and austerity. Anyway, whether or not she liked it, shewas still just another Chapter according to his own words.

As the hostess seated them, she watched himclosely for some sign of acknowledgement of what he had just toldher, but he showed no further emotion.

She reached for the menu, when he gentlypushed it down.

“There’s no need for you to worry over suchthings. I’ll order for you.”

It was hard to be offended by his offer andhe did know her likes and dislikes, after all.

While he ordered for her, she slipped hershoes off under the table. The sexy platforms were meant to enticeand not for any longer of a walk than it took to get to thebedroom. Once the waiter left, Victor reached under the table andtook her foot into his strong hands and began circling his thumbsinto her aching arch. His fingers explored the soft spots of herfeet, the raw sensuousness of his touch scorching through her body.His eyes examined her face as he sat silently teasing her with hiscaressing fingertips.

He was so relaxed, she couldn’t resist takingadvantage of his good mood. She had opened the door earlier withher question and he walked through it, and she wasn’t about to lethim retreat again.

“When you said you’ve loved before, were youtalking about your wife?” she cautiously inquired.

He shook his head and one side of his mouthlifted in a wry smirk. “I already told you I’m not married.”

“You also told me that lying is part of yourgame. So… are you lying?” she asked genuinely concerned.

The muscle in his jaw tensed even though thetwinkle in his eyes was hard to miss. But, as ever, he wasotherwise unreadable. When he didn’t immediately answer, her mouthbecame unbearably dry. She would be sickened if she found out hewas married, not just heart sick, but physically ill.

“Please tell me you’re not married,” shepleaded.

He smiled, but didn’t answer.

“Please, Victor,” she begged again. His givenname felt foreign on her lips.

His mouth parted as he blinked long and hard.What did that mean? Elsa was frantic as she formulated all sorts ofthings that would come from his mouth – an explosion of irritationfor her continued prying or worse, an admission of beingmarried.

Finally he answered smoothly, “I alreadydid.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Amused, he chuckled while squeezing her foot.“I don’t really care if you do or not.”

Her eyes squinted critically and when sheresponded, she made sure there was no ambiguity in her statement.“You should because if I ever find out you’re being unfaithful toyour spouse, I don’t care what you do to me, our agreementwill be null and void.”

Victor’s brows went up, clearly enjoyingtheir dialogue and his smile reached from ear-to-ear. “Null andvoid? Oh, Elsa, do you really think you can end things between usthat easily?”

Exasperated that the conversation was goingnowhere, she sighed. Why did he have to be so difficult? Would healways be like this? Would every bit of information she got fromhim have to be painfully extracted?

As she sat mulling over everything that hadhappened in the last ten hours, he reached his hand under the tableand began massaging her other foot. This man… always brooding yetso damned irresistible.

Once their food arrived, they began eating insilence. Uncomfortable with the unnatural quietness, she startedtalking about the most mundane and nonsensical things. She couldhear her own voice and how anxious she sounded, but it was like shewas unable to shut herself up. She was nervous. Halfway throughsome ridiculous statement, Victor cut her off.

“Do you always find it necessary to try andfill the silence?”

She closed her mouth and shrugged. “I enjoygood conversation. When it’s not one-sided, that is.” Undeterred,she asked, “Do you enjoy your job?”

The corners of Victor’s eyes tightened asthey strayed from her eyes to her mouth. “What job would that be,Ms. Cassidy?”

She immediately mentally cursed herself. Shewasn’t supposed to know anything about him. Looking down at herfood, she did her best to hold her composure and prayed he couldn’tsee through her pretense. She could play this game, too. She methis gaze and didn’t blink an eye. “Whatever job is it that youdo.”

His eyes continued to roam over her face,trying to read her, but she didn’t waiver. She couldn’t or else,God only knows what the consequences would be.

Bringing his fork to his mouth, his facialfeatures relaxed and he responded, “I’m good at it.”

She let out the breath she had been holding,proud of herself for having played his game his way, and gulpeddown the non-alcoholic Asian pear sparkler that he had ordered forher.