Cara's pov
La Perle Noire was the type of restaurant you could only dream of visiting. Most people live their entire life not knowing what it's like to see the inside of the Victorian style building.
But here I was, sitting in a limo parked right in front of the magnificent place. My head spun to Luca. "Are we really going to have dinner here?"
His smile was warm and amused. "Yes, bambina."
"Oh my God!" I gasped aloud, whirling back to the window.
Luca got out and opened my side of the door. I took his proffered hand and stepped out onto the pebbled stoned path excitedly, suppressing the squeal in my throat.
The opulent double doors with gold engravings opened up the second we got to it and my jaw dropped as we stepped onto the blood red carpeting.
The place was a literal castle– the cream and gold wall paneling were adorned with endless rows of Renaissance paintings that somehow didn't end up looking garish.
Two glimmering giant chandeliers hung from a mediumly high ceiling and placed strategically on either side of the large pillars lining the center of the place. It occured to me that something was different about the pillars and when I got closer, I was gripped in amazement by the 3D cravings of greek celestial bodies spiralling around from top to base.
On the far end was an entire wall of an aquarium with a bottom of the sea ensemble and loads of pretty fishes like koi fishes, tiger barbs and Nemo fish from Finding Nemo–I forgot what they're called.
A uniformed blond man rushed over to welcome us with a friendly smile before leading us to the draped with white fine silk table for two Luca had reserved.
We arrived at a square table closest to the aquarium and a little isolated from the rest of the others. I suspected it was the most desirable table on this floor of the restaurant and it was just fitting that Luca would want us to have it.
"This place is really beautiful," I breathed as Luca waved our guide aside and pulled out one of the velvet cushioned seats and helped me into it before settling into the other one.
I could see the fish up close and I was blown away by the colors and beauty of them as they swam around in the gigantic glass tank.
"I've never seen anything quite like this." I beamed, entranced by a koi fish swimming close. "Takes my breath away."
"Sure does." Luca drawled at the other end of the table.
I returned my gaze to him to find him staring at me strangely. Well, not too strangely, I'd recognized that dark, smoldering look he was giving me anywhere but there was something else, almost like he was looking at something equally mesmerizing.
Something that was me.
My skin prickled hot.
"We should order," I said, sounding like I needed water more than the fish in the tank.
"Yes, we should." Luca replied, still giving me that look.
I cleared my throat and picked up the menu, intensely aware of his eyes still on me. Jesus, the man was practically undressing me with his eyes. In public for God's sake.
But you're not complaining, a voice piped up in my head.
"Look! They have bouillabaisse," I felt compelled to say just to lighten the flaming charge shooting around us. "I've always wanted to try it-"
My eyes settled on the column for the price, widened and snapped back to Luca. "Nine hundred and fifty dollars?" I hissed. "For a plate of this? That's like two months worth of groceries."
Luca's lips lifted in amusement. "Do you want it?"
I frowned. "You're not listening. This is too expensive." I said, my eyes narrowing and widening as I scanned through the rest of the menu.
Holy cow, the wine section was worse.
"I'm very much aware." Luca responded. "I brought you here after all."
I peered at him over the thick brown card and whatever indignant speech on frugality I was going to give floated out of my mind like paper. The light from the aquarium has turned yellow, casting a golden hue on his olive complexion. His hair gleamed against the contrast; the planes of his lean face caught light and shadow like a sculpture; and the clear, strong lines of his sexy lips made me want to trace them with my fingertips.
He looked unreal.
But it was his eyes that knocked me off my feet. Their grey depths held dark amusement, banked lust, and a focus that was entirely on me.
I swallowed the knot of desire traveling up my throat but it just got stuck in my chest instead. I quelled the sudden urge to fan myself. God, why was it getting hot in here.
"I'd just order the bouillabaisse," I said, my throat dry. I wanted to drink from his sexy mouth.
Luca chuckled as if in knowing and it rattled me. What did he gain from turning me into a bitch in heat in public? If we were back at the penthouse, I'd have gotten my sweet revenge. But we weren't so all I could do was clench my thighs together.
I pretended to be at least a semblance of composure when the waiter came to take our order, hoping I didn't sound as highly stimulated as I was when I told him what to get me. Luca placed the exact order along with a bottle of white wine that cost more than my annual salary at Rico's.
The food came a short while after and I wasted no time in digging in, hoping to distract myself from the other kind of hunger swirling low in my belly.
"I didn't know you were this hungry." Luca said in a low tone.
I swallowed my bouillabaisse. "I didn't know either."
His laugh was low and rumbly, sending shivers down my spine. It was then it occured to me that my words could have been refering to something else. And if I was being honest with myself, they did.
I wasn't talking about the food no matter how tasty it was.
From Luca's satisfied curve of his lips, he knew it too. "And just how hungry are you?" His voice dropped even lower.
I was going dizzy. "Very." I said breathlessly.
"Show me."
My eyes narrowed in confusion. "How am I supposed to-"
They became the size of saucers.
Luca was staring at me, the set of his posture told me he'd meant what I suspected he meant.
He wanted me to show him how hungry I was for him, which in turn meant my undoubtedly soaked panties, which in turn meant I'd have to pull it off first.
He was insane.
"You can't be serious," I gasped. "You want me to…"
"I need visual evidence that I'm not the only one struggling here. You've been driving me insane ever since I saw you in that dress."
My boobs flushed with heat when his eyes settled on my cleavage.
"But we're in a restaurant. I can't-"
"Yes, you can."
I began to saw on my lips. God, this was crazy. But it was also hot, so fucking hot I felt a fresh pool of arousal leave me.
Fuck!
I started to get up.
"Where are you going?"
I blinked down at him. "To take it off." I hoped the bathroom was somewhere close, I wasn't sure I could walk even a few feet with how weak my knees were.
"Sit back down Cara." Luca said in a voice so compelling I found myself dropping to the cushioned seat.
"But you want me to… oh my God!" I exclaimed a little loudly it attracted the attention of people around. My hands flew over my mouth. "You want me to do it here?"
His feverish gaze was enough answer that he did, in fact, expect me to strip off my panties right where we sat.
Again, he was insane.
And maybe I was as well because a sudden thrill zapped through me, butterflies flitting around in my belly. Was I getting turned on but the prospect of stripping in public for him?
Yeah. Yes, I was.
Eyes darting across the room, my teeth worried my lips again as my hand slowly reached beneath my dress.
The appeal for my food had long dissipated, the other kind of hunger forefront in my mind. With Luca, I didn't even think he remembered the plate in front of him.
I paused on my hip, my gaze holding Luca's. The control in his expression was beginning to snap and his eyes licked at me, scorching me.
"I'm waiting, bambina."
I couldn't believe I was doing this. My skin was fevered, sensitive, my center clenching painfully. Hooking a finger underneath the side of my panties, I peeled it down then slowly removed my hand.
I switched to the other and repeated the same process. My panties were now fairly below my butt.
I sucked in my lower lip, agitation and excitement mixed in a violent cocktail in my belly. I was doing this, really doing this.
Slumping closer into the drapes on the table, I placed both hands underneath my dress and pulled in one swift motion.
A jolt passed through me when my panties dropped to the floor and I took a quick glance across the room to see if anyone had seen me do that. No one seemed overly interested in our direction and it made me relaxed a little. It also made me bolder.
Giving Luca a slow smirk, I took my foot out of my heels and lifted the piece of underwear with my toes, my hand disappearing downwards to catch it.
"It looks like I made more of a mess than I thought." I purred, folding the linen piece in my palm before pushing it across the table to Luca.
His eyes gleamed darkly as I pressed it into his palm.
I watched as he took it and slowly unfurled it on his lap, my blood dancing in my veins as his eyes darkened the more.
"Fuck." He whispered harshly.
I bit back a grin, shifting slightly in my seat with how aroused his pleased and lustful expression made me. I was feeling smug and proud to be responsible for the restrained control he was showing.
But my smugness was soon wiped clean when he did the least expected thing: he raised my panties and pressed it to his nose, right in this open space, and not once did he take his eyes off me.
Sweet Mary, mother of God.