"Yeah. I have a laptop." Is he about to invite me back to his place? Because that seems even more crazy than what I've just done with him, but I'm not sure I possess the power to tell him no.
"You can come to my office tomorrow. For lunch. Completely and totally willing if you want the deal. Bring your laptop. I'll bring the food." He swirls his thumb around my hand, then drops it as he starts to walk.
"You like picking the food, huh?"
He shrugs. "I don't really care about the food. It just seemed like a nice compromise. We seem to have different culinary tastes … " He looks over at me, grinning. "And drink. Why don't you tell me what you want, and I'll arrange for it."
"I am not a fan of lamb chops. They're too cute to eat."
He chuckles. "Do you eat any animals? Or are they all too cute to slaughter?"
I nudge him. "Don't say it like that. It makes it sound so horrible."
He really starts to laugh now. "Um. It can't really get much more horrible than how we kill the animals we consume. Unless you hunt them yourself. So, are you a vegetarian? I need to know. For tomorrow, of course."
"I like beef, pork, chicken, and seafood." I scrunch my nose. "Do not feed me anything weird, though, like livers or gizzards."
He smiles. "Oh, Jules."
"What?"
"You are so fucking cute," he says as he opens the door. "Who knew you could make talking about butchering animals sexy as hell."
"It's not sexy."
"No, I said you are."
The alley is cold, dark, and wet. But it looks and sounds like the storm has finally passed. Funny, I didn't even notice while we were inside. I guess my mind was on other stuff. "Thunder Theo, I think we'll make it back without getting wet this time. Do you think you can make it without nearly pissing your pants now that it's not storming?"
"Mystery Giant. Thunder Theo." He shakes his head. "Smartass."
The alley is also loud. Music from the surrounding pubs is blaring through the doors that keep opening and closing. I've never really come to this part of town before. Why, I don't know. "What was that? I couldn't hear the last thing you said."
He grabs me, jerking me behind one of the buildings while covering my mouth. "Shh."
He really needs to stop this. I try to laugh, to turn around in his arms because my back is to his front, but he squeezes me tighter.
What the hell? Was this his plan? To get me comfortable, then to take me in a dark alley, rape, and murder me?
I feel and hear his breath on my ear. "It's skatá prósopo."
Fantastic! That's great news. I am not doing anything wrong with Theo. At least not right now. Ten minutes ago when our lips were connected, yeah. That was worse than scandalous. But he knew I was going to meet a potential client. I know Theo wants to stay anonymous, and he can. He can walk back to his car, and I'll walk to my fiancé. It'll be my perfect escape. Relief washes over me.
I stick my tongue out and lick the back of his hand. He jumps and actually lets go, which gives me the opportunity to get away from him. He lunges for me, but I put my hand on his mouth this time. "I'll see you tomorrow. I'm going to go meet him. Maybe we can savor our plans. What time for lunch tomorrow?"
He removes my hand, and the look in his eyes is one I can't discern. "Is there anything I can say to stop you without forcing you? Jules," he whispers, stepping closer. "Come with me."
My heart feels like it's made of some kind of stretchy material, and it's being pulled in opposite directions. It shouldn't be. I don't know Theo, and I'm not even sure I can trust him. And it's clear he feels the same about me. This is purely physical. If it's even really that for him. How do I know everything he's done tonight isn't some kind of ruse to get what he wants, some kind of information? He all but said that. "Tell me the time, Theo."
"Lunch is typically at noon. Does that work for you?"
I shrug. Charlie and I usually eat together. I'll have to lie to him. Again. "I guess so."
"And what kind of food do you want this time?" He gives me a boyish grin. "Because I can't stand to see food wasted. You need to actually eat what I buy you this time."
"I don't care. I told you what I like and don't like." With each step I take, he does too, like he doesn't want to let me go. "Where is your office?"
"Thirteenth floor."
"That narrows it down. Now's where you finally answer my question. What is it you do?"
He looks past me, then smiles a crooked smile. "My office sign says TK Enterprises. That's all you need to know for now. Go be with the gamiméno malákes."
Dang it. That business name gives me nothing. "Wait," I say, shaking my head. "What?"
"Fucking asshole. Go be with the fucking asshole."
"Didn't your mother tell you if you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all?"
He nods toward the alley. "Go find him."
"Good night, Theo."
He grabs my arm and pulls me back against him, every single inch of his steel body. "I know this wasn't a conventional date, but it sure as hell felt like one."
My breath hitches. Charlie's nearby. He can't behave like this out here. It's not safe. My eyes widen, and I gulp.
"I really enjoyed your company. Even when you were abusing me."
I can't help but laugh. "This coming from the kidnapper who's afraid of thunder. I think that was a compliment." Pushing off his chest, I peel myself away from him. "We have to stop all this physical contact, though. If Charlie were to catch you, I'm afraid he wouldn't spare your jewels. I fear he'd rip them off. Slowly."
He chuckles. "I'm not worried about skatá prósopo. It's you I'm worried about. Not your abuse, but I worry about your heart."
I'm so sick of him acting like he knows Charlie. He clearly doesn't. "Stop calling him that. Stop saying this shit about him." I push his chest, but he doesn't budge. "It just makes you look like a shit. What's the word for shit in Greek, huh, Theo?"
He bites his bottom lip. "Do you want me to teach you Greek? I'll teach you all kinds of things right now in hopes that by the time I'm done, the fucker is gone, and I get to take you back like I'd planned."
I push him again. "No. I don't want you to teach me anything. I want you to invest your money like you said, let me pass your stupid little test, and then leave me the hell alone so I can go back to life as I knew it a few hours ago."
Because he's making my head feel like it's had a tornado come through it, stir up all kinds of grime and dirt, twist metal, and flip houses upside down.
"That's what I'm afraid of for you. That your life is never going to be the same regardless of whether I'm in it or not. Now, I'm not going to tell you again. Just fucking go if you're going to choose him."
"I just met you. Of course I chose him." Shaking my head, I sigh. "I mean, I choose him."
"Then. Go."
Why is it so hard to say goodbye to him, to walk away from this man? And even though it's dark, there's a floodlight from the buildings that give me enough light to see his eyes perfectly. He narrows them before shoving his hands in his pockets. "Go, Jules. Or is it that you want to stay? Are you choosing me?" He takes a step closer, this time pinning me to the brick wall behind me. "Is it because you're curious as to what I know about him?" He pushes his hips into mine, his hands never leaving his pockets. "Or is it that you just want some of this?" He thrusts them into me. "Do you want more than my kiss? Do you want to know what it's like to be with me before you go back to him?"
"You're disgusting. I just met you." But I can't deny the pulsating between my legs, aching and begging for some kind of release.
"That wasn't an answer, Jules." His lips dip down and brush against mine. "You do, don't you?"
I swallow. "Move or I'll kick you in your precious jewels again. I'm really leaving this time." I have to get away from him because I do. I do want to know everything he teases, but it's wrong, and I can't do it. That kiss was different. He started it. Even if I didn't push him away, between the shock of him doing it and the sensations that were coursing through my body at lightning speed, I couldn't bring myself to stop him. But I have to now.
He takes a step back and puts his hands up. "You now know where to find me if you change your mind."
Starting to walk away, I glance back over my shoulder. "Well, if I were you, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that to happen."
"I'm holding my breath knowing it's going to happen. Try not to take too long."
Throwing my middle finger up, I walk confidently away from the object of my temptation. "Good night, Thunder Theo."
"Good night, agapemèni."
Leaving him feels oddly strange. I'm not sure if it's because of the circumstances surrounding our meeting or because I like how he makes my heart flutter at the same time as my stomach.
Which one of these places would Charlie be in? Theo didn't say where he saw him. Just that he was here. I should have asked him, but thinking clearly around him is nearly impossible. Glancing over my shoulder, I look back at where we were, and he's gone. Suddenly, the alley is more quiet, darker, and creepier than it was when he was by my side.