“I feel the exact same way for you,” I breathe. “That and more.”
Dorian plants a kiss on my lips and I instantly feel the doubt and apprehension fall away from me upon contact. The unknown language, he and Aurora’s staggering conversation- it all suddenly seems like a distant memory.
His lips are forced to abandon mine when the limo comes to an abrupt halt. We’re here. I can make out the bright marquee, a black and white sign simply stating Shade. It’s very chic and modern, much like the Luxe salon in Colorado Springs. Yes, Dorian has his stamp all over this. The first thing I notice upon exiting is the sound of saxophones, drums, piano, and guitar. There’s a live band playing. Then the sumptuous aroma of food causes my stomach to growl, confirming my hunger. Dorian grabs my hand and leads our party inside, breezing past security and the crowd of freezing people huddled around outdoor heaters awaiting entrance.
A handsome young man dressed in a black suit approaches our group, shaking Dorian’s hand enthusiastically. He introduces himself as Brian and tells us that he, along with the attentive staff at Shade, will be taking care of anything we need this evening. As we hand over our coats for hanging, I get an opportunity to marvel at the impressive interior. The place is amazing; with its dark cushioned walls, contemporary furniture and metallic hued tapestries, it could easily rival any hot NYC lounge. I’ve personally never seen anything like it and I instantly smell the eroticism, mixed with delectable gourmet fare, wafting throughout the swanky building.
Brian leads us to a table that I’m assuming is reserved for us, being that it is intricately set with seven table settings. Dorian sits at the head of the table, of course, while I take the seat to his right, Morgan grabbing the spot next to me. We can see the band playing from where we sit, and the tunes are intoxicating, putting us all in the mood for good food, libations, and conversation.
“I hope you all don’t mind, but I have arranged a special tasting menu so we could try a little bit of everything. But if there’s anything you don’t eat or are allergic to, please let Brian know immediately.” Then he turns to me, winks, and quietly murmurs, “I know you’re hungry. It won’t be long, little girl.” Geez, is there anything he doesn’t know?
Moments later, servers bring us course after course of Mediterranean and Asian-fusion cuisine. Everything is ridiculously delicious, and I relish in the fact that I get to experience just a little piece of Dorian and his culture. A variety of wines are served to accent each dish and by the fourth course, showcasing an array of Greek meat and seafood dishes, I’m convinced that I’ll burst. But of course, there’s dessert, and my Dorian loves dessert. He doesn’t go easy on us either. While the boys are loving the endless stream of food, I am secretly praying that my stomach isn’t protruding. Morgan and Aurora have slowed down as well.
“Dorian, I can’t eat this!” I say, my eyes taking in the individual dessert platters of several miniature confections. His love for sweets makes him seem so young and incredibly cute, and I think about the time we had a tickling war with whipped cream. Then my mind wanders to when I was his dessert and heat quickly floods my cheeks and the apex of my thighs.
Dorian gives me a wicked smile as if he’s recalling the same memory, and licks his lips. He scoops up a tiny bit of his chocolate mousse and holds it out to my lips. I roll my eyes playfully and take it into my mouth slowly, making sure to flick my tongue out onto the spoon first. He likes this; something about feeding me clearly arouses him. I don’t deny trying to make a show of it either.
After we are all sated and clearly a bit tipsy from the wine, Brian leads us to an upstairs area, equally chic and alluring. Something about its dark walls and furniture accented with just a hint of metallic color gives it a sultry, sexy feel. A DJ is spinning all the latest hits and sharply dressed men and women are on the dance floor. Again, we walk to a special section reserved for us, and Dorian does not fail to impress. Leather sofas, oversized plush pillows, teakwood accent tables, luminous candles and many bottles of chilled champagne and spirits await us. Now this is a VIP section!
I barely have a chance to sip my glass of bubbly before Morgan grabs my hand, leading me to the dance floor with Aurora in tow. We’re all feeling good, and I am even being friendly with Aurora as if we’re old girlfriends. We giggle and dance to several songs as the men look on and chat idly. I can see they’re all getting along, Dorian and Jared included. This is how it should be. I should be able to have all my friends together, having a great time, doing what normal young adults do. Last month, I couldn’t stand being so normal. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for.