Troubled Temptations

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

My shift ended twenty minutes ago, but I can't seem to leave the restaurant. I'm not afraid to face the Blake-demon. I wish he would come here while Alexi is in the house, that way we could end this meaningless game he's playing.

I am afraid to face my own Dark Knight. Anthony is probably waiting outside since he promised to pick me up. I need to get going, but I can't go before I know how to confront him. How do I ask him about his past without him realizing I already know some bits and pieces? That's a very complicated task but I owe it to myself, and Benji, to find out.

After some back-and-forth with myself, I gather my stuff and I'm ready to go when I feel my phone buzzing in my back pocket.

It's Anthony. And since he's calling me he must be getting anxious. I need to leave right now and get this over with. I ignore his call and get going.

I say my goodbyes to whichever co-worker walks past me when Alexi stops me right before the main entrance. I don't usually leave through the main door, but I know Anthony is waiting for me in front of Lesh.

"Victoria, a word?" he asks me to the side, where it's less crowded and fewer ears to eavesdrop.

What could he possibly want now? Has there been some sort of turn of events with the threats? Was there another one?

"Don't tell anyone about the notes," he says in a low voice, making sure nobody can hear us, "not until we figure out what we will do next."

"Okay," I respond slowly, "but why?" I wasn't planning on telling anyone anyway, except Anthony maybe, but I want to know what Alexi is thinking.

"I don't want this incident to ruin my reputation," he answers honestly.

"Oh." I don't know how to respond to that.
He sighs heavily, and as if reluctantly he tries to elaborate on his decision.

"It took me a while to get to this point, to own my restaurant with a good reputation. I don't want anything to jeopardize it." He keeps checking if we're still out of earshot of anyone. "So if you have anything else to say about these notes, it's best if you did it now."

I understand his concern and decide to share the little information I know about Blake.

"The guy who's behind this is Blake Myers, Emily will show his face to you later. All I know is that he's not a very nice man or a person in general," I try to keep my voice low.

Alexi is nodding, but his expression is turning grim by the second. This is not what he needs right now. He's busy enough taking care of the restaurant. I want to make sure he knows this is not about him or Lesh, so he doesn't have to worry about his reputation.

"Emily went out with the guy but wouldn't sleep with him," I confess, almost whispering, then finish my thought, "I think he's just trying to get his revenge on her."

"Okay," Alexi says immediately, and as if on a mission now, he dismisses me, "Have a good evening!" He moves through the crowd and a minute later he's gone.

I let out a breath of air I didn't even realize I was holding. I feel somewhat at ease having confessed what I know to Alexi. But then again I'm worried about how will Emily react once she finds out I told Alexi about her date with the villain.

I head outside, towards Anthony's Mustang, my mind preoccupied.

"Hey beautiful," he says as soon as I sit inside the car.

He makes me flush. That's his game – every time we meet he makes me feel like it's our first date. First dates always make me nervous. And when I'm nervous I can't seem to form a decent sentence. Especially when I'm around Anthony – his scent alone drives me insane, in the best way possible.

"Hey you," I answer playfully.

"Everything alright?" He reads me like an open book. Do I give that much away with just my facial expression?

"Sure, why do you ask?"

"No reason," he replies shrugging, "I just had a shitty day."

Oh if he only knew that there are two of us having a crappy day.

"But seeing you improved my day tremendously," he adds after a moment and leans in for a kiss.

His lips hover over mine for just a second. He wants me to kiss him. He's making a move but he wants me to finish it, to validate his efforts. And I do this with the purest joy. I gently caress his neck with both of my palms and bring his face closer to mine, his lips finally crushing against my mouth. It's only been a couple of days but I've missed this. I missed his smell, his touch, his words, his breathing, his presence, and his everything.

He moves one of his hands to the back of my neck and steadies himself on the back of my seat with his other arm. I can tell he needed this as much as I did. Our sweet unification, our passion and lust for each other unleashed.
He moves his hand from my neck to my side and slides it behind my back, gently caressing it. His kiss gets more forceful, and demanding and I let him do this. I want his passion to be released on me, with me.

"Fuck," he whispers as he breaks our intense kissing. Then says, "We keep teasing ourselves by always doing this in the wrong place or at the wrong time."

I gasp, surprised both by this abrupt ending of our kiss and his words.

He lets go of me and moves back to his seat, shifting in it uncomfortably. I see the reason why he's so uncomfortable, he's wearing tighter jeans than usual, and it makes me want more. I yearn for more, more of him – all of him. I want him as much as he seems to want me.