Madeline

I'm a simple girl.

I like to feel pretty. Check.

I like feeling sexy and being with men who make me feel sexy. Check.

I like music and dancing. Check.

And I really, really like food. Check.

The Port and Mast was gorgeous. It checked all my boxes for a good night out, though maybe not in the same way I'm used to. This was no club, no dive bar, and no house party. The people were gorgeous, the decorations were gorgeous, and the food wafting by on silver trays looked like art.

Nikkos was dressed as sharply as his cousin. When we met up with him he took one look at my appearance and then trained his gaze on the space on my forehead just between my eyebrows. "You look lovely, Madeline."

"Thank you..." I stared at Nikkos a moment, unsure of his strange behavior until Caspian leaned into my ear.

"An old trick, to not be swayed too hard by a... an Atlantean woman's beauty," he explained.

"Oh, okay," I replied. So, it was a cultural thing. A weird cultural thing, but let's not be rude and say that out loud.

After checking on our reservation, we waited while they checked to see if our table was prepared. Nikkos and Caspian were discussing something in hushed voices next to the pond. We were under the overhang and I was able to check the bag with my old clothes at the coat station. They gave me a little ticket and everything, it was just like in the movies.

I hummed as I watched the people inside and caught what small glimpses I could get from the dining deck where people could eat over the water. I passed the time imagining what their daily lives were like. Who here was rich, who here was spending a saved-up amount for a special occasion, who here was on business, and who was here for an average weeknight dinner.

I started to get attention as I hummed, so I stopped. It was just another thing about my stupid voice that I hated, though now I was better able to recognize what it was since meeting Caspian.

Caspian had told me we would have a nice dinner and then he was meeting someone for business in the area. He would either get me a ride home or I could wait for them. Waiting is good, I could sit at the bar or stare at the waves. I knew that I would want this evening to last as long as it could before going back to my crappy apartment and all the problems that came with it.

With a sigh, I turned from my spot and looked to where Caspian and Nikkos were. The hostess was on her way back, and it looked like it was time for our table. I walked over to meet Caspian and Nikkos when something caught my attention. The evening breeze reached us, tickling the surface of the pond and bringing an air of salt to my nose. My heart ached dully in my chest, a sudden but familiar desire to run to the sea taking it's hold.

My eyes drifted to the edge of the building where I could just see the beach. 

"Madeline," Caspian said, shaking me from my intrusive desires. "Madeline, are you alright?"

My breath caught. I turned to stare into his eyes. "I... yes."

His expression darkened. "You want to run to the sea, don't you?"

I closed my eyes tight, nodding. He knew. I mean, he had said he knew, but he really knew. It was frightening. It was relieving. I felt like another piece of my mask had been stripped away in front of this man I had only known for a few days.

His warm hand reached around, settling on my hip so gently. He brought his mouth close, whispering in my ear as his breath played across my neck, pebbling my skin with the intimacy of it. "If you can't do this, tell me. You don't have to stay, Madeline. It's just dinner."

My pulse quickened and I cursed my easy nature. I had never been ashamed of my sexual thoughts before. I mean, annoyed at the trouble it seemed to get me in, but not ashamed. But Caspian was really pushing my buttons in all the right ways, and it was distracting as hell. His hot mouth. His hand on my hip. The smell of him. All of it.

I let out a slow breath. The sea could wait. I wanted it, but I wanted Caspian more.

"No," I breathed. "I've got this."

"Alright," he relented. "Thank you, Madeline. I'm glad for the chance to have dinner with you, even if we have company."

My eyes flicked to Nikkos. Fuck the company. What would I do if I had him alone?

Heat flushed my cheeks, and Caspian gently guided me with his big hand on the small of my back. 

"Thank you for your patience, we're all ready for you. Right this way to the deck," the hostess said. 

Secretly, I did appreciate that we were going to the deck outside. At least my sudden ocean craving would be somewhat sated with the waves crashing under me, even if I wasn't in them.

Around the back, the lighting was low and seductive and the tall planter walls between each table added an air of privacy to an otherwise open space. We were taken to a corner table at the very edge of the deck by the railing. I had to hold in my excitement and remind myself not to stare at the water the whole night. 

The curved wooden chairs were more comfortable to sit on than I thought they would be, and the table of thick cuts of dark wood were masculine against the light linen cloth that draped over it and fluttered in the breeze. 

Caspian pulled my chair out for me, and I took the opportunity for a stolen glance at him while he wasn't watching my face. He looked so serious. I guess playful Caspian was hidden when we were out in public.

The hostess nodded and stepped back once we were all in our seats. "Sean will be your server tonight, I'll send him right over."

The tables already had menus on them, as well as table settings, candles, and a fresh arrangement of white flowers. I picked up the leather menu holder in front of me and opened it. One page, no prices, and I only knew the dishes that had some kind of steak cut in the name. I quickly closed it again. Another, smaller menu was provided as well. I opened it but only found the wine list. Setting them both down, I looked up as our server approached the table with water and a chilled bottle of wine that Nikkos had requested.

"Good evening," he greeted. "My name is Sean and I'll be serving your table tonight."

He placed a glass of water and an empty glass in front of each of us skillfully as he spoke.

"Would you like to hear the house specials, or do you have any questions on the menu?" Sean asked.

"Actually, can I see the label for this?" Nikkos said. "I may want to take a bottle home with us."

While Sean was distracting Nikkos with the wine, I nudged Caspian's knee with my own. 

"Caspian, I don't know what half of this menu says," I whispered.

"Do you want me to order for you?" he offered.

I nodded vigorously. "Please."

"Any allergies or things you don't like?" he murmured, leaning closer.

Fuck he smelled good.

Wait.

Focus, Maddie!

"Not really," I whispered. "Uh, no weird things like octopus or snails?"

He nodded. "I'll keep it safe."

I sighed, relieved, and looked out to the ocean. 

It really was beautiful at night. The gentle crash of the slowly rising tide was enough to lull me into a more peaceful state of mind, and something told me I was going to need it.

The waiter listed off the evening specials and I listened half-heartedly as I took a drink of my water. He offered us something called a sommelier, which we declined apparently, and then Sean began taking our orders. Thankfully I didn't really have to say anything and Caspian ordered me a... something French I think.

And then, finally, the commotion had died down and the table had lulled into casual conversation. A lot of it was Nikkos enthusing over the wine, but it was nice to just sit and listen to the quieter cousin as he had something to talk about that excited him. Caspian was content to lean back in his chair and enjoy the moment of peace as well.

I enjoyed people watching and listening in, as long as I didn't have to talk if I didn't want to. Eventually, I contented myself to watching the dark waves again, sipping the sweet red wine Caspian poured for me after checking that I drank. I'd let him keep up some illusion that I was more refined than I really was, he didn't need to know I could kill a keg stand and that a glass of wine wouldn't get the better of me. Because tonight I could pretend all I wanted, and I chose to pretend I was a part of Caspain's easier world.

"Are you doing alright?" he asked when the conversation lulled, all three of us watching the waves for a quiet moment.

"I'm fine, really. After we got situated it actually hasn't been so bad. The ocean, I mean. It's a lovely place, the music is nice, and hey, free dinner."

Caspian chuckled, his dimpled smile dazzling in the candlelight. I bit my lip, eyeing his jawline and imagining what it would look like with my lipstick smudged down his neck.

He saw the flirty gaze I wasn't trying to hide and raised an eyebrow as his mouth settled into a crooked smile.

How far did I want to push this?

Pretty far.

I edged my leg over to the gap between our seats, letting the skirt ride up just enough to let bare thigh brush against his knee. I think it startled him, because his eyes widened a moment and his smirk stilled briefly before he could recover.

Clearing his throat, he adjusted how he was sitting, but I noticed his knee was still touching my thigh.

"Here we are." The server had returned, a dish in each hand and two servers following behind him with the rest.

Dammit, Sean. It was just getting good.

"Tagliatelle Mare e Monti with Scampi all'aglio for the gentleman," Sean announced the dish as he set a plate of... black spaghetti? In front of Nikkos.

My stomach sank. Please, please, Caspian. Please have ordered me something normal.

Sean took the dishes from the servers behind him. "The caramelized honey-ginger tenderloin in white truffle oil for the lady."

He set the plate down in front of me and I nearly melted. It looked normal. Actually, it looked really good.

"It's just a glazed tenderloin, no funny business." Caspian winked at me and chuckled as he leaned back while the server put his own dish, a steak, in front of him.

After the first bite, I was gone. I had to resist eating like the uncultured pig I wanted to be, but I was thoroughly distracted from the rest of the dinner conversation by my plate.

Occasionally I would look up and watch Caspian and Nikkos. They were fascinating, in a cunning sort of way. Clearly strategizing in hushed tones for their meeting later, I was happy to just watch them as my food melted in my mouth.

I enjoyed the warm proximity to Caspian and the view of the sea while they calculated. The violinist  just inside the open doors to the dining room took a break partway through the meal, but soon enough they returned and I enjoyed the music and the warm ocean air. Not to mention the plate Caspian had ordered me.

Until the pinnacle of the evening was reached, and the air buzzed with tension.

It came on so suddenly I was startled. Sean had returned to clear our plates, but while he worked Caspian and Nikkos were watching the door.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up at the sudden tension and I reached for my wine glass. I wasn't entirely sure what was about to go down, but I was sure as hell I wanted alcohol with me when it did. 

As Sean moved away with the last of our empty plates, Nikkos checked his phone. "He's here."

"Yeah, I sensed him," Caspian agreed, turning to me. "Are you still sure you want to wait for us? I don't think it will take long but you never know."

I shook my head. "I'll just wait somewhere."

He slipped a large bill in my hand. "Alright, go get yourself the most sugared-up desert you can order and another glass of wine. We won't be long."

"Good luck," I said, and I meant it as I walked away. Making my way up to the bar, I shivered as a man passed by and I turned to watch him.

A man nearing middle-age, a light brush of gray highlighting his temples in an otherwise ginger colored head of hair. He carried himself like the most dangerous person in the room, and he probably was though I didn't see a gun or anything on him. He wasn't dressed for this place at all, but despite his jeans and flannel shirt they let him in anyway. When he passed by me, his serious face dropped for long enough that I swear he shot me a wink and a grin, and then his mask of hardness slipped right back in place as he walked to Caspian and Nikkos.

Happy to turn my back on the intense man, I left them to their mysterious meeting and sat at the bar.

"Excuse me, what wine pairs with the most chocolate covered thing on your menu?" I asked.

The bartender made her way over and she laughed. "For a cute little thing like you? Let me see if the chef is feeling fancy and we'll whip you up a real treat."

"Thanks!" I beamed. I don't know if it was the sway or the wine or the dress I was wearing but I was ready for a treat, and a few minutes later I was not disappointed with the plate and wine that came to me.

And while I slid my tongue over a spoon that cut through a decadant slice of molten chocolate cake like butter, I let my imagination run wild with the intoxicating scent of Caspian that still hung around me.