Dark Escort (16 page)

“Well, this is a good start to a date,” she teased.

I put my arm around her waist as we headed to Times Square. “I’ll make up for it as the night goes on.”

“Oh, I’m sure you will.”

We reached Times Square and walked down the sidewalk. I watched her face, wondering if she was reliving any memories. I wanted her to realize we’d already met in our past but her mind was completely closed off. Was she on drugs that night? “Do you go to Times Square on New Year’s Eve?” I asked casually. Maybe I could jog her memory a little bit.

“I’ve been once,” she said.

So, she remembered the night, just not me.
“Have fun?”

“Yeah. But it was freezing cold and there were a million people there. If a fight broke out, it would be a terrible stampede.”

I nodded and kept walking. “Did you go with friends?”

“Yeah, two of them.” She looked at a newspaper stand as she passed and her mind seemed to be elsewhere.

“Would you go again?”

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Meet any cool people?”
Come on, woman. How can you not remember me?

She didn’t look at me as she kept walking. “No.”

Burn
. I wanted to growl but I kept it back.

“Where do you want to eat?”

I stopped in front of a Thai place. “How does this place sound?”

“Great,” she said. “I’m starving so I’ll say yes to pretty much anything.”

“Really?” I gave her a dark smolder. “
Anything
?”

She rolled her eyes but smiled at the same time. “I meant in terms of food.”

“I can give you something to eat.” My lips moved to her jaw and I nibbled her gently.

She froze and her eyes became lidded with pleasure.

When I pulled away, I liked the dazed look on her face. The sexual attraction between us was equal. I wanted her as much as she wanted me, if not more so. Our relationship was exactly the same as it was two years ago. How different would our lives be if I’d just gotten her number? Would I still be her boyfriend? Or would I be something more? I’d never been marriage material, hardly boyfriend material, but the idea of making that kind of commitment didn’t scare me. It just convinced me even more that she was the one.

We entered the restaurant then took our seats. She pulled her hair over one shoulder before she picked up the menu. One side of her neck was exposed, and all I could think about was sucking the skin until it was raw. Flashbacks of our heated night came back to me. I was desperate to take her on my sheets but I was also nervous. Would it be a replay of last time? Or would she stick around?

She put her menu down when she made her selection. “I’m getting Thai iced tea.”

“Good choice. It’s a little too sweet for me, however.”

“You’re missing out,” she said. “I have a sweet tooth.”

“Do you like Oreos?” I blurted.

“It’s my favorite cookie,” she said immediately.

She really didn’t remember her New Year’s resolution she shared with me? I had to protect my pride so she wouldn’t completely demolish it. But it was becoming difficult.

We placed our order then stared at each other across the table. I never grew bored of looking at her exquisite face. She was gorgeous and flawless. I’d been with a long line of women, most of them models, but they couldn’t compare to Katarina. The slight curve of her lips always enticed me to devour her, and the subtle brightness of her eyes, always constant, had my attention endlessly. She was a small woman, exceptionally short and tiny, but she took up the whole room with her personality, wit, and attitude. Was this how Rhett felt when he met Aspen? He talked about her before they got together, and he said he just knew. Was this how Troy felt too? Was I breaking every rule just like them because I’d found the right girl? I hoped so. I already had one chance with her and I blew it. I didn’t want to blow it again.

“Cato?”

“Hmm?”
Did she say something?

A slow smile stretched her lips. “I’ve been trying to get your attention for the past minute and you’ve just been staring at me blankly…”

“Oh…sorry.” I didn’t even notice.

“What was distracting you so much?” Judging the joy on her face, she already knew.

I leaned over the table and rested my elbows on the surface. “It’s a secret. Come closer.”

She leaned forward, her face close to mine.

“This is what I was thinking about.” I pressed my lips to hers gently and immediately felt that cosmic electricity. Her lips were full and soft, and they tasted delicious. I wanted to take all of her and treasure her all night long.

The waiter’s voice came into our ears. “Um…here is your dinner.”

Katarina tried to pull away but I held her in place. Then I held one finger to the waiter, telling him I wasn’t finished. I finished my kiss before I leaned back into my chair. “Now we’re done.”

The waiter gave a half-asked smile but it was clear he was extremely annoyed. He placed the dishes in front of us before he walked away and took care of his other tables.

Katarina had a tint to her cheeks. Her eyes were downcast as she inserted her fork into her noodles but there was still a visible smile on her lips. “You’re going to get us kicked out.”

“Nah. I’m not leaving until I eat.”

She got the noodles in her mouth but there was one that was particularly long. She sucked it into her mouth until it disappeared.

The action fascinated me and I kept thinking about it even after she was finished. I remembered the way she gave me head. It was amazing. She used both hands and jerked me off like a pro. My cock hardened in my jeans and I wish it would remain soft. There would only be one thing on my mind if I were walking around with a hard dick.

“Isn’t it funny how we are together considering the fact we use to dislike each other?”

“You never disliked me,” I argued.

“No, I did,” she said with a laugh. “Your insults were annoying.”

“You still thought I was hot.”

“Irrelevant.”

“I don’t think so,” I argued.

“Anyway, I’d really like to know why you disliked me.” She watched my face as she said it. “And you better not say it was because I was too pretty or some shit like that.”

I tried not to laugh. “I don’t want to say.”

“Why not?” she asked. “I have a thick skin.”

“It’s not insulting.”

“Then tell me.”

I looked down at my food as I ate. “I’ll tell you. But not now.”

“Then when?”

“I don’t know…but I will.”

Both of her eyebrows were raised. “Why are you being so mysterious?”

“You’ll understand when I tell you.”

“But—”

“Baby, just trust me on this.” I gave her a firm look. “Be patient.”

She sighed then looked down at her food. “Fine.”

“Good girl.”

She kicked me under the table. “Don’t talk to me like I’m a dog.”

“Why?” I asked. “Dogs are cute. I love dogs.”

That cute smile stretched her lips again. “I love dogs too.”

“See, we’re meant for each other.”

“Because we both love dogs?” she asked with a laugh.

“It’s pretty important.” I kept eating and tried not to chuckle at the incredulous look on her face. Somehow, she looked really cute when she was confused.

She dropped the subject and kept eating, probably not seeing the logic in continuing the conversation.

When we finished dinner, I grabbed the tab.

She snatched it out of my grasp. “I’m buying this time.”

I gave her a, “Don’t fuck with me look,” and snatched it back. “No. I pay for your meals. Don’t go all feminist on me.”

“I
am
a feminist,” she said in offense.

“Well, I’m not. I pay for your things.”

“Excuse me?” she said. “You aren’t a feminist?”

“I believe women can do anything men can do. But I also think I need to take care of you. And that’s what’s going to happen. I guess I believe in chivalry more than feminism.”

“And I believe in an equal partnership.”

I threw the cash inside and let the tab on the table. “Well, I don’t. Get used to it.”

She narrowed her eyes at me.

“That’s the kind of man I am, sweetheart. We can argue about it all you want. I don’t mind because you’re really cute when you get fired up and angry but it won’t change anything.”

Katarina still looked pissed but she didn’t tell me off. “If you weren’t so hot and sweet…”

I smiled. “Good thing I am.” I left my chair then helped her out of hers. Then I hugged her waist as we walked out.

She was stiff beside me but I knew her anger would slowly disappear. We walked up the sidewalk and I maneuvered us to a place we’d already been. The convenient store looked exactly as it used to two years ago. I stopped and turned toward the door. “I’m going to pick up a few things before we head back.”

“Like what?” she asked.

“A snack.” I walked inside with her then headed to the cookie aisle. I discreetly watched her face, hoping to see some sign of recognition. I stopped in front of the Oreos then grabbed a few.

“You really love Oreos, huh?” she asked with a light laugh.

My plan wasn’t working. She didn’t remember anything. “Yeah. And I want to eat them off your body when we get home.”

“Ooh…that sounds fun.”

I paid for the Oreos then we walked outside. A bum wasn’t leaning against the wall like last time but the night seemed pretty similar to two years ago. The neon sign on the roof made a constant buzzing noise, and a swarm of moths danced in the light.

I grabbed Katarina and pushed her against the wall of the convenient store then kissed her hard. My hands moved slightly under her shirt and I felt the soft skin of her stomach. I devoured her, desperately trying to get her to remember that night. It meant something to me. I had to know it meant something to her. Connections were rare, if not impossible, for me to experience. I couldn’t let her take that away from me.

Her fingers dug into my hair and she twisted the strands while she kissed me. She breathed hard into my mouth, and my kisses stifled her moans. I was hard, and I let her know that by pressing it against her.

“You’re so beautiful,” I said between kisses. I didn’t say this last time but I was thinking it. This girl was driving me up the wall and I was still fighting for her. It would make sense for me to give up and walk away. She was already married once before, she had a psycho friend that wanted her to himself, and she had the worst memory on the face of the planet. But here I was, still obsessed and working my ass off to keep this girl around.

What the hell was wrong with me?

When our embrace got too heated, I ended the kiss and pressed my forehead against hers. “You want to head back to your place?”

“Yeah…we need to eat those cookies.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

***

We sat at the kitchen table and opened the plastic boxes of cookies. I grabbed the same flavors we tried out last time. The root beer ones sat there uneaten. I already knew I didn’t like the taste and neither did she. But I’d eat them if it made her realize who I was.

“Try these.” I pushed the root beer ones toward her.

She cringed. “No, thanks.” She grabbed an original one and took a bite.

“Why not?”

“They’re gross.”

“I think they’re gross too.”

She narrowed her eyes in confusion while she chewed her cookie. “Then why did you buy them?”

I shrugged. “I thought you might like them.”

She shook her head quickly. “Can’t stand the taste.”

“When did you try them?”
Will she remember that?

“A few years ago. I didn’t care for them.”

I wanted to scream. How could she not recognize my face? We were only together for a few hours but she really forgot about me? Why did I remember her but she didn’t remember me? I tried not to get mad and take it out on her. I ate a vanilla flavored one and tried to figure out how I would get her to remember me. It seemed impossible at this point.

“What’s your problem?” she asked.

“Problem? I don’t have a problem.” I looked down at my hands as I said it. I was doing a piss of a job hiding my annoyance.

“You just got moody all of a sudden.”

“You’re seeing things that aren’t there,” I lied.

“I think you’re full of it. But if you don’t want to tell me, that’s your right.”

I ate another cookie and thought about my next plan.

“Excuse me for a moment.” She left the table and walked into her bedroom.

Once she was gone, I leaned back into the chair and released a sigh. Why was this bothering me so much? Why couldn’t I just let it go? If she did remember me from that night, it might actually hurt the relationship rather than help it. So why couldn’t I let it go? I had no fucking idea. Maybe River was right. It was just because of my wounded pride.