Struck dumb, I only sat there as Casersis pressed a firm, lingering kiss to my forehead that held so much meaning it made my heart clench. I didn’t know what the meaning was or why Casersis felt it, but part of me had an idea just from the look in the man’s eyes. I inhaled a shaky breath and leaned into the kiss until it ended and Casersis pulled away.
Casersis drew me out of the limo with an outstretched hand as if I were the guest of honor and tucked me close to his side. As we made our way up the front walk, Casersis placed an arm about my waist that seemed to speak of both possession and protection in a way that made me walk a little taller, hold my head a little higher. I felt important with that arm about me. My confidence was bolstered because I knew I looked good in the clothes Casersis had commissioned for me.
As we walked, people stopped and stared as we bypassed the line completely and headed straight for the maître d’. With a glance over, I suddenly understood Casersis’s earlier words. Where I could read every nuance of feeling the man felt before, now Casersis seemed cold as ice. His face was a mask of apparent warmth, but there was such a thick barrier that was so heavily guarded that Casersis suddenly seemed like a completely different person. When he saw a select few individuals, he turned a cold smile on them, but when he found the maître d’ and stopped before him, the mask turned back to that of warmth. “Is my table available, Raoul?”
Raoul grinned broadly at him and spoke in rapid French. I blinked because I couldn’t understand a single word, but Casersis seemed to have no trouble. Casersis replied more sedately with a fluency that surprised me, and then he glanced at me as if telling Raoul that he should pay attention and speak English for my benefit. When Raoul followed his gaze, he got the message. His brows shot to his receding hairline, and he gasped. “Oh! My sincerest apologies, Monsieur! Yes, Mr. Ardal, your table is always available. Please, leave your coats and come with me.”
He gave a brief nod to the maître d’ and moved his arm from my waist to remove my coat. I tried to tamp down the flush and felt confident I managed as I slipped out of it. I watched as my new coat left Casersis’s hands and went into yet another employee’s. Once Casersis removed his own, and the staff whisked our coats away, we followed Raoul through the restaurant to a rather secluded area. Here in the back, the walls boasted floor to ceiling windows that overlooked a beautiful and elaborate private garden that would have been perfect for dining outside if not for the autumn chill.
In a haze of trying not to trip over myself, cling to Casersis, or stare at anyone, or generally make any kind of fool out of myself, I let Casersis lead me by the small of my back until he pulled out a chair and urged me down into it. He helped me to the table and pressed a kiss just behind my ear long enough to murmur, “Relax and be yourself, Dustin.”
Nodding, I watched as Casersis allowed Raoul to assist him to the table. It seemed strange, but I had seen enough movies to not be completely dumbfounded by everything. Or so I hoped. I was about to ask Casersis something when a waiter brought a bottle of wine to our table and uncorked it. I stared as the waiter set down two glasses of sparkling ice water, followed by two delicate-looking polished glasses, which he filled halfway with fragrant wine for both of us. He set the bottle in an ice bucket another waiter set next to the table, and both gave us slight bows and left us in peace.
I stared at the wine, then perked a brow at Casersis. “Wine?”
Casersis gave me a quizzical glance in return.
“I’m twenty, Cass.” Then I realized my mistake. I hadn’t told him my age yet. Oops. “I’m not of legal age to drink yet.”
“Ah.” Casersis sat back and crossed one long leg over the other as he relaxed. “There are a few exceptions to that rule, Dustin. Most of them have to do with you not driving, this being a very private affair, and my financial status. But you don’t have to drink it if you do not wish to.”
“Thanks. But you can buy your way out of jail for contributing to the delinquency of a minor?” I asked, my eyes wide.
“On the contrary,” he murmured. “Some laws—unless heinous like rape or murder—simply do not apply to those in power.”
I glared at him and frowned. “And money is power.”
“Not at all.” Casersis went thoughtful for a moment, then sighed. “Honesty.” He took a deep breath and combed a hand through his long, black hair, pushing it off his shoulder and behind him. “I own this city, Dustin, and most of those surrounding it. The land has been mine for generations, even before it entered the United States.” He shifted uncomfortably and toyed with the napkin in his lap. “Naturally, that means that those who wish to be in power seek my council, financial backing, and support. Including the police.” He shrugged and motioned to me with an elegant wave of his hand. “But as I said, it doesn’t matter because you are not driving, and this is a private affair. The staff here will not turn us in, nor will they face charges for the delinquency of a minor, because of those reasons.”
Anxiety began crawling through my chest again, and I downed half the perspiring glass of water in front of me before my throat was wet enough for speech. I still didn’t dare touch the wine. “So you not only own the city, you own the officials, too?”
Casersis frowned and sighed. “I hate to think of it like that, but in a way, I suppose that is correct.”
“You admit to being above the law, but hate to think of it that way?” I laughed and pressed my lips together to keep all my thoughts from spilling out. I promised to be truthful, but there were always good ways and bad ways to spout that truth.
Shifting again, Casersis leaned forward and caught my hand. “Dustin.” He swallowed hard and squeezed. “Dustin, I—”
I didn’t know if I could deal with this. How could I spend time with someone who thought himself above the law? Control was slipping from my grasp, and I hated it. It was like trying to hold water in my fist. I hated being out of control, and Casersis threatened it at every turn. It had been fun up until now, but Casersis seemed so sincere…
I withdrew my hand slowly and shook my head. “No, Cass. Don’t fill the silence with excuses. Just… just let me think.”
He heaved a breath but sat back with a nod. With Casersis at a distance, I focused on my water while my thoughts tumbled all over the place. What would it be like to be above the law? Why would anyone, especially one who seemed as good as Casersis, want to be above the law? Lifting my eyes from my water glass, I found Casersis staring resolutely at his folded hands in his lap as if waiting for sentencing.
Then a scent hit me, and my heart squeezed. Suddenly, I needed to comfort Casersis. The feeling was so strong that I leaned forward before I realized what I was doing. I had to forcefully restrain myself, and it made the need turn into anxiety because I wasn’t fulfilling a sworn duty or some such thing.
There was just too much there. The topic was too broad and demanded too many answers, so I closed my eyes and took a breath, breathing in that scent that demanded I comfort my dining companion. Casersis seemed like a genuinely good person, no matter what he thought about his status. He was kind, generous, and seemed so contrite about his position and the way he spoke about it that my heart softened toward him. When I opened my eyes, I reached out across the table, palm up, and sighed. “Later.”
When Casersis looked up at me with a frown, I expanded, “We will talk about this later.” I closed my eyes again, centered myself a little more, and smiled, hoping I could comfort him without completely giving in. “This place is too pretty to spend it tense and anxious.”
Blue eyes stared into mine for a brief moment before Casersis’s hand joined mine on the table. His mask fell away just long enough for him to give a sweet smile as he squeezed my hand. “Thank you, beauty.”
I grinned. The anxiety crawling in my chest abated, and I chanced a tease, though it was serious. “I’m not done with you yet.”
“Ah, but my conscience does need a good scrub,” Casersis mused, but I could tell by the tense lines around his eyes that he was only half teasing. “But as you say. For now, a glass of wine while we await our food.”
Really? Food? I glanced around. There wasn’t a waiter in sight. “But we didn’t order.”
Casersis gave me a Cheshire grin. “I ordered for us in French so you would be surprised.”
I winced and peered at Casersis through one squinted eye. He deserved more than just side-eye, but it was all I could muster. I did, however, have reservations. “Just… no snails.”
“I would never!” Casersis stared at me, a wicked gleam entering his eyes. “Besides, you will know only taste and texture, as your eyes will be blissfully blindfolded, leaving you completely at my mercy.”
“This sounds like a terrible idea,” I said dryly.
Dimples pitted Casersis’s cheeks as he grinned. “I promise, beauty, that if you dislike something, you do not have to eat it.”
With another look around, I grimaced. This place was extremely high class. Only the elite could afford to dine here, and I was nowhere near moneyed enough. Did I have the etiquette to eat here? Probably not. “I doubt spitting into a napkin is acceptable here.”
“You will never know, learn, and grow if you do not experiment.” He squeezed my hand and tickled the inside of my wrist. “I ordered two samples of everything on the menu. What you enjoy, I shall remember. What you hate, you can spit out. What you are unsure of, you can do what you like so long as it does not end up on my sweater or face.”
That got me thinking. “So,” I drawled, “your hair, shoes, and pants are good spitting spots. Noted.”
Casersis paled and gave me a stern look that nearly made me spit out my mouthful of water. “Don’t you dare!”
I grinned evilly and disengaged from his hand, framing my face on either side as I said quietly but with exaggerated intensity, “Oh, no! I have awakened the Persnickety Kitten of Doom!”
Casersis blinked and narrowed his eyes. “What did you just call me?”
I covered my mouth to muffle my laughter and removed it only to sputter between chuckles, “Kitten!”
Casersis’s lips formed what suspiciously seemed to be a pout as he tried to preen. “How am I the kitten, when I am your elder?” he asked.
“You mean other than the fact that the mere thought of getting dirty makes you fluff up and hiss like a pissed-off kitten?” I teased.
“You will pay for that, imp!”
“Ooooh.” I grinned playfully, glad the tension had abated. “I’m so scared. Kitten’s got claws!”
“Ah, kitten, is it, Casersis?” The smooth voice came from behind Casersis, and I blinked up at the man. He had a fake smile, hard brown eyes, and a head full of short, thick, immaculately styled, wavy auburn hair. The moment Casersis heard his voice, that mask fell back into place, and he sat up in his seat.
“Pardon my interruption.” The man cocked his head to the side, regarding first Casersis, then me. “You two were simply too adorable not to comment on.”
“Is there something I can help you with, Erastus?” Casersis asked blandly. “I am trying to enjoy a quiet evening with a friend.”
“Mmm, since when does the mighty Casersis have time for friends?” Erastus asked. His eyes pierced straight through me as he continued, “Or is this your escort for the evening? They are so cheap these days, though he rather looks delectable.”
I stiffened and balled my hands on my lap. “An escort?” How dare this bastard call me a whore? I had nothing against sex workers, but insinuating Casersis was paying me to have sex with him or that I was with him only for his money made me nauseous. I was about to say something else when Casersis nudged my foot under the table.
“Calm yourself, J.D.,” he murmured, giving me a pointed look that said I should go along with his use of the wrong initials. Then he turned a cold gaze upon Erastus as the man rounded to the side of our table. “Insulting those within my company is quite below you, Erastus. I am surprised that you would stoop so low.”
It took every muscle in my body not to react. An escort? Erastus honestly thought that’s what I was? I forced my hand not to shake as I took a sip of water. Did Casersis bring escorts to restaurants like these? The next swallow felt like a bowling ball going down my throat as I swallowed wrong, and I closed my eyes to try and hide my pain as I listened. My control was completely gone. There was no way I could get any semblance of it back with this man. With that lack of control, I nearly stood and decked the asshole save for Casersis’s shoe-less foot rubbing my ankle. It surprised me that that small gesture offered enough comfort to keep me in my seat.
Erastus laughed softly, keeping his voice muted. “I do not stoop, Casersis. I am merely making an observation. Just this morning, this young man was dirty and wearing rags as he raised joists for a new addition to the clinic I fund downtown. Dustin, correct?” He casually stuffed his hands into his pockets and smirked. “Yes, I am certain. Dustin Juniper—not J.D.—age twenty, currently residing at Seymour Commons Apartment Complex in the slums, apartment sixty-four. His current pay rate is the highest it has ever been at twenty dollars per hour, which is hardly enough for his essentials even though it is well above minimum wage. He ends up working nine-hour days since he never takes a lunch break. Yet, still, he can barely afford the rent for his one-room apartment if he wants to eat, as well, because he’s trying to save money for community college.” He tilted his head and studied me a moment. “I may not present myself personally, but I do know every employee under my power at any given moment. I must say, though, Dustin, that you clean up rather well.”
By the time Erastus finished, I knew I was all eyes, and I did my best not to vomit all the water I had sloshing in my stomach. The only thing the man left out was my past, which I had already hinted at earlier. Casersis sensed it as he caressed my ankle again with the toe of his socked foot.
“So, as he is under your employ, finding him at dinner with me automatically makes him a whore to you?” Casersis asked, his brow perked. “For as much as you think you know, there is very little you actually do.”
Erastus laughed. “Oh, please regale me!”
“No.” Casersis’s voice held a dark undertone that made me shiver. “I am not so crass as to spout a person’s private information in a public atmosphere, no matter how isolated the table.”
Rather than appearing contrite, Erastus stared harder at me as if weighing me against something only he could see. After a moment, he smiled, and it wasn’t anywhere near kind. “Enjoy the sex, Dustin. Either way, you’re getting paid for it. Or…” His eyes raked over me, obviously taking in my new clothes. “Or you already have. The sweater alone must have cost a year’s worth of your pay or more.”
Before either of us could say a word, Erastus turned on his heel and strode away with an amused chuckle flowing behind in his wake. I gasped. It felt like someone had sucked all the air out of the room. When I did, though, I realized I was shaking with anger. How could he? How could anyone be so mean, so crass? The sudden emotion that flooded me was like a boulder crashing into a still pond with its intensity. So much for control. In this world—this rich world where the elite had unimaginable power—I never had control. It was only an illusion.
Casersis was at my side in a breath and knelt by my chair. He stroked a hand up and down my spine, chasing away some of the chill Erastus had left inside me. Another pair of feet entered my vision, and I stiffened until I heard Casersis speak in rapid French, his tone angry and clipped. The waiter responded and practically ran away, leaving us alone.
“Oh, beauty…” Casersis sighed. He massaged the back of my neck as I fought to calm myself. The last thing I needed was to go haring off to catch up with Erastus, my boss, and punch him in the face. How stupid was I to get this angry over something someone said? “I am so, so sorry, Dustin.”
I sucked in a slow breath to get air back into my lungs and shifted. I stood and found myself cradled against Casersis’s chest. We stood there, Casersis’s scent, and something more comforting me as he rocked us back and forth while shouts arose across the restaurant. The sound was blurred so badly by my heartbeat thundering in my ears that the angry voices, one of them Erastus’s, made me shake harder. I wasn’t prone to such rage. Nothing made sense. All I could do was lean against Casersis and struggle with the fury making it hard to breathe and harder to think.
“The owner is ousting him, permanently, from the restaurant,” Casersis murmured in my ear. “He will not harm you again tonight.”
“What did I do? What did I do to him?” I whispered through clenched teeth. Then a thought occurred to me, and I growled. “Will this cost me my job?”
Expelling a long, drawn-out breath through his nose, Casersis squeezed me so tight it almost hurt, and that calming scent grew stronger. “He saw you with me. That was enough for him.” He trailed warm kisses along the side of my neck, murmuring between each press of his lips as he did his best to calm me down. “We are leaving. Once Erastus has gone, I will take you to my home for the evening. I’m not leaving you alone like this.”
I trembled with that and nearly spat the words, “I’m not a whore!”
The hiss near my ear made me go still, and Casersis’s entire body shook. “No, you are not,” he said vehemently. The arms around me turned to steel. Tingles flooded every spot that Casersis touched, whether it was clothed or not. The scent of pine and meadow grew stronger until it was all I could smell.
I whispered, “Cass?”
A shudder went through the other man, and he nuzzled his face into my hair. “It is all right, Dustin.” His arms relaxed but still held me tight. The rocking resumed. “No whore could ever have touched me the way you have tonight. Not emotionally. Not intellectually.” He pressed a kiss to my temple and went on softly, “And I have never hired an escort. I have had lovers, and friends, and family. Trust, emotion, and affection, my beauty, are earned, not paid for.”
The gentle cadence of Casersis’s deep voice, combined with that soothing scent, helped me to relax. I nodded and went to wipe my suspiciously wet nose on my sleeve when Casersis attacked it with one of the soft cloth napkins. “Not on the clothes!” he wailed softly.
I chuckled and took the napkin, wiped my nose, and rubbed my damp eyes with it. “I don’t care if he’s gone,” I said, thanking God that my voice remained level. “I just want to leave.”
“Then it shall be so.” Casersis put a protective arm around me and guided me until we reached the coat clerk. Even then, he almost didn’t release his death grip on me except to slip my camel hair coat on me before we made our way out of the restaurant. Once we were in the limo, he pulled me onto his lap, and it surprised me that I didn’t mind at all. I smirked at him and settled in for the ride. If holding me would help him calm down after he spent so much time trying to calm me, then it was a small price to pay.
“Home, Mr. Ardal?” Charles asked.
“Please,” Casersis replied. “Please call ahead and have Beth ready something for us to eat in case our appetites return.”
“Yes, sir.”
The window between the driver’s seat and the back of the limo whispered shut, and Casersis brushed his thumb across my cheekbone. “Know what is most important, beauty?”
I shook my head. I had no idea.
“You.” He smiled, his eyes kind and sparkling in the low glow of passing street lights. “I would pay all I was worth in this world many times over to be worthy of your affection.”
