Indebted to the Mafia King

*Heidi*

This has to be the most beautiful place I've ever been to in my life. Not that I get out that much, but I don't think I would have had the opportunity to dine in such a luxurious restaurant with a spectacular view of Manhattan if it wasn't for Cal. I'm glad I didn't push him to tell me where he was taking me because I actually do like surprises. When they're good surprises, anyway. I wasn't necessarily lying when I said I don't normally like them, but then, I wasn't expecting a surprise from him to be this magnificent.

He really managed to surprise me.

The fact that we've gone all the way to Stanton Island is one thing, and then the view through these enormous glass windows is breathtaking. From this distance, with the water separating us from the mainland, Manhattan seems peaceful somehow, not the chaotic city I'm used to.

"Do you like it?" Cal's voice reaches my ear, and only then do I realize how close to my neck his lips really are. It causes an electric current to course down my spine, and I swallow hard before turning to answer him. "It's amazing," I say honestly. "The city looks incredible from afar. I don't think I've ever seen it quite like this."

Cal nods, pushing my chair in for me when we finally reach our table. The restaurant is practically empty tonight, which strikes me as odd, given that it's New Year's Eve.

After settling in and ordering us a bottle of wine, we pick up our menus. It takes a while for me to choose because everything looks so delicious, but once I've made up my mind, he calls the server over, and she promises our food will be out quickly.

I sip my wine, admiring the outside view while Cal takes off his jacket and leans back in his chair. I try as hard as I can not to stare, but I can't ignore the way his muscles flex under his shirt. He looks exceedingly relaxed-and unbelievably hot. The man is so effortlessly attractive, it's astounding.

How did I end up on a date with someone like him?

Well, that is, if this is really a date. He told me on the way here that he was interested in spending time with me and getting to know me, so that means this could be a date.

If the way he took me in when I opened the apartment door earlier is any indication of his intentions, I'd say he's just as attracted to me as I am to him. The energy and the sexual tension running between us is palpable, I admit. I'm definitely not wrong about that.

I wonder if he's having the same sort of inappropriate thoughts about me as I'm suddenly having about him.

Cal grabs his glass of wine from the table and lifts it to his mouth, slowly savoring the red liquid. I'm momentarily lost in the way his lips touch the rim, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallows, his tongue darting out to lick his lips...

Good God, what is wrong with me tonight? You have barely even started to drink, Heidi!

If I don't control myself, I can't even imagine what will happen once the wine starts kicking in.

"So, I have some news," I blurt out, trying to distract myself from his presence.

His brows shoot up, and he sets the glass down to pay attention to me. His gaze is so intense that I almost forget what I intended to mention to him.

"My grandma said the insurance company will be paying them soon," I tell him. I didn't want to talk about this tonight, but I don't know what else to talk about with him, and I don't want to overstep and end up asking about topics he's not willing to share with me.

"That's good news," he agrees with a sharp nod. "What do you intend to do with it? Are you going to reopen the store?"

"Yes, of course. I just don't know where to begin." I blink, feeling a little less on edge and take a sip of my wine. "I'll need to find a new storefront, of course. Then I'll need new inventory, new shelving, new... everything. But yes, I'll be reopening the store."

"Start small," Cal suggests, his eyes darkening as he stares at me.

"It's New York City," I remind him. Even when he's saying something obvious, which I could be offended by, my body responds to him. The intensity in his look is so strong that it's making my need for him almost impossible to hold back, and we're literally talking about books right now, not something... sexy. I swallow hard, adding, "Everyone has to start small. Plus, I'm just-I've only ever been a bookseller. It's all I know how to do, all I am. I'm not-I'm not good at these kinds of things."

"What kinds of things?"

"Being a business-woman."

"I will agree to disagree with that," he murmurs, his voice raspy and sexy.

"I mean it," I retort, chuckling to hide my embarrassment. He's so good at flirting, it's disconcerting. "I'm just a bookseller. Was," I correct.

"You're wrong about that. You're remarkable. What you do for a living has nothing to do with it."

How can he be so good with his words? Maybe he spends more time reading than he lets on to be so articulate.

"It must be nice to know you got game, huh?" I tease, sipping from my wine, hoping it gives me some liquid courage to navigate this conversation in the best way possible without embarrassing myself in front of him.

"You're making me work harder than ever," Cal replies with a smirk. "But it's worth it if it means I get to spend the evening with you."

"The whole evening?" I smile around the rim of the glass, noticing his eyes dart to my lips for a split second.

Cal shrugs. "Sounds like a good plan to me."

"Let's see how dinner goes," I say boldly.

I have no idea where this courage is coming from, but I think the wine is starting to do its job of helping me navigate through this. I don't know how to interact with a man like Cal, but whatever it is I'm doing, it seems to be working on him. Our food arrives quickly, but that doesn't stop us from flirting and teasing each other. I'm shocked at my ability to keep up the banter with him when I have so little experience.noveldrama

I don't have enough experience dating to say whether or not it's like me to want to sleep with a man on the first date, but Cal is doing something to me I've never experienced before. It's almost like my mind has no choice. My body is attracted to him, and my ability to reason is out the window.

I just wonder if he feels the same way.

Once dinner is over, he takes me outside to the rooftop to watch the fireworks. The place is empty, and if it wasn't so far-fetched to even consider it, I'd think he somehow reserved it for just the two of us.

It's a privilege to be able to watch the fireworks from here, only the two of us, but I'd be lying if I said I care about the fireworks when I have Cal by my side, his hand on my lower back causing shivers to run through my entire body. I look up to tell him this has been such a memorable night and that I really liked it, but when I realize how close he is, our lips almost touching, the words get lost in my throat.

"I hope you'll forgive me for what I'm about to do," he whispers, his breath fanning against my lips, “but I can't hold myself back anymore."

And with that, he closes the distance between us, sealing our lips in a passionate, almost desperate kiss.

I respond instantly, my breath hitching as he pulls me closer to him.

Every cell in my body is on fire, begging for more. More of him. More of this.

He tastes like wine and mint, with a subtle undertone of something smoky.

A moan escapes my throat when his free hand grabs the nape of my neck, holding me steady against him. As if sensing my needs, Cal deepens the kiss, his lips moving against mine with hunger.

I lift my hands, one curling lightly into the fabric of his shirt while the other rests on his shoulder. I press myself closer to him, and he responds, his arm wrapping completely around my waist, holding me tight against him.

His touch is hot against the cool fabric of my dress, enticing me, my nipples hardening under the silk as he brushes his chest against mine.

"I don't want to overstep," Cal mumbles against my lips, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes, "but what do you say we get out of here?"

I don't think I've ever agreed so quickly to something in my life, but I nod aggressively as I pull him back for another kiss, already missing his lips on mine.