Page 80 of Deceived Wrath

“It’s called having standards, Fiona.”

I nod solemnly. “Right. You see, I would call that a full-blown dissertation on red meat.”

His jaw flexes, but there’s the slightest twitch at the corner of his mouth, like he’s fighting a smile.

“Try not to mock me before the food even gets here.”

“No promises.”

He huffs out a breath thatmightbe mistaken for a laugh.

“But it’s good to know that I’m not the only one you like to boss around.”

Cormac leans forward, and I find my breath catching as his eyes darken. “You would do well to remember that I am just that, your boss. By definition of the role, I should be telling you what to do, and you should obey my demands without question.”

“We both know you go well beyond just telling me what to do,” I blurt before I can stop myself.

Cormac levels me with a look that tells me I will pay for speaking back to him, but I’m not afraid. If anything, I have to fight the urge to squeeze my thighs together at the thought of how he might punish me.

“Would you like me to stop?” he asks.

Yes.

No.

Time to change the subject. Fast.

“Have you been here before?” I glance nervously around the room.

“Once or twice.”

“What is your favorite cuisine to eat? For me, I love anything Italian.”

“I’ll bear that in mind.”

There is that annoying little shiver that runs down my spine.

These breadcrumbs of attention that Cormac is offering me must be secretly laced with something because I am eating them up like an addict.

I take another sip of water. “You didn’t answer my question.”

Cormac eyes my empty water glass. “Do you not like the champagne? You can order something else if you prefer.”

“Champagne is great. I’m just…thirsty.”

Cormac’s lips twitch. “I’ve noticed.”

I scowl across the table at him. “You only have yourself to blame.”

“How so?”

“You’re the one who wanted to come out for dinner. I was fine with having a quickie against the wall.”

Cormac almost chokes on his champagne, and I grin.

I think I might enjoy catching him off guard a little too much. “Then again, you don’t seem like the type who was taught to deal with the consequences of your own actions.”

“You seem to like jumping to conclusions about me.”