Chapter 25 : Evening in Greenwich - A Taste of Desire
New York, Lower Manhattan, Greenwich Village – Alex's POV
The taxi slowed to a stop in front of the restaurant, the glow of the streetlights catching on the glass and steel around us. The air outside was crisp when I stepped out — cool enough to bite just a little, but not enough to chase away the warmth thrumming under my skin.
I closed the door behind me and took a quiet breath, straightening my coat. The reflection in the window beside me caught my eye, and for a moment, I studied myself the way someone else might.
The dark gray coat fell neatly to mid-thigh, its cut clean and modern — something that made me look a little more put together than I actually felt. Underneath, the black shirt was unbuttoned just enough to stay casual, the fabric smooth against my skin. The sleeves were rolled just below the elbow, a habit I couldn't seem to break. The deep indigo of my jeans contrasted subtly with the dark tones above, and the sober derby shoes grounded it all, solid and understated.
Not bad, I thought. For once, I actually looked like someone heading out on a date — not a guy juggling secrets and impossible powers. Just Alex.
I ran a hand through my hair, half to fix it, half to burn off the nervous energy still buzzing in my chest. The city hummed softly around me — the distant sounds of engines, chatter, music spilling from nearby bars. And somewhere beneath all that noise, I could hear my own pulse, steady but quick.
I circled the car, my breath fogging slightly in the cool air, and stopped at the passenger side. My hand found the handle, fingers pausing for just a moment as I glanced through the tinted window — where Gwen was waiting.
I stepped forward and opened the car door for Gwen, letting the frame fall into the background as my focus zeroed in on her. She smiled softly, that small, almost shy curve of her lips that always made my chest tighten. As she began to step out, the soft sway of her hips caught my attention immediately — the way the bordeaux satin of her dress hugged her waist, accentuating the gentle curve of her hips and the subtle swell of her thighs.
The delicate straps framed her shoulders perfectly, drawing my gaze to the smooth lines of her arms and the way the dress clung just enough to hint at the shape of her well-proportioned snowy peaks . The leather jacket, cinched at her waist, emphasized the contrast between the softness of her dress and the strength in her posture. My eyes trailed down to the boots, the way they added height and a subtle edge, making her legs look even longer, more… appealing as if her white toned thighs were begging to be caressed.
I swallowed hard, feeling a heat creeping up my neck and settling low in my stomach. The thought of the night ahead — dinner, the cinema, what might come after — made the pulse in my veins thrum a little faster. I caught a subtle curve of her smile as she shifted, unaware of how completely she had me, right here, right now.
I straightened, trying to ground myself, and extended my hand. "Careful," I murmured, my voice low, teasing. "Let me help you."
She placed her hand in mine, the warmth sending another jolt through me. As I guided her out, my eyes couldn't help lingering a moment longer on the way the dress flowed with her movement, the jacket hugging just enough, the overall effect making my imagination run wild.
She placed her hand in mine, the warmth sending another jolt through me. As I guided her out, my eyes couldn't help lingering a moment longer on the way the dress flowed with her movement, the jacket hugging just enough, the overall effect making my imagination run wild. I froze for a brief moment, unable to look away, taking in the subtle curves, the graceful lines — the shape of her graceful breast.
Gwen caught my gaze, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Enjoying the view?" she teased, her voice low and sultry.
I cleared my throat, trying to regain composure, though the heat in my chest betrayed me. "Yes," I admitted, my voice steady despite everything. "And… I hope I'll get the opportunity to see even more."
She laughed softly, the sound sending another thrill through me, and I let the moment hang, savoring the quiet tension and anticipation as we stood there, poised to head into the restaurant.
We stepped into the restaurant, the warm, cozy interior wrapping around us like a familiar blanket. The hostess greeted us with a smile and led us to a table tucked slightly off to the side, giving us a little privacy while still keeping the soft murmur of the other diners around.
Once seated, I let my gaze drift over Gwen again for just a moment before focusing on the menu. The candlelight flickered softly across the table, casting gentle shadows and making the burgundy of her dress glow even richer.
"So," I began, keeping my tone light, teasing even, "what are you feeling tonight? Something hearty, something fancy, or something that's purely indulgent?"
Gwen chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I think… maybe something indulgent. But not too heavy. I want to be able to move around after," she said, her eyes sparkling.
I nodded, smirking. "Good plan. I was thinking maybe Filet mignon grilled, with red wine sauce, roasted vegetables, and buttery potatoes, and for you… Seafood pasta in a slightly spicy creamy sauce, with shrimp and scallops? Sound good?"
Gwen's eyes lit up at her choice, a small smile tugging at her lips.
As we discussed the menu, the conversation drifted naturally to lighter topics — funny things that had happened during the week, little anecdotes from classes, harmless teasing about our friends. Nothing heavy, nothing serious. Just… normal. Comfortable.
I couldn't resist adding a little tease, leaning slightly closer as I whispered, "Careful with that seafood… watching you enjoy it might give me… a hard-on who will be difficult to hide."
Gwen let out a soft laugh, rolling her eyes but clearly entertained.
It felt easy, the kind of easy I hadn't realized I'd missed until now, and every so often, my eyes flicked back to Gwen, just to see her smile or hear her laugh, savoring the quiet warmth of the evening.
Gwen let out a soft laugh, rolling her eyes but clearly entertained.
It felt easy, the kind of easy I hadn't realized I'd missed until now, and every so often, my eyes flicked back to Gwen, just to see her smile or hear her laugh, savoring the quiet warmth of the evening.
The meal moved along pleasantly, our conversation light and effortless — teasing each other, sharing little anecdotes from the week, savoring the food and the moment.
Finally, Gwen hesitated, her fork pausing mid-air. There was a faint flush on her cheeks, and I could sense a subtle tension in her posture, a mix of curiosity and something else… something that made my pulse quicken.
"Alex…" she murmured, her voice a little breathy, "I… I wanted to ask you something."
I tilted my head, giving her my full attention, intrigued by the mixture of nervousness and… excitement radiating from her.
She swallowed, then leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice. "You… you told me you learned the secret fantasy of two people… and one of them was me. We… we confirmed mine, right?"
I nodded slowly, my eyes narrowing just a fraction, waiting.
"And… the other person?" she asked, a hint of blush in her cheeks, her tone almost shy yet charged, as if the very act of asking made her heart race. "Who… who is it?"
I met her gaze, sensing the delicate balance of embarrassment and… desire that laced her words. I knew this wasn't just curiosity. There was more to it, something intimate, thrilling, dangerous even.
I smirked, leaning back slightly, the teasing glint returning to my eyes. "Ah… so now you want to know who the second person is, huh? And maybe… what their secret fantasy might be?"
Gwen's eyes widened slightly, a mix of curiosity and something hotter flickering in their depths. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, her fingers lightly drumming against the surface in barely contained anticipation. "Y‑you can tell me, right? I… I really want to know…" Her voice was low, almost breathless, and there was a flush creeping up her neck, her pulse quickening in a way she clearly wasn't trying to hide.
Her gaze locked on mine, intense, impatient, charged with a mix of excitement and desire. It was as if every beat of her heart was counting down to the moment I would finally give her the answer. "Please… I need to know," she whispered, leaning even closer, the scent of her perfume mingling with the warmth of her skin, making it impossible to think about anything else.
I leaned back slightly, a teasing smirk tugging at my lips. "Alright… since you're clearly dying to know, the second person is… Mary Jane." I let the words hang a moment, watching her reaction carefully. "And her fantasy… well, it's to be completely submissive to her partner, to be nothing but a female, a set of holes, entirely at his service."
Gwen froze for a fraction of a second, her eyes widening as the realization hit her. One of her best friends… and this was her fantasy. A flush spread across her cheeks, warmth pooling low in her belly. She bit her lower lip, a small, startled gasp escaping her before she could fully process it.
The combination of shock, disbelief, and something far more primal made her heart race. Her breathing hitched subtly, her body leaning slightly forward as if drawn into the intensity of the revelation. Even though it was about someone else, the raw nature of the fantasy sent a jolt through her, stirring a deep, undeniable excitement.
Her eyes met mine, wide and bright, a mixture of curiosity, envy, and… arousal. "Mary Jane…?" she whispered, voice trembling ever so slightly, the heat of her body betraying just how much the news affected her.
Her eyes met mine, wide and bright, a mixture of curiosity, envy, and… arousal. "Mary Jane…?" she whispered, voice trembling ever so slightly, the heat of her body betraying just how much the news affected her.
She swallowed, catching her breath, then leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a barely audible murmur. "Alex… tell me… tell me everything you know. About her… her fantasy… what she wants…"
I let a faint, knowing smile curl at the corner of my lips, my tone slow, deliberate, teasing. "Like I just told you about her fantasy?" I murmured, leaning just slightly closer. "She wants to be completely submissive to her partner, all of herself devoted to her partner to her master. That part doesn't change. I paused, letting the words hang in the air, watching her reaction. "And knowing that you'll see it all… that you'll understand every part… I can't help but wonder how much it's… making your panties' wet, just thinking about it while we're here." My voice was soft, teasing, letting the implication linger without needing to say more.
Gwen flushed slightly, her cheeks warm as she tried to regain some composure, focusing on the last bites of her meal. I let her take her time, keeping my expression calm, even neutral, allowing the subtle tension between us to linger like a low hum in the air. Every so often, my gaze flicked to her, watching the way her fingers held the fork, the faint tremor in her movements betraying just how much she was feeling.
I decided to say nothing, letting the quiet stretch on until we both finished our plates. I made the motions of signaling the waiter, paying the bill, and gathering our things, still keeping my voice calm, steady, teasing nothing. The tension was thick, electric, and I let it sit there, knowing that the moment to release it would come.
Finally, standing up, I brushed my hands briefly on my trousers and turned to Gwen, a bright, playful smile spreading across my face. "We shouldn't linger too long," I said, my tone now casual and full of energy. "We've got a movie to catch, and I'd hate for us to miss the start."
Her eyes widened a little, the tension in her shoulders easing, a soft laugh escaping her. I reached for her hand, giving it a light squeeze, letting the unspoken excitement of the evening hang between us as we prepared to leave the restaurant.
The night was just beginning.