DASHIELL
The restaurant was called "Hana no Yoru" I had seen it online before but never been inside. It looked expensive even from the outside, with soft lighting glowing through paper screens and a beautiful koi pond near the entrance.
Alexander parked in a reserved spot right at the front. I unbuckled my seatbelt carefully, adjusting it one last time before stepping out. My left foot rubbed against my right ankle as we walked toward the entrance. The air smelled faintly of cherry blossom and grilled fish.
A elegantly dressed hostess in a dark kimono bowed slightly as soon as we stepped inside.
"Welcome back, Mr. Astor," she said with a warm, professional smile. "Your usual private booth is ready."
She took Alexander's coat with practiced ease, then turned to me with the same polite smile.
"And welcome, Mr. Harper-Astor. May I take your coat as well?"
I blinked, a little surprised she knew my name too. I handed her my coat, fingers tapping lightly against my thigh.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
She led us through the restaurant. The lighting was soft and warm, exactly the kind I liked, not too bright. Traditional paper lanterns cast gentle shadows. The place was quiet, with low conversations and the faint sound of soft shamisen music in the background. It wasn't overwhelming.
We were taken to a private booth at the back, separated by beautiful wooden screens. It felt secluded and safe.
The hostess bowed again.
"Your server will be with you shortly. Please enjoy your evening."
As soon as she left and the screen slid closed, I let out a small breath and sat down on the cushioned bench. My foot rubbed against my ankle under the low table.
"This place is very… calm," I said, looking around. "The lighting is good and it's quiet."
Alexander sat across from me, but he immediately moved to sit on the same side, close enough that his thigh pressed against mine under the table.
"I thought you would like it," he said, voice low. His hand found my knee, resting there possessively.
I nodded, fingers tapping lightly on the table.
"You chose well," I admitted honestly. "I like it. Thank you."
A server in traditional attire arrived quietly, bowing before handing us menus.
"Would you like to start with something to drink?" she asked softly.
I looked at Alexander, then back at the menu.
"Cold barley tea, please," I said. "No ice."
Alexander ordered sake for himself, then turned to me after the server left.
"Get the miso salmon," he said, almost casually.
I tilted my head, studying him.
"You really seem to know a lot about what I like," I said but without accusation. "The restaurant, The food. How I like things cooked. It's… interesting."
Alexander's hand squeezed my knee under the table, a small smirk playing on his lips.
"I pay attention to what makes you comfortable," he replied, voice smooth and almost charming. "That's all."
I hummed, tapping my fingers on the table again.
"It's efficient," I said. "And… nice. I don't have to explain everything. That's good for me."
The server returned with our drinks. I took a sip of the cold barley tea and felt some of the day's tension ease.
Alexander watched me the entire time, eyes dark and focused.
"Eat slowly," he murmured when the food arrived. "I want to enjoy watching you relax."
My cheeks warmed. I picked up my chopsticks and took a small bite of the perfectly prepared miso salmon.
It tasted exactly how I liked it.
And for the first time in hours, my brain felt almost… quiet.
Alexander watched me the entire time.
His dark eyes never left my face as I ate. He barely touched his own food, just sipped his sake slowly, gaze heavy and hungry. It made my skin feel hot. Every time I lifted my chopsticks, I could feel him staring at my mouth.
I took another bite of the miso salmon, cheeks warming under his intense focus.
"You're staring," I said quietly, tapping my fingers lightly against the edge of the table. "You look… very hungry. But not for the food."
Alexander's lips curved into a slow smirk.
"I'm not," he admitted, voice low and rough. "I'm thinking about how pretty your mouth looks when you eat. How it would look wrapped around something else."
My face burned. I swallowed the bite and set my chopsticks down carefully.
"You want to kiss me, don't you?"
Alexander's eyes darkened.
"Very much."
I turned toward him on the cushioned bench, heart beating faster. The private booth suddenly felt very small and very safe. I leaned in slightly, puckering my lips.
"Come here then," I whispered.
Alexander cursed under his breath, a low, dirty sound and attacked my mouth.
He grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me hard. His tongue pushed past my lips immediately, claiming every inch like he'd been starving for it. I smiled against his mouth and kissed him back, fingers clutching his shirt as heat flooded through me.
When he finally pulled back, I was breathless, lips tingling.
Alexander rubbed his thumb slowly across my swollen bottom lip, eyes locked on it like he was mesmerized.
"Fuck," he muttered. "You have no idea what you do to me."
Before I could respond, he picked up a piece of perfectly cooked salmon with his chopsticks, brought it to his own mouth, and ate half of it. Then he leaned in again, cupping my jaw.
"Open," he ordered softly.
My eyes widened. My foot rubbed hard against my ankle under the table.
"Alexander… that's…"
He didn't wait. He kissed me again, transferring the warm, perfectly seasoned piece of salmon from his mouth to mine in a slow, filthy slide.
I made a surprised, muffled sound, cheeks burning bright red. It was intimate, messy and extremely inappropriate for a restaurant.
But I ate it.
The salmon tasted even better like this, warm from his mouth, mixed with the faint taste of him. I chewed slowly, flustered and strangely turned on, fingers tapping rapidly against his chest.
When I swallowed, I pulled back just enough to look at him, eyes wide and a little dazed.
"You… you just fed me from your mouth," I whispered, voice hoarse. "In public. In a very expensive restaurant."
Alexander's smirk was pure sin. He brushed his thumb across my bottom lip again, wiping away a tiny trace of sauce.
"And you liked it," he said, voice dark and satisfied. "Didn't you, little anomaly?"
I flushed even harder, rocking slightly on the bench.
"…Yes," I admitted honestly, embarrassed but unable to lie. "It felt… intimate. And a little weird but I liked it."
He leaned in and kissed me again, slower this time, tasting the remnants of the salmon on my tongue.
"Good," he murmured against my lips. "Because I'm not done feeding you tonight."
My heart raced. My fingers tapped faster against his shirt as heat pooled low in my stomach.
This man was going to ruin me in the middle of a very fancy restaurant.
And I was starting to think I might let him.