I realize that it’s important to me that she enjoys this meal. I want her to like the things that I like. I want to see that we’re a good fit. I feel it in the way the blood rushes to my dick every time I get a glimpse of her body, but I also feel it in the easy way we talk, the ambitions she has, the magnetic attraction. I will make her mine, and it starts here.
“So, tell me about college,” I say. “What are your essentials?”
“A good faculty and course for business studies,” Casey replies immediately. “That’s at the top of the list. I also wanted to come to London to get a different cultural experience. And I’d like a college with good facilities so I know I’ll be able to learn to the best of my abilities. A nice dorm would be good, too.”
“Are you thinking about staying on campus?” I ask. “You know, students here often live off-campus by renting a small apartment or studio somewhere. You don’t have to stay on campus if you’re not interested in the nightlife or you want to experience the culture more.”
“I don’t know,” Casey shrugs. “I’d like to do the first year in a dorm at least. To help me find my feet. Maybe after that, I’ll change my mind.”
“Well, King’s definitely has everything on your list,” I say. “But Royal Holloway does too. You might have to decide based on your gut feeling of which of them appeals to you more.”
Our first course arrives – beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. While some Michelin-starred restaurants are known for plating up a tiny amount of food in a fancy way, BRAT keeps the fancy but doesn’t skimp on portion sizes. That’s why I knew it would be a good fit for Casey. I can see that she likes to eat, which makes her a perfect dinner companion for me, because I do too.
I watch her take her first bite. Her eyes roll back into her head and she moans in delight, making me quickly move to place my napkin more firmly across my lap. I can’t take my eyes off her for long enough to make a start on my own food at first; she’s so captivating. With each bite she glories in the food, appreciates it.
When the food is on the table we eat in silence, appreciating it for its flavor. We might make a comment here and there about how good it is. But between courses, we talk about Casey’s life at home, her ambitions of running a business, how her family is doing. That she’s always dreamed of having a traditional family of her own, a few kids and a dog, and being able to give her children everything they need. The more we talk, the more I realize how much we have in common – and how closely our needs are aligned.
I’ve been waiting for a long time to find a woman like Casey. I’ve stayed single, all these years, waiting for the perfect fit. And now here she is in front of me. I almost want to grab her up and lay her over the table and take her right here, put my claim on her, let everyone know that she is mine. But I can be patient. I have a week to possess her – and I’ll do it, at a pace that doesn’t make her run for the hills.
CHAPTER SIX
Casey
Dinner was so wonderful that it’s a shame it has to end. I barely want to move from the table – not just because I’m filled with the delicious food and enjoying that sleepy after-dinner feeling of satisfaction, but also because I don’t want to leave Edward. But I have to go back to the hotel at some point tonight, and there’s no avoiding it.
“Do you know which Tube station is closest here?” I ask, realizing I’m going to have to figure out exactly how to get back to the hotel.
“I’ll take you in a cab,” Edward says with a smile. “I’m not leaving you to take the Tube all dressed up like that. Besides, it will give us a little more time to talk. We have to plan tomorrow.”
Tomorrow, in all the excitement of the food, I’d almost forgotten that Edward agreed to show me around tomorrow. If I get to spend the whole day with him when I wake up, it will be a lot easier to say goodnight.
“That sounds great,” I say, as we get up from the table. Edward leads me outside, the bill already taken care of, and we climb into the back of a taxi together, largely ignored by the driver as he follows our route in silence.
“So, what do you want to see?” Edward asks. “I don’t think we’ll get around to everything in a week, let alone a day, but if there’s something you’re more excited about, we can start there.”
“I don’t know,” I gasp. There are so many iconic sights in London. I’ve already had a few of the key experiences – like right now, riding in the back of a black cab, for example – but I want to cross as many of them off as possible. “I’d like to see the classic sights. The things you see in movies. Like Big Ben and Tower Bridge.”
“That can be arranged,” Edward says. He slides his phone out of his pocket and starts typing on it, though I can’t see what he’s doing. “Leave it with me. I’ll meet you bright and early, unless you’d like a later start.”
Sleeping in bed alone, rather than getting to spend time with Edward in this beautiful city? There’s no way I’ll miss even a moment of his company if I can help it. “Bright and early is good,” I tell him.
Far too soon, we pull up outside my hotel. I wish
