Lily: Captive to the Dark by Alaska Angelini Page A

I glided past the tables to one in the very back. It sat right next to a window and I couldn’t help but think my brother had something to do with that. No doubt he wanted my guards to see every little move made toward me.
    “Lily.” Alec stood, walking over behind my chair as I approached.
    “Alec.” This time, the smile was genuine. I let him take my hand as he helped me to sit down. As he rounded back to the chair directly across from me, I tried my best to keep calm. This was just a date. That was it. I didn’t have to go on another if I didn’t want to. And it was only dinner. It wasn’t like we’d be heading back to his place or mine afterward. There’d be no stolen kiss outside my door. My bodyguards would destroy him if he even tried.
    The hostess was replaced by a waiter taking our drink orders. I stuck to what I knew, what had rubbed off on me from my brother. “Scotch, please.”
    Alec’s eyes flashed to mine, but he smiled. “I’ll have the same.”
    At the departure, he turned, giving me his full attention.
    “You really surprise me. I expected something different. Maybe a martini. But, no, Scotch. I like that.”
    “I’m glad. I won’t pretend to be something I’m not.”
    He smiled. “Which is why you’ve kept my attention for so long. I won’t lie, at first, I was cautious to be around you. I had to see what type of person you were. The more I learned, the more I began to respect you. You’re an honest woman. Tough, but someone a person can trust.”
    Well, that wasn’t what I was expecting to hear, but a compliment, which I appreciated. “Thank you. Honesty is important.” And I’m full of blood soaked lies. “I try to tell the truth as much as possible.”
    “A rarity in this field. You amaze me. You’re going to go far. Well, you already have and it had nothing to do with Slade. You’re a natural leader, Lily. At your age, you’ve surpassed men who have spent the last decade or more trying to accomplish as much. Your future is set. Now, all you have to do is enjoy the ride.”
    The waiter returned with our drinks and I lifted my glass, lowering my voice. “To the ride. May it be rough, with mind-blowing rewards. I don’t think I’d like it any other way.”
    A shocked expression turned into a smile. It pulled at his mouth and it was one I knew all too well. I pushed away the shyness at the blatant flirting. The voice inside was screaming to run from embarrassment. The taker I’d become said to keep her game face on until she was ready to allow anyone in. After all, this blunt person was who Alec knew. Not the sweet, insecure girl who still lurked around on occasion.
    “You like it rough?”
    I turned, smiling at the waiter. Alec’s back straightened. He hadn’t been aware the man was still there.
    “Are you ready to order or do you need a few more minutes?”
    “I’m ready.” I faced my date, who nodded he was ready, too. The menu flipped open and his hand scanned down the page, reading over the contents of what he wanted. While he looked between the waiter and the choices, I couldn’t help but notice how truly attractive he was. How had I missed it all this time? Had I been so under my Master’s spell that I’d been blinded to everything but my memories of him? What had changed?
    “Ma’am?”
    My eyes stayed on Alec as I spouted my order from memory. The spark was there. I could feel the lust thickening between us. An odd sense of dominance reigned supreme on my behalf. For the first time, I wanted to be the one in charge. With Master, it was so natural to submit. It came from my soul. Here…I wanted control. To be the one with authority if anything happened between us.
    “Your eyes are so beautiful,” he said, continuing to hold my stare. “I’m sure you’ve heard that a million times, though.”
    “Maybe a few, but I think I like the sound of it from your mouth. Tell me again,” I said, lowering my voice and leaning more toward him.
    Alec’s eyes