The car stopped in front of the luxurious hotel in the center of Capitol City. Lucas went out from the car and opened the doors for Grace, taking her gloved palm in his, helping her out.
He took her toward the entrance, his hand never letting go of hers. He opened the doors for her and they went inside.
Grace silently gasped at seeing the beauty and elegance of the restaurant. She looked up at Lucas with a soft smile and he kissed her gloved knuckles.
"We'll have dinner here. Then afterwards, we can dance a bit. And then", he stopped behind her as she unbuttoned her coat, ready to hold it for her when she takes it off "We can go to watch some stars", at seeing her curious gaze as she slightly turned her head to look at him, his lips curled up "A private party. Just the two of us… In planetarium."
Grace's eyes widened, her mouth slightly gaping.
"Planetarium!", she gasped silently, her fingers freezing on her buttons.
Lucas felt his heart soar at her reaction - she was so happy and excited, he could see it in her eyes.
"The munchkins told me that you love the stars and that you have stargazing parties on warm summer nights, laying in the backyard and watching the stars", he softly explained.
By now, she unbuttoned her coat and slowly took it off. Lucas helped her out of it…only to feel the ground move beneath him as he took Grace's beauty in.
Oh my God.
She looks beautiful. Stunning. Gorgeous.
He slowly entered her personal space, his fingers hovering above her bare shoulders, his eyes drowning in her warm gaze as she turned around and looked at him.
He couldn't breathe.
His heart stopped for a moment.
His eyes took her beauty in and, shaking his head slightly in amazement, Lucas silently mumbled:
"Do you know how beautiful you are?", he placed her coat over his forearm to free his hands and slowly, very slowly he brushed his palms over her bare shoulders "You take my breath away, Grace. You look gorgeous, mon amour. Stunning."
Grace let out a shaky breath, her lips curling up in a smile, her cheeks growing rosy from Lucas' compliment and adoring gaze.
She took in a shivering breath as he finally put his palms down on her skin, causing her heart palpitations. Breathing heavily, she slowly put her palms on his chest and smiled at him.
"Thank you", she whispered.
They slowly moved and started to walk toward their table. As she moved between the tables Grace could feel Lucas' palm on the small of her back and feel his eyes on her as he walked two steps behind her. Warmth pooled deep inside her and she could feel her entire body trembling deliciously with love and anticipation.
And to think that I was nervous about wearing this dress.
As they reached their table, Lucas pulled out a chair for her. She gently smiled at him and sat down…only to feel his cheek close to her hair, his lips brushing against her earlobe as he whispered directly in her ear:
"I love you, Grace", and with those words, he brushed his lips over her earlobe, making her shiver in pleasure, her eyes closing at the sensations he woke up in her.
She literally felt the emptiness as he left her side and stopped behind his chair across the table…at least for a few seconds…
In the next moment, he moved the chair closer to her… Close enough to touch… Making her heart sing and as soon as he sat down, Grace took his palm and gently squeezed his fingers as she whispered:
"I love you too, my Lucas", she smiled as he leaned in and kissed her gently, lovingly, his other palm slowly tracing a way from her cheek, down her neck, across her collar bone and to her shoulder. She let out a shaky breath at the feeling of his fingers on her bare skin and broke the kiss, her gaze locking with his eyes. He leaned his forehead against hers and whispered:
"When we order and wait for the waiter to bring our food…will you dance with me?"
Grace's smile grew wider as she tried to calm her breathing down.
"I'd love too", she silently replied, meeting him halfway for a short, but loving kiss.
After a few moments, they pulled away from each other and took their Menus.
Grace pursued her lips as she looked through the Menu…only to have her eyes slightly widen.
"Oh…They got mussels here!", she looked up at Lucas "Did you eat them here?"
Lucas looked down at the page Grace was looking at and nodded.
"Yes I have. I know they say that the best mussels are at the seaside, but trust me, these are pretty close too", he said with a soft smile.
Grace's lips curled up.
"Good! Then I'll have them. It's been a while since I ate them and I love them", she said, closing her Menu.
Lucas nodded as he still perused his Menu.
"When was the last time you ate them?", he asked.
Grace thought about it for a few moments before replying:
"I think it was about a year and half ago…In Thessaloniki. I was dining with the couple who adopted two kids and they took me to this adorable little taverna by the sea. Oh, the mussels were delicious, but you should have seen the view, Lucas! I never saw such crystal blue sea like I did in Greece! I swear, it is out of this world!'', she watched as he still read his Menu with a peculiar facial expression, making her smile in curiosity "What?
He looked up at her, his facial expression as innocent as baby's.
"What? I didn't say anything", he said. At her pointed look, Lucas chuckled "I didn't!"
Grace squeezed her eyes, trying to figure out what was going on in his head, but gave up as he just kept on perusing the Menu.
"Fine", she smirked "I'll let you off the hook", as he looked up at her, she smiled mischievously "For now. So…what are you going to eat?"
Lucas raised his eyebrows as he looked down at his Menu.
"You know, I didn't even remember that they have seafood specials over here until you mentioned the mussels", he looked up at Grace and asked "Do you like other seafood specialties or just mussels?", he slightly turned his Menu to her.
Grace leaned in to look at it and replied:
"Oh, no, I like other things too! Squids, octopus salad", she shrugged as she looked up at him "I just never had them here."
Lucas smiled.
"Well I had and I have to say - compliments to the chef. So", he closed his Menu "What do you think about ordering a seafood plate? Mussels, squids, octopus, some fish?"
Grace smiled.
"That sounds delicious", her smile turned into a pleading one "And please, you choose the wine. I am more than happy with anything you choose as long as it is white tonight."
Lucas chuckled, remembering how Grace told him that she is a hopeless case when it comes to wines because she could never remember their names.
After the waiter took their order, Lucas got up from his chair and offered his hand to Grace as he silently asked:
"Milady, may I have this dance?
Grace's lips curled up mischievously as she placed her gloved palm on his fingers.
"What, just this one?", she teased him lovingly as he led her to the dance floor.
Lucas' eyes sparkled as he twirled her into him and they slowly started to glide across the dance floor.
"Well, I would love to dance with you all night long, Miss Bennett", he whispered to her ear "But what if your fiancé shows up?"
Grace looked up at him, her eyes widening.
"Why, do you see him anywhere?!", she quickly turned her head left and right, causing Lucas to laugh and he pulled her closer to him. She giggled as she looked back at him and whispered "Don't worry. I'll just pretend that I didn't see him."
Lucas shook his head, a smile never leaving his face.
"Poor man!", he quipped.
Grace opened her mouth in mock shock.
"What, you'd prefer if I go home with him?!", she silently mumbled, her eyes twinkling and her lips curling up into a devilish smile.
Only to have it melt away completely at the feeling of Lucas' lips hovering close to her earlobe.
"Oh, no. Never. The only person who's taking you home is me", and with those words, he placed a gentle kiss on her earlobe, causing Grace to close her eyes and let out a soft sigh.
"So I can't even dance with him?", she managed to mumble.
Lucas smiled as he held her more tightly, reveling in her trembling deliciously in his arms.
"Just don't forget about me", he whispered and he felt a shaky breath escaping her lips.
"Never", she whispered and she leaned her cheek on his cheek as they continued with their slow dance.
—--
As the waiter put the food on their table and poured some wine and left, Grace took off her gloves with a smile.
She slightly bit her lower lip in concentration as took one mussel with her thumb and index finger and brought it to her lips.
"Oh, it's delicious!", she said as she licked her thumb and index finger "You were right, they are pretty close to the ones I had in Greece."
Lucas smiled as he took a bite of squid and said:
"Hang on, let me try", he let go of his silverware and went to pick one mussel from the plate…
Only to have Grace's hand stop his fingers.
He looked up at her quizzically and her lips curled up in a lazy smile.
"No… Let me", and with those words, she picked up one mussel and brought it to his lips. Her fingertips slowly touched his lips as she tilted black shell and made sure he got the delicious
mussel and sauce. She quickly brought another one and when she tried to pull her hand back, she felt Lucas' fingers gently catching her wrist…
He brought her hand back to his lips and she watched mesmerized as he slowly, very slowly licked the remnants of sauce from her finger.
Grace eyelids went half closed, a shuddering breath escaping her and she felt her insides burning.
She felt his lips move to her thumb and repeating the whole thing.
Sweet mercy.
Grace silently gasped at the sensation and as she felt his hand gently tugging her hand and pulling her closer, she leaned in at the same time he did too and kissed him, her fingers intertwining with his and squeezing tightly as she felt his tongue caressing her mouth. She silently whimpered, her other palm grabbing a fistfull of his dress shirt.
A few moments later, both of them gasped for breath, but except breaking the kiss, they didn't move away from each other. Grace leaned her forehead on Lucas' forehead and locking her gaze with his eyes, she let out a shaky breath before she whispered:
"You are playing with a fire, Governor", as he let out a small breathless laugh at her teasing, she silently added "How are we ever going to get through to dessert if you keep on distracting me like this?"
Lucas' eyes shimmered with a glint, robbing Grace out of any coherent thought.
"Slowly, Miss Bennet. Slowly but surely", he whispered with a seductive smile "Because, hey…you have to admit - it is more delicious this way", and with those words he leaned in and kissed his beautiful fiancée.
And if some of the sauce from mussels lingered on her fingers and ended up on his dress shirt…well, so be it.
—--
You can dance
Every dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye
Let him hold you tight.
You can smile
Every smile for the man
Who held your hand
'Neath the pale moonlight.
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, hmm.
Oh, I know
That the music's fine
Like sparkling wine
Go and have your fun.
Laugh and sing
But while we're apart
Don't give your heart
To anyone.
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, hmm.
Baby, don't you know I love you so?
Can't you feel it when we touch?
I will never, never let you go
I love you, oh, so much.
You can dance
Go and carry on
'Till the night is gone
And it's time to go.
If he asks
If you're all alone
Can he take you home
You must tell him "no".
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me.
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin'
Save the last dance for me, hmm.
Save the last dance for me, hmm-hmm
Save the last dance for me, hmmm
"Save the last dance for me" - The Drifters)