Forbidden Hour

"Didn't think you had it in you, Winters."

"Didn't have what in me?"

"Fun, a sense of humor, something other than that brain."

The eyes that looked at her agreed with Jeff, except for Theo, who had found a chair away from the conference table. Nervous, he looked between the floor and Alexis.

The others nodded. Some part of her had been figured out.

"You caught me," Alexis said. "Been reviewing moonlighting jobs. Yesterday sealed it."

Laughter rippled. A beat passed, then the laughter faltered and stopped. In the silence, the men looked at her.

She saw herself climbing onto the conference table and unbuttoning her jacket before letting it slip from her shoulders.

No one spoke, and for an instant, Alexis felt an urge. She could do it. Their eyes would follow each step. She'd tease, making them wait. A hand would be extended to help her balance as she climbed onto the table. She just needed to reach out, and they'd fight to take it.

The lust from the club would flow towards her. It waited just below the surface for her to extract. She wouldn't take money. She'd take something far better.

"Ok, " Allen said and broke the spell. "Let's not waste all day."

Like waking up, the men gathered themselves and returned to their pads and laptops. Alexis found a seat as Allen ran down the day's trades.

Half her brain heard the numbers on Japanese bond yields and Chilean copper futures. The rest clung to the image of herself towering over the group on that polished mahogany with every eye staring up at her. Helpless to look away, the frenzy she'd create would pull something essential. She'd grow more powerful, her body humming and singing with the energy like a plucked string. As she grew, the frenzy would rise until each man would stiffen in ecstasy, then collapse. She'd do it without laying a finger on them. While they emptied, she'd feed the need that grew more ferocious by the second.

Succubus, her brain offered.

"Winters."

Desire, temptation, the perfect lure.

"Winters."

Alexis shook her head. They were staring.

"You have the model for the Italian put spreads?" Allen asked.

Nodding, she looked at Allen without seeing him. Her voice spoke, but it was something distant. "I'll e-mail everyone after."

"Perfect," Allen said. "That's it. Let's try not to bankrupt the firm today."

The meeting ended. Phones, laptops, and notepads were gathered, and people filed out. Alexis gathered herself and lingered behind.

When she reached the door, she felt eyes on her again. Theo watched.

His need called. You're at work, Alexis. Italian put spreads. She left the room.

She forced her legs to step, feeling Theo's eyes following her through the conference room window.

In her office, she started her laptop. The spreadsheet she'd promised was emailed, and she picked at the icons in the folder like a plate of mushy peas her mother cooked.

"Alexis."

Theo stood in the doorway. He had a cup of coffee.

Send him away, a quiet voice said.

She raised an eyebrow.

"I brought you some coffee," Theo said.

He held it in both hands before him like a ritual offering. Alexis crooked a finger. He approached her desk and set the cup in the center of the blotter. Holding his gaze, she lifted it to her lips. Black and bitter, it was perfect, but she frowned and held the cup out.

"I take cream, no sugar."

He reached a furtive hand and took it, freezing when their fingers brushed. She let the cup go, and he pulled it against him, both hands closing around it.

"It was nice of you to try," Alexis said.

"I'm sorry, Alexis."

She nodded. His nervousness had a scent, like fear and blood.

"How about Ms. Winters from now on?"

"Ms. Winters?" he asked, swallowing.

"Has a ring."

He nodded. "Yes, Ms. Winters."

A twinge of pleasure answered. She nodded and continued to pretend to work while he tied himself in knots. At length, she lifted her eyes.

"Anything else?"

Not understanding, he opened his mouth but did not speak.

"You could apologize," Alexis suggested.

Relieved, he exhaled. "I apologize for getting your coffee wrong, Ms. Winters."

A small, desperate smile spread over his face when she nodded.

"The coffee?" Alexis asked.

"I apologize, Alex-", he began. "I apologize, Ms. Winters. I'll get a fresh cup."

He backed away and darted out the door.

The ache returned. This wasn't right, but Theo's desperation felt like the dreams where she was flying.

***

It was almost nine when the cab stopped in front of her building. Alexis' stomach had hollowed out, and images of Theo, Allen, and anyone else who crossed her path intruded into her thoughts.

Consumed by her presence, she imagined them doing anything, everything at her whim, and she'd worked with the door to her office closed the entire afternoon. Shutting herself off had been the only way she'd been able to think.

The cabbie turned and announced the fare. She could make him-

Enough.

She swiped her card and added a tip. As she exited the car, the doorman greeted her and opened the building's door. His eyes went over her body. She didn't look back. She could-

At the threshold, she stopped. The necklace weighed against her skin, and her hand went to it, feeding on the warmth. Ever since the club, she'd been a mess, riding the high of desire and being thrown around like a dandelion spore.

It wasn't going to control her. Her parents tried to tell her she would be a doctor. Her music teacher tried to tell her she would be a concert pianist. They didn't control her. This wouldn't either. She'd tame the desire, not the other way around.

Drawing her shoulders up, she stepped back. The doorman gave her a quizzical look as she turned up the block.

Walking up the street, glances reached out to her like tendrils. She let them brush past her. The hunger to grab them all tempted her, and she stood between the temptation of others and the power she felt from the necklace.

Instead, she strode three blocks and stopped. The scent of tomatoes and garlic wafted from a restaurant. Her stomach growled. She waited, letting the hunger pull, denying it.

When her stomach quieted, she turned to the entrance and pulled the door open.

The host's podium was unoccupied, and behind it, most of the tables were empty. The people there sipped coffee or picked at the remnants of desserts.

Waiters loitered near the kitchen entrance. They wore dark pants and white shirts with a bow tie. Laughing, one turned towards the entrance.

He had olive skin and a Roman nose. Lean, with dark hair and eyes, his gaze passed over Alexis.

Alexis decided. He would be her waiter.

His gaze returned. She smiled.

His lax posture straightened, and he adjusted his tie before crossing the room.

"No one's seated you?" he asked.

"Not until now," Alexis replied.

Smiling, he gestured to the tables. They'd crossed through the dining room. Alexis saw an empty table near the window. She touched the waiter's forearm.

"That table is lovely," Alexis said.

He stopped, eyes going to her hand, then to the table before making a vague gesture further into the restaurant. "My section is..."

She increased the pressure on his forearm and made a slow circle with the tip of her index finger.

"Of course," he said and led her to it.

He pulled out the chair and settled her into it, lighting the candle.
"I'm Victor," he said. "Wine to start?"

"What do you recommend?"

He tilted his head. "What mood are you in?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Hungry. Earthy."

He swallowed. "Special is a wild boar ragu with polenta. We have a wonderful Barolo for it."

"You promise?" Alexi asked. "Nothing timid tonight."

"I promise you'll be satisfied."

"I'll hold you to that, Victor," she extended her hand. "I'm Alexis."

He took it and contemplated, wanting to turn it over and kiss her knuckle, but a flicker of doubt stopped him. He released her hand and departed for the kitchen.

She looked out the window into the dark of the city. The skyscrapers in the distance had become shadows, flecked with lights from random windows.

The remnant of Victor's presence still ached, but it would not control her. Instead, she relaxed into the thick upholstery of the chair. The tension remained in her body, but unlike the rest of the day, she didn't fight it. She felt it and let herself enjoy the need and its denial.

Her desire was strong, but she didn't have to give in to it. She would act when she'd chosen, not from impulse.

A gentle bump on the table drew her attention. Victor set down a glass of ice water, a wine glass, and a basket of bread. He showed her the bottle, presenting the label. She ignored it and looked at him.

"I trust you," she said.

He poured, twisting the bottle to cut off the stream when the glass was a quarter full. He put two fingers at the base of the stem and swirled the glass.

"Please go slow," he said. "No need to rush."

He slid the glass to her. She lifted the glass and tipped it enough to taste. Bitter, tannic, and rich, her mouth watered in response, and she let it rest on her tongue before swirling it in her mouth and swallowing.

"Delicious," she said.

His shoulders dropped, and he put a hand to his heart.

"Perfect," he said and departed for the kitchen.

She took another sip and held it while looking out the window. Her stomach welcomed the wine, and a soft warmth spread through her body.

Victor returned once to refill the glass, then appeared with a pasta bowl that steamed with the scent of pork, fennel, and tomatoes.

"Anything else I can do?"

Alexis looked at the food, then at him, feeling a similar devouring drive. "Not just yet."

He bowed his head and backed away.

Like the breakfast, it filled her. Warm, salty, and rich, it silenced the hollow hunger while also carrying complexity as the shredded meat mixed with the smooth polenta. The wine's bitter tannins balanced the sweetness of the meat. She didn't need to think or want. She could be.

When she'd finished, Victor reappeared, pleased and surprised to see the bowl empty.

"Did I keep my promise?"

"Every word," Alexis replied.

He put a hand to his heart. "Pleasing a beautiful woman. The most any man could wish."

Beautiful. Alexis blushed and looked away, surprised at the rush it gave her and by the desire to hear it again. To cover it, she reached into her purse and retrieved a credit card. As she held it out, Victor held his palms out.

"No, let me," he insisted.

"I can't. It wouldn't be fair."

"You've given me enough," he said.

His eyes were serious.

"I've given you?" Alexis asked.

She imagined taking more than money from them.

No, she told herself. Reaching into her purse, she pulled out cash and laid it on the table.

"Please?" Victor asked.

Her stomach full, the deeper need woke. He was offering, and she wanted to take from him. With deliberation, she laid the money on the table and extended her hand. He closed his hands over hers.

"Kiss," she commanded.

He hesitated, and for an instant, she worried he might laugh. He looked from her to her hand for a fragile moment. She wanted him to obey, wanted to feel his touch.

His hand began to tremble, and with deliberation, his mouth lowered, and he placed a gentle kiss on her skin. His body shook, and something inside him came free and flowed into her.

Pleasure richer than the food radiated along her skin and into her body. The sexual ache drank it in, and she closed her eyes, not chasing and not retreating.

When she opened her eyes, he was looking at her, somehow diminished but with a look that approached adoration. She rose. He held her hand, and they walked together to the entrance.

At the door, she lifted her hand again, and he gave it an eager kiss. The charge, smaller and sweeter, repeated. She had consumed his entire focus, his being for that instant, and that made it enough. The strength in his hand lessened. She touched his cheek.

"I'm very pleased, Victor," Alexis said.

His helpless desire still reached for her when she turned and pushed the door open. His eyes followed her, and the sting of her departure reached out, like an electric cable that continued to feed her.

When the door closed, his need spiked, and she stumbled as the rush of it blanked her thoughts. Recovering, she floated home on the charge of his continuing need.