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His grip on my face tightens, a bruising pressure that screams at me to be afraid.

But I’m not.

His other hand finds my hip, gripping it and flattening me to his chest.

He applies pressure to my lip with his thumb, forces its way into my mouth, past my teeth.

Down my throat.

He ducks, burrowing his face into my hair, his voice hums against my ear.

“I didn’t. But I should have,” he admits gruffly. “Did you love the person who you shared this booth with?”

He pulls his hand from my mouth, a trail of saliva drawn with it.

For a single beat, I consider running from him, taking the shot of whiskey. Ending this connection, setting fire to this game.

But it’s time I admit the truth.

I look behind me, at the booth.

“No.”

The word is all it takes.

Reuben forces my head back to him, bends down, captures my—

Ring!

The alarm goes off for the moussaka.

It causes Reuben to fumble, to knock our heads together.

I lose my balance, falling back on the table of the booth. He reaches to catch me, but I end up pulling him down with me.

And then his lips are on mine. Our teeth clack, but he corrects as he accepts this change of events.

He covers my body, ravages me, offers no reprieve.

Ring!

I push him up. “I need to get that.” I gasp, meeting his eyes.

His pupils are shot, and I know that if it weren’t for the alarm, I would fall into whatever this is with him.

I’ve remained celibate since my last relationship, but somehow, within just this past week, I’ve found my heart beating for three completely different men.

I shouldn’t do this.

He doesn’t fight me, rolling gracefully off and offering me a hand.

Once I am on my feet, he appraises me critically, his hand lingering on mine. “I would still like that dinner after this.” There’s an inflection in his tone. His eyes widen as he’s surprised by his own words.

I look away. There is fear that beats in my heart, that swells.

That one misstep, and he will fall into the bad luck mote that surrounds me.

“I can’t date anyone,” I press again. “But I will make you dinner. First I need to finish this up.”