Jayden discreetly produces a credit card, and the bookseller hands me two large bags. My TBR just got a whole lot longer, and I can’t wait to work my way through it.
“To our next destination?” Jayden asks after thanking the bookseller.
“Lead the way!” I say, excited about what the rest of the night will bring.
Hey, even if it totally sucks, which I doubt it will, my reading is sorted for the next few weeks at least.
Jayden takes one of the bags and offers his other arm to me.
I loop mine through it, letting him lead me out of the cozy bookstore and onto the streets. The sun is just starting to set, casting a warm orange glow over the city.
We walk a few blocks before arriving at an art museum. It’s quite famous, and on my list of things I’ve been meaning to do since arriving in the city.
Jayden guides me through the grand arched doorway.
Inside, the space has been transformed into something straight out of a romance novel. Soft lighting and candles create a warm, intimate ambience. A small table for two sits nestled between stunning works of modern art. The soaring ceilings and open floor plan make it feel lavish yet cozy.
“Jayden, this is incredible,” I breathe, taking it all in. “Did you really have this arranged especially for us?”
“Only the best for you,” he says, pulling out my chair.
I sit, marveling at the perfectly set table. Crystal glasses, fresh flowers, fine china—he clearly went all out.
As we eat, Jayden tells me about the ingredients, many of which have been picked for their symbolic meanings in romance. “A love story on a plate,” he says with a smile. The food is delicious, but his company is even more so.
We talk for hours, the conversation flowing easily.
After dessert, he retrieves a guitar and serenades me with a song he wrote just for me. His voice is like honey as he sings of adventure, new beginnings and a heart finally feeling whole. I didn’t even know he could play a musical instrument. Like Killian, too, this man is full of surprises and unexpected depth.
My own heart swells listening to his beautiful words. When the song ends, I take his hand, our eyes meeting. “Jayden...you make me feel seen. And valued. I’ve never had this before, where someone’s seen me for more than my rugby skills or my appearance. It’s obvious that you value my intellect as much as anything else. It’s… it’s just really nice.” Tears threaten to spring forth, but I manage to blink them back.
He squeezes my hand gently. “You make me feel the same way, Dylan.”
In this moment, with Jayden, I know I’ve found someone special. Someone who truly understands this lesser-known part of me. I can’t stop smiling, to the point my jaw is starting to hurt.
After dinner, Jayden leads me to a more secluded part of the museum exhibit. Candles flicker softly around an ornate rug laid out under the installation’s dazzling centerpiece.
“Shall we create our own work of art?” he asks playfully, pulling me close.
I grin, matching his flirtatious tone. “I’m ready to be your masterpiece.”
He kisses me deeply as we sink down onto the luxurious rug. My skin tingles everywhere his hands explore. Each caress is deliberate, honoring my every curve and contour.
We undress each other slowly, the modern art surrounding us adding to the sensuality.
As the passion builds, Jayden pauses, meeting my eyes. “Tell me what you want, Dylan. I’m here for your pleasure tonight.”
His words make me feel respected, valued. Seen as more than just a body.
“Touch me like this,” I whisper, guiding his hand. I lose myself in the ecstasy of his intimate care, my mind blurring into a haze of lust.
Jayden retrieves a rope from beneath the rug and binds my wrists above my head, securing them to the cold metal pillar with rough rope.
“Keep your eyes open,” he growls into my ear before trailing hot, wet kisses down my neck.
My breath hitches as his lips graze the swell of my breasts. I force my gaze forward, taking in the erotic art display in front of me. Nude bodies intertwine, a tangle of limbs and lust.
Jayden kneels before me, running his hands up my thighs. “So beautiful. All of you.”