Chapter 2: Gourmet Game
The fir
The first course arrived with the kind of fanfare that made Mattias feel like he was in a movie. A silver platter was placed in front of him, the escargots arranged in their shells like tiny, glistening treasures. He stared at them, his fork hovering uncertainly. Angel, meanwhile, dug in with the confidence of someone who’d been eating snails her whole life. She plucked one from its shell with a tiny fork, swirled it in garlic butter, and popped it into her mouth with a soft, satisfied hum.
“You’re not even going to try it?” she teased, her lips glistening with butter. “Come on, Mattias. Live a little.” She leaned in, her perfume—something heady and floral—washing over him like a warm embrace. He swallowed hard, his fingers tightening around his fork.
“I’m trying,” he muttered, stabbing at one of the snails. It slipped out of his grasp, skidding across the plate. Angel laughed, a low, throaty sound that made his stomach flip. “Here,” she said, reaching over to spear one for him. “Open up.” She held the fork out, her eyes gleaming with amusement. Reluctantly, he leaned forward and let her feed him.
The texture was… strange. Chewy, but not unpleasant. The garlic butter was rich and savory, and he found himself nodding in approval. “Not bad,” he admitted, wiping his mouth with the napkin. Angel smirked, leaning back in her seat. “See? I told you. You just need to trust me.”
The main course arrived soon after, the lobster thermidor presented with a dramatic flourish. The waiter lifted the silver dome with a practiced hand, revealing a dish that looked like it belonged in a magazine. Mattias stared at it, his mouth watering despite himself. Angel, however, seemed unfazed. She picked up her fork and knife, slicing into the lobster with ease. “You’re not going to let me feed you this one, are you?” she teased, her voice light and playful.
Mattias shook his head, his cheeks flushing. “I think I can handle it,” he said, though his hands trembled slightly as he picked up his utensils. He took a bite, the creamy sauce and tender lobster melting in his mouth. It was decadent, almost too rich, but he couldn’t stop eating. Angel watched him with a small, satisfied smile, her lips stained a deep red from the wine.
“So,” she said, leaning forward again. “What do you think of all this? The food, the wine… me?” Her voice dropped slightly, the question hanging in the air between them. Mattias froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. He set it down slowly, his heart pounding in his chest.
“It’s… nice,” he managed, his voice barely above a whisper. Angel raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. “Nice? That’s all?” She took a sip of her wine, her eyes never leaving his. “Come on, Mattias. You can do better than that.”
He hesitated, his mind racing. He could feel the weight of her gaze, the way it seemed to strip him bare. “It’s… overwhelming,” he admitted finally. “But in a good way. I mean, you’re… you’re amazing. And this place is incredible.” He gestured vaguely at the restaurant, his words tumbling out in a rush.
Angel laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “You’re sweet,” she said, her voice softening. “But you don’t have to be so nervous, you know. I’m not going to bite.” She reached out, her fingers brushing against his hand. “Unless you want me to.”
Mattias’s breath hitched, his heart skipping a beat. He looked down at her hand, her perfectly manicured nails painted a deep, glossy red. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he nodded, his face burning. Angel smiled, her thumb tracing small circles on the back of his hand.
The waiter returned, clearing their plates and offering dessert menus. Angel waved them away with a smile. “We’ll skip dessert,” she said, her voice firm. She turned back to Mattias, her eyes dark with intent. “I think we’ve had enough… sweetness for one day.”
Mattias swallowed hard, his pulse racing. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but he knew he didn’t want it to stop. Angel leaned in closer, her perfume enveloping him once more. “Tell me, Mattias,” she murmured, her voice low and sultry. “Do you like watching me?” She licked her lips slowly, deliberately, her eyes daring him to answer. Mattias’s face flushed crimson. He was trapped, caught in h