“Prove it.”

“See, I knew you would say that, but it’s tough in a restaurant because you won’t know whether I’m right. Unless you plan on going table to table to confirm? ‘Sir, is it true you have a schoolgirl fetish?’”

I smiled without meaning to.

“For instance…” She leaned closer and lowered her voice again, giving me a thrill when she set her hand on my arm again, using it to subtly gesture. “The guy in the navy jacket right there? I’d lay money he wants to be infantilized. Can’t really explain why except that his vibe reminds me of a handful of infant clients I’ve had. Something about the way he holds himself and the way he looks at people. I know it sounds bonkers, but in interviews with new clients, I’ve gotten to test it over and over again and it’s never far off.”

“You realize I’m never going to be able to look at Jeff DeLuca the same way again, right?”

“No proof it’s true, so don’t go starting rumors.” She tapped my arm in mock censure and we both reacted to the touch.

“Okay, I’ve got one you can test it out with. Tony, the producer who was hardcore mansplaining, talked about his kinks over drinks with me one night. What’s he into?”

“That one’s too easy. He’s a foot guy. Not just feet, but feet with shoes. I’m less sure about this part, but I would guess a woman’s high heel dangling from her toes so he can see the arch of her foot would be his undoing.”

“You aren’t messing with me. I’m seriously impressed. What about Max?”

She was quiet for a moment like she was contemplating the question. “I can’t get a read on Max. It doesn’t work for everyone.”

I was in over my head, but couldn’t resist the pull to her flame. “What about me?” I challenged her with my gaze. “You could prove it with me. Pretty sure I know what I’m into.”

“Do you, though? You sure you want to hear it?”

“If you don’t actually know…”

“Okay, you’ve asked for it. The vibe I get from you is that there’s a big bad dom buried deep in there. Your archetype is the classic Alpha Dominant. He’s the protector, the caretaker. I suspect you’re a generous lover and would be focused on your sub’s pleasure, not at all selfish. I think you’ve got an oral fixation, though I haven’t been able to pinpoint whether it’s a fixation on giving or receiving. You’re turned on by my lipstick, but I can’t decide whether it’s this one specifically or lipstick in general. You’d like to see it smudged on your cock from a messy blowjob.” She hadn’t moved, but it was like she’d flipped an electrical switch and I was now a live wire. “Want me to keep going?” she asked smugly. “Or are you convinced?”

“I can play this game too,” I said, needing to turn this back on her. The words tumbled out before I could overthink it. “You’re a naughty temptress who likes to flaunt the power she has over me in public. You like it when I get hard for you in front of other people and I can’t do anything about it. You like the control, but what you’d really like is for me to snap and let that big bad dom you’ve been fantasizing about come out and have his way with you. You’d be giving me control, but would still be the one with the power because you’d pushed me there. How am I doing, Elena?”