When Jordan walked away, Thorne stared at Dash with what appeared to be a mixture of shock, annoyance, and humor. “You ordered for us.”

“I did. I was afraid you wouldn’t try something new if I didn’t push.”

“How do you know I like…whatever it is you ordered.”

“You weren’t even listening, were you?”

Thorne scowled at him. “I was distracted.”

“I do seem to have that effect on you, but you had a chance to change your order and you didn’t take it.”

“No, I didn’t. Dinner will just be a surprise.”

Dash studied him. “You told me you hated surprises.”

“I do.”

EXCEPT WITH DASH, he didn’t. That thought terrified Thorne, because it meant that Dash had the power to change him. Dash was a hired companion. No, he was a hired fuck. He’d told Dash he wasn’t looking for someone to talk to. What was he doing?

“You know what, I don’t think this is a good idea after all. I should go.”

He pushed back from the table, but Dash put a hand over his. “Stay. Would it make it easier if this were off the clock?”

God no, that would make it worse. This would be a date, and he’d have to admit… Thorne shook his head. “No. That’s got nothing to do with it.” That had everything to do with it.

Dash raised a brow. “You should eat. I won’t keep you after that.”

Thorne sat back down, his heart hammering. Dash was so beautiful, everything he wanted but… He was twenty-two, and he was there because Thorne paid him, no matter how much it seemed otherwise.

He just offered to stay off the clock.

He has to eat, and I’m paying for dinner.

“Do you trust me to know how to pleasure you?” Dash asked, keeping his voice low.

“Yes,” Thorne answered automatically.

“Food is just another form of pleasure. It’s a sensual experience just like sex. It’s fitting that I’m an escort and a chef. The two go together perfectly.”

Thorne couldn’t take his eyes off Dash. The man had wrapped him in a spell, his voice, the look in his eyes, even the fucking beautiful way his lips moved as he spoke, hot as hell. “Tell me what you ordered for us, in detail.”

Thorne could tell by the way Dash’s lips curled up in a devious smile that he’d understood Thorne’s meaning. Thorne wanted Dash to describe the food in a way that would make Thorne hard, the way he’d talked about cupcakes earlier.