Surrender 01 - Surrender

doesn’t prepare the dish just right…it’s fatal to consume, which is part of the thrill of eating it.”
    “Why would I possibly try this if it could kill me?” she asked in exasperation , looking at him as if he’d lost his mind.
    He picked up a piece and slipped it into his mouth, feeling the delicate explosion of flavor wash over his tongue. He was used to great food, but watching the fright in her eyes as he swallowed the sushi made the act of eating almost erotic.
    “We all seek thrills, Ari. Very few skilled chefs can leave just a tiny trace of the lethal poison on the fish, causing a tingling sensation on your lips and tongue, enough to wake up the senses, while not enough to kill you. That little bit of excitement draws people in, makes them want to try it and tempt fate…”
    Each word he spoke sent her eyebrows just a little higher, made her lips a bit more pursed. Her expressive face was a thrill to watch. He assumed an almost bored demeanor, but he couldn’t ignore that this seemingly innocent girl fascinated him. He enjoyed the way she wore her feelings on her sleeve , the way everything she was thinking was an open book to him.
    She again declined: “I’m just fine with not living on the edge. I prefer to keep everything about my body un - tingly and working just fine.”
    Rafe didn’t like being refused even once, let alone multiple times. He really should end this game and walk away. Yet he wasn’t willing to concede defeat just yet. Why? Maybe it was that slight sparkle in her eyes, the way she subtly trembled when he touched her, and maybe it was just that he wanted to tame her.
    He didn’t know the answers yet, but for some reason he wasn’t ready to let her leave. He wasn’t ready for their game to end. She would submit to him first. Once she was willing to do his bidding, then he’d grow bored, just as he did with everyone else.
    “I’m not a man to give up, Ari. It would be much simpler for you just to try the dish. You saw that I ate one with no problem. I’m still alive.” The expression on her face seemed to shout that she didn’t think that was necessarily a good thing. It almost made him laugh, and he struggled to hide his amusement.
    He took the spoon and drizzled a touch of sauce over the delicacy and scooped up a small bite, holding the fork out to her. “The sauce brings out the rich flavor and makes the meat very enjoyable. Come on…try just one,” he coaxed in a temptingly soft tone .
    She gazed at him with suspicion, but he could see that she was beginning to cave. She could be more easily trained than he’d originally thought. Teaching her could be extremely pleasurable for both of them.
    Though with hesitation, her lips parted, giving him just enough room to slip the small bite inside. He set the translucent fish on her tongue, then watched as her lips closed around the fork as he slowly pulled it out. Her nose wrinkled as she bit down, but then her eyes widened in pleasure as the burst of flavor danced on her tongue . She finished chewing before picking up her wine and taking a sip.
    “OK, it wasn’t horrible, but certainly not something I want to try again. If I’m too afraid to eat something, then that’s all the warning I need to keep away from it, even though the flavor was actually quite indescribable . I may have to try other, safer sushi dishes. The thought of eating raw fish has always kind of freaked me out,” Ari said with another wrinkle to her nose , the cute expression making Rafe grin.
    “Well, the fugu is the only fish on your plate that could actually kill you. Try the hamachi roll. It’s made with grilled yellowtail and shrimp. I think you’ll find it refreshing.”
    With a heavy sigh, Ari tried the delicate roll, and smiled. She didn’t complain as she consumed the last few rolls. Once her plate was empty, she picked up her glass of white wine, enjoying having new bottles with the separate courses.
    “This is the best wine I’ve ever had , not that I'm very experienced in alcohol . My mom let me have a glass at my high school graduation party, and then I’ve tried a few glasses when out to dinner, but I’m not a wine expert. After a terrible experience with drinking, I can mostly do without it. However, I’ve had friends who could tell you what year and type each of these bottles are — wine is certainly better than the horrific stuff I drank the last time I tried alcohol.”
    He sat back as she babbled nervously for