“It’s a surprise. You’ll find out when you get there.” He comes back up from staring under my chain with that look of a self-assured master of his kingdom, and I severely regret letting him take me out at all. Alexi is unpredictable; for all I know, he could drag me somewhere insane where I’m highly underdressed. I have no clue what his idea of a date is. It could be a dungeon full of chains and whips, and I might never see daylight again.

“I don’t like surprises. I hate ...