Make a joke that she does look kind of hot and sexy like this...

You lean back in your chair, trying to find the right words. The restaurant hums around you - cutlery on china, quiet conversation, the soft jazz. Rosaria is still staring at the tablecloth, her hands clasped tight in her lap.

"Well," you say, and your voice comes out rougher than you intended. "You do look kind of hot like that."

Her head snaps up. For a moment her expression is completely blank, and then something shifts - surprise, then heat, then a laugh.

"Hot," she repeats. "I'm kneeling on the floor of a restaurant wearing a collar and a - a belt that won't stop vibrating, and you think I look hot?"

"Yes," you say simply. "You do."

She stares at you. Her cheeks are flushed, her hair slightly mussed from earlier, and the black dress frames her collared throat in a way that makes your mouth go dry. The leash pools beside her in loose coils. She shifts her weight and the movement makes her gasp softly.

"You're insane," she says, but there's no heat in it. "Completely insane."

"Maybe." You reach across the table and she meets you halfway, her fingers lacing with yours. Her palm is warm and slightly damp. "But I'm not lying."

She squeezes your hand. "I can't believe you just - in the middle of me having a crisis, you-" She breaks off, laughing again, and this time it sounds more real. "Dio, Matteo. Only you."

"Is it helping?"

"I don't know." She glances down at herself - the collar, the leash, her kneeling position. "Maybe? I feel ridiculous and exposed and this fucking belt is driving me crazy, but..." She looks back at you. "You really think I look good like this?"

"I think you look incredible," you say honestly.

Something softens in her face. She's still flushed, still breathing unevenly, but the panic has eased. "Okay," she murmurs. "Okay. We can do this. Just... dinner."

The waiter reappears carrying a thick cushion and sets it beside Rosaria with practiced efficiency. "For your comfort, miss." He places a leather-bound menu on the table within her reach. "Shall I describe tonight's specials?"