Ella Frank - Exquisite

Moving to the side he motioned for her to follow. “We’re going to be eating up here tonight.”

Brushing past him she inhaled that amazing smell of his and started up the stairs. She’d picked out a black pencil skirt with a flare around the knees, since he seemed so fond of them, and had paired it with a siren red sleeveless blouse that dipped down between her cleavage. When she hit the top step she opened the door and walked in then stopped in her tracks. Wow, when the man went all out, he went all out . The room was dimmed and there were lights sprinkled around the eves giving it a night time effect. However, what made it so spectacular was the floor to ceiling windows at the far end that showed off the night sky and melded it in with the lights inside, making it seem like one. In the center of the room sat an elegant table with a candle and off to her left she noticed there was a bar with swinging doors that led into a kitchen she presumed. It was simply breathtaking. She looked over her shoulder to where he’d stopped and spoke softly. “It’s amazing up here.”

“Thanks.”

He placed a warm hand on her back and ushered her inside then moved around to the bar.

“Bring all your dates here?” It wasn’t a conscious question on her behalf, and she actually winced when he stopped to look at her, but instead of being angry he grinned.

“Not a single one of the thirty three.”

Lena swallowed then bit her bottom lip looking around wondering what he wanted her to do.

“Why don’t you put your bag down then come back here and tell me what you want to drink.”

Moving away to the table she placed her purse on the edge. When she turned to walk back to him she noticed he was standing with his hip leaning against the bar watching her. She made a conscious decision right then not to let him intimidate her. She was who she was, he knew that and had still asked her out. So she was just going to be herself and see what happened and that started with finding some of that damn confidence she knew she had. Locking her eyes with his she walked back over to him.

Mason didn’t know what’d just happened but whatever it was, he was enjoying it. Lena had seemed a little hesitant at first and he was wondering how this was going to play out but as she walked back toward him he could tell something in her had shifted, she’d decided something. She looked amazing in red, that was the decision he’d come to and when she finally reached the bar he pushed back off it and placed his hands on the top in order to stop himself from reaching out and tracing the curve of her cleavage that kept peaking out at him.

“What can I get you to drink?”

“Just a wine is good for me Langley.” she hitched herself up on the chair then placed her elbows on the bar resting her chin on one hand as she watched him reach for the bottle and uncork it. “Red good?”

She nodded, “Red’s great.”

“Oh yes it is.” he grinned then pushed a glass toward her while he picked one up himself. She lifted it and sipped slowly seeming to swirl it around in her mouth before she swallowed it down. That was an erotic act all on it’s own, he thought as she tilted her head and sniffed the air.

“Hmm, dinner smells amazing.”

Smiling over at her he couldn’t help but reach across the bar and twist a curl around his finger. Looking over at him with sparkling eyes she smiled as he answered with a slow. “Thank you.”

Lena didn’t care about any promises anymore, she’d decided that she had to kiss this man. She watched him as he let go of her curl and picked up his glass, taking a sip. The air was heavy with tension. She could feel it coming off her body as it itched to get closer to him. She picked her own drink up, not taking her eyes away from him, and took another sip. One for courage, then asked.

“Don’t you think we should just get the obvious over with?” What could she say? She’d never claimed to be subtle.

He placed his wine glass down on the bar and moved away. As disappointment mounted inside her she was shocked to see him walk around the end of the bar and come toward her. Swiveling on the stool to watch him as he approached the only way she could think to describe the way he was watching her was, hungry. He looked at her like a starved man would a meal. Stopping so close to her that she could feel the fabric from his pants brush her knees he reached out and gripped the bar’s edge with one hand and tried for a casual pose. It didn’t work. He looked as tense as she felt. “And what Lena, is the obvious?”

Swallowing and placing her hands in her lap she straightened up and answered him the way he’d told her, honestly. “The first kiss, you know? The awkward one. The one where..” she trailed off abruptly because he’d moved his hand and it was now gently squeezing her bare knee that was crossed over the other. Looking down at it then back at him she was mesmerized by his eyes which were now close to incinerating her they were burning so hot.

“You think our first kiss will be awkward?”

“Ahhh..” she stammered a little because he was now stroking circles around her knee cap. “Stop.” she said softly.

“Stop?” he questioned and stepped closer until she had to uncross her legs to sit taller. His hard thighs were now pressed to her bare knees and his fingers were resting lightly on her left one, but he had in fact stopped moving. Licking her lips she once again looked down at his big hand, then back at him. She watched as a wicked smile crept onto his face and he leaned in, a mere breath away, then licked his own lips watching her closely. She swallowed, felt her eyes widen then surprised herself when a small moan slipped free as his fingers trailed softly onto the inside of her knee a little higher on her thigh.

“Stop?” he asked again this time flicking his tongue out to lick across her bottom lip. He didn’t go any further than that, he just waited, watching her fall apart in his hands. She blinked her eyes slowly and shook her head.

“What was that?” She shook her head again then heard a loud buzzing noise. She glanced away for a moment and that seemed to break the spell.

“That would be dinner.”

Lena watched him stand up straight and felt the throb of his arousal brush her knee. He gave her a tight smile and she watched him walk around the bar then push into the kitchen and that’s when she let out a shaky breath. Okay so she’d wanted the first kiss over with but she had a feeling she’d been one second away from being devoured. Saved by the bell, anyone?

Mason walked over to the timer and switched it off. Taking a deep breath he ran his hands through his hair and tried to get himself under control, what the hell? He thought as he took the sauce from the stove then the pasta. She’d asked for a first kiss and he’d almost flattened her out on top of his bar. The woman made him crazy, absolutely crazy. One minute she was feisty and confident and the next she was melting and wide eyed. The combination was driving him insane. He plated their food and brought it out to the dining room. He noticed she’d moved over and was seated safely at the table. Grinning at that he moved to place her meal in front of her. She smiled up at him, back to the shy smile, and thanked him. He sat down opposite her and grated the cheese over her meal.

“Stop.” she said softly. Looking up at her he raised an eyebrow then she smiled and shocked him, “This time I mean it.”

Nodding slowly Mason watched her as he answered, “I’ll have to remember that.”

She took a bite of her food and groaned softly. It was such an unexpectedly erotic noise Mason stopped what he was doing for a moment to enjoy her as she ate her meal. When she noticed he was watching her she asked, “Why aren’t you eating?”