She grabbed Quasar’s hand, and this time she was the one leading them toward the exit.
CHAPTER SIX
AFTER RIDING THE TROLLEY for a half hour, Quasar and Randi finally walked through the doors of Marlon’s Seafood. The place was packed, and Quasar immediately knew they would be in for a long wait.
“Do you want to go someplace else?” he leaned down to ask Randi. His lips came so close to her ear that he was tempted to lick it. Instead he quickly seized the opportunity to grab her by the waist and pull her closer when the man standing in front of them turned abruptly, almost colliding with them.
“Sorry,” the man said.
“No problem,” was Quasar’s response.
Randi looked up at Quasar. “Thanks.”
He smiled down at her. “Don’t mention it.”
“We don’t have to go anyplace else,” she said.
“Okay.” He didn’t mind the wait if she didn’t. Besides, he hadn’t removed his arms from around her yet. The way she fit against his body was sending all kinds of sensations rippling through him.
The door behind them opened and more people came in. He moved, edging her in front of him to accommodate the new arrivals. He inhaled sharply when her perfectly shaped backside pressed against his groin. Her intoxicating scent filled his nostrils and her beauty almost blinded him. Suddenly a big, tall, brawny older man came barreling through the crowd, a mass of blond hair flying around his shoulders. Quasar was about to pull Randi aside, out of the giant of a man’s path, when unexpectedly the huge hulk stopped in front of them. The smile on his face was so huge his blue eyes seemed to illuminate the entire area.
“Little Randolph! One of the waitresses sent word to me that you were here,” the brawny man said before grabbing Randi in a massive bear hug, lifting her feet off the floor in the process.
Little Randolph? Quasar watched the affectionate exchange between the two.
When Randi’s feet were planted firmly back on the floor, Quasar noted her smile was almost as big as the giant’s. “Uncle Marlon! How are you?”
Uncle Marlon? Quasar glanced from the man back to Randi, definitely not seeing any family resemblance.
“Quasar, I want you to meet my Uncle Marlon Farentino. Uncle Marlon, this is my friend Quasar Patterson.”
They shook hands, and Quasar felt the man’s strength in his handshake. “Nice meeting you.”
“Same here.” Marlon turned his attention back to Randi. “Come on, girl. I’ll take you to your special place.”
Marlon led, and they followed through the crowd of people who seemed to open up a pathway like the parting of the Red Sea. Although Quasar was wondering where the man was taking them, he decided not to ask. Not even when they went through the double doors that led to the kitchen. An older lady and younger women noticed the procession and happily waved at Randi, who waved back and threw kisses.
They exited the kitchen and entered a huge dining room set up for a private party. Quasar barely had time to take in the beautiful view of the Potomac through the private dining room’s large windows before Marlon led them up a set of stairs to another room with more tables set up. But they didn’t stop there. Marlon kept walking until they reached another room where only one table was set up. This room also had a gorgeous view of the Potomac.
“You want your usual?” Marlon asked, pulling the chair out for Randi.
“Yes,” she said, sitting down. “And Quasar has a taste for raw oysters.”
An even bigger smile crossed the man’s ruddy features. “We serve the best in the city. Did you tell him that?”
Randi chuckled. “Yes, I told him.”
“Good. Now, what would you two like to drink?”
“Beer is fine for me,” Randi said.
“Same here,” Quasar said, looking around. This was a nice room that provided privacy.
When Marlon had left them alone, Quasar glanced across the table at Randi and quirked a brow. “Little Randolph? Uncle Marlon?”
The cutest smile curved her lips. “Yes. Before I was born, when Uncle Marlon was in his twenties or so, my father defended him in a homicide case. Dad was able to prove it was self-defense. The Farentinos adopted Dad as one of their own, and when I was born, Uncle Marlon began calling me Little Randolph, after Dad. His daughter, Avona, is my age and is an attorney at my father’s law firm. His son, Damon, has his own seafood restaurant, and it’s a very popular place in South Miami Beach.”
Quasar nodded. “Marlon looks like he ought to be a ship captain.”
“He was a fisherman for years and still loves the sea. I’ve gone out with him and his family on his huge boat.”
“You must come here a lot for him to consider this your room.”
She smiled. “At one time I did, while attending college at Howard and Georgetown. Whenever I needed to escape, this room became my study room, my eating room and, on occasion, my nap room. Uncle Marlon put a cot in that corner for me to use whenever I needed it. And whenever I could, I helped out on the weekends, waiting tables.”
At that moment, a waiter appeared with their beers. Quasar watched as a slow, delightful smile touched the corners of Randi’s lips. “After all that walking we did today, I need this.”
She lifted the ice-cold mug to her lips and took a sip. Then her tongue licked the sudsy residue from around her mouth. Quasar’s breath hitched in his throat as he watched her. The lingering erection he’d gotten when her body had been pressed close to his earlier was now beginning to throb all over again.
Quasar knew he needed to think about anything but her mouth right now, so after taking a sip of his own beer, he said, “Earlier, when you introduced your family at the zoo, did I misunderstand or did you say Haywood was your sister and Trey was your brother?”
“No, you didn’t misunderstand. Both my parents were married previously, and Haywood and Trey were products of their first marriages. So I’m sister and brother to both. While Haywood and I were growing up, Trey didn’t live with us. He lived in California with his mother and her second husband.”
“They have a beautiful bunch of kids. All of them.”
Another smile touched Randi’s lips. “Yes, they do, and I love all of them to pieces. Aren’t the twins adorable? I got to name them,” she said proudly. She took another sip of her beer. “Are there any little ones in your family?”
“None that I know of.” If she found his response strange, she didn’t ask him to elaborate. He appreciated that, because the topic of his family was one he preferred not to discuss.
* * *
IT HAPPENED AGAIN.
Randi sensed a high degree of pain and sadness within Quasar whenever he spoke of his family. She couldn’t help wondering why. He’d gotten quiet since diving into his bucket of oysters. All the members of her family were seafood lovers, and she’d seen them eat live oysters many times. But there was something about watching Quasar that spread intense sexual heat through her. She’d never thought that shucking oysters could be erotic until now.
She watched as he expertly used the oyster knife to open the oyster, and when he placed it to his lips and sucked the oyster into his mouth, she pressed her thighs together where she felt a deep throb between her legs.
“Something’s wrong?”
She blinked when he asked the question, and she knew she’d been caught staring. “No, nothing is wrong,” she said, turning her attention to her plate of crab cakes, fries and coleslaw. And because Uncle Marlon knew how much she liked his fried shrimp, he’d given her a huge side order.
“The oysters are good,” Quasar said, taking another sip of his beer.
“I told you Uncle Marlon serves only the best.”
“Do you like oysters?”
“I like all kinds of seafood. You can’t know Marlon Faren
tino and not do so. I ate my first piece of gator here. It wasn’t bad.”
“Here. Taste.”
Before Randi knew what he was doing, Quasar had scooped some oyster into a spoon to feed to her. Automatically her lips parted, and she sucked the oyster into her mouth, knowing he was watching her. She then took her tongue and licked around her lips. She couldn’t help noticing his gaze followed every movement of her tongue.
“Do you want to try some of my crab cakes?” she offered.
“No thanks, but you can feed me a fry.” When she reached for her fork, a crooked smile touched his lips. He said, “Use your fingers.”
His words sent her already throbbing center skyrocketing. The air between them was sizzling. And why did her mind pick that moment to remember how her bottom had felt plastered against him downstairs earlier? There was no mistaking his huge erection pressing against her.
Knowing he was waiting, she lifted what she thought was the longest fry between her fingers and leaned toward him, directing her hand to his mouth. It opened. She slid the fry inside and nearly moaned when his tongue came into contact with her fingers. It had been deliberate. She was sure of it, and it only made the sexual awareness between them that much more keen.
“Thanks,” he said, and that single word spoken in a deep, husky voice washed over her like warm honey.
She stared at him, breathless. Hot. Totally turned on. “You’re welcome.”
She nervously ran her tongue over her lips, tempted to lick the spot on her finger where his tongue had touched her, as well. Just looking into his eyes all but told her he wanted her just as much as she wanted him. But she knew neither of them was ready for that part of a relationship.
Deciding they needed to talk about anything that wouldn’t stir the intense attraction between them, she asked, “So, Quasar, what’s your favorite sports team?”
* * *
IT WAS CLOSE to eleven when Quasar walked Randi to her car. After sharing a meal at Marlon’s, he’d suggested they take in a movie. Convincing herself that the new James Bond movie was something she truly wanted to see, she’d agreed with his idea.
It had been a unique experience for her to sit in the theater, sharing popcorn with Quasar and pretending to watch the big screen, while her entire focus was on him. She had sat there remembering how he’d fed her a few of his oysters at Marlon’s and she’d done the same with him and her fries. And the more they’d done so, the more the air surrounding them became electrified to the point that temptation, the likes of which she’d never felt before, had rocked through her veins.
After the movie, they’d stopped at a café for coffee and shared a slice of lemon pound cake. Deep down she had a feeling he wasn’t ready for their day together to end any more than she was and was merely drawing out their time.
They hadn’t engaged in much conversation since getting off the trolley a few blocks back. Instead they walked to her car in intimate silence. Even now she could feel tremors spreading low in her belly with every step she took beside him.
He was holding her hand as they walked. He’d done the same while sitting beside her in the movies. There had been something about their fingers entwined that made every nerve ending in her body ripe with passion. The man was temptation, walking or sitting.
“Nice night,” he finally said.
She glanced around. “Yes, it is, isn’t it?”
Other people were walking about, taking advantage of the beauty of the night. Pools of light from the street lamps shone on various car tops, while the intense glow from a full moon illuminated their paths. The scent of some flowering plant floated in the air, and the low hum of insects invaded the night.
“This is my car,” she said, coming to a stop in front of the white Lexus two-seater.
He studied the car appreciatively, then smiled at her. “This looks like you.”
She chuckled. “Does it?”
“Yes. Sleek, stylish and seductive. I like it.”
Randi couldn’t help but smile, pleased he thought she was those things. “Thanks, and I’m glad you like my car.”
“I like you even more.”
A part of her wished she could dismiss his charm. “Do you?”
“Yes. And I enjoyed my time with you today, Randi.”
She decided to be honest. “I enjoyed my time with you today, too.”
He stared down at her with an intense expression, then reached out and touched her cheek, caressed it. “I want to see you again.”
She shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. It was either do that or be tempted to reach up and wrap her arms around his neck. “Why?” She needed him to tell her the reason.
“Because after spending time with you today, I’m not ready to let you drive away with the thought of not seeing you again. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you cast a spell on me.”
Her lips tightened. “I don’t have the ability to cast spells, Quasar. Nor do I predict lotto numbers or forecast the outcome of elections.”
Evidently something in her tone alerted him that she hadn’t found his statement amusing. He touched her arm. “Hey, I was just joking,” he said softly. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
She drew in a deep breath and shook her head. “No, I’m the one who should apologize,” she said softly. “Your words reminded me of the ridicule I got when certain people, those I considered friends, found out about my psychic abilities. I heard the jokes about casting spells, sharing winning lotto numbers and forecasting elections. It made perfect sense to them that if I had these psychic abilities, I should be able to do all those things and more. If I couldn’t, that meant I was a fake.”
He was quiet for a moment and then said, “Again, I apologize for the thoughtless tease, Randi. I want to see you again. It has nothing to do with any spell. I find you desirable. More desirable than any woman I’ve known. So if you’re okay with it, I’d like to visit you next weekend.”
“You live in Charlottesville, and I live in Richmond.”
He nodded. “You’re talking about an hour’s drive. You would be worth it.”
“Would I?” She wished he wouldn’t stroke her cheek like that or look at her with those dark eyes that could spin her body into a mass of sexual need, something she wasn’t used to experiencing.
“Most definitely.”
Was she imagining it or had he shifted his stance, leaning in a bit closer to her? Needing to keep her sanity, she said, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you tell me earlier today that you didn’t do long-term relationships?”
He held her gaze. “Yes, I did say that.”
“In that case, why are you suggesting that we see each other again?”
He slowly dropped his hand and shoved both in the pockets of his jeans, like she’d done with hers. His gaze held hers, as if her absolute attention was totally and completely necessary. As if he’d given what he was about to say some serious thought. “The reason I want to see you again is that the thought of not doing so is something I can’t handle right now.”
He paused a moment and then continued, “Don’t ask me to explain, because I can’t make you understand when I don’t fully understand myself. All I know is that since that night we saw each other in Charlottesville, you’ve constantly been on my mind, even when I didn’t want you to be. I’ve thought about you more than any woman I’ve ever met. I know I’ve told you all this before, and I was hoping that today would...”
Quasar went quiet. His words had been drawing her in, and she didn’t intend for him to leave her hanging now. “Would what?”
He drew in a deep breath. “Purge you from my system. Help me see that what I thought was real was nothing but a fluke. That there was no way I could have met a woman who would make me consider something more than a toss between the sheets at
night and a don’t-call-me, I’ll-call-you in the morning.”
Randi tried controlling the beat of her heart. She knew the stipulations regarding her and Quasar about earning the other’s love. Was this their first step in achieving those goals? What if the time was right for them to meet but not for them to do anything else, like move forward? What if the latter was supposed to take place at another time, or in another place? For the first time, she regretted not being able to know his inner thoughts.
She swallowed. “I told you why I’m not seriously involved with anyone.”
He nodded. “Yes, and I told you I don’t have a hang-up about your psychic abilities, and what I thought of the men who did. And as far as your work interfering, I understand, because I’m in a similar predicament. My work can take my anywhere at any time.”
Quasar took a step closer. “Can you look into my eyes, Randi, and tell me that we don’t need to explore what’s happening between us further? That you don’t agree that today wasn’t enough time?”
She knew there was no way she could do that. “But what if things don’t work out?” Especially if our timing is wrong.
“Then we will know.”
Will we? she wondered. Rushing into things now would be a mistake if this wasn’t the right time for them. She knew they were sexually attracted to each other, but they also had to earn each other’s love. What if they got caught up in the sex and didn’t focus on the love?
“When are you returning to Richmond?”
His question made her blink. She was finding it difficult to concentrate around him. “Excuse me?”
“Home? When will you return home?”
“Tomorrow. In the afternoon. After I attend church with my family, I’ll be driving back.”
“Do you have a problem with me coming to Richmond to see you next weekend?”
Her entire body reacted at the thought that she would see him again, and so soon. “No, I don’t have a problem with it.”
He smiled. “I’ll call you later in the week to get your address.”
At that moment, a couple passed them. The man had the woman curled into his side with his arm draped over her shoulders. The love Randi felt flowing between the two almost melted her insides. Funny how she was able to pick up the emotions of strangers, but she got a mental block where Quasar was concerned.
Seized by Seduction--A Compelling Tale of Romance, Love and Intrigue Page 6