We step into the club, and her eyes roam the space.
“We’re having dinner here?”
“Yep.” We pass by the bar, where my head bartender is getting things ready for the night. I nod at him, and he knows that means to call for our private waiter.
No, I haven’t done this for a woman before. I’m discovering Sadie is the exception to a lot of things. A table and chairs is set up in the middle of the dance floor, and the spotlight is dimly lit above. I lead her to it and pull out a chair for her.
“Thank you,” she says as she takes a seat. Sadie’s been carrying a yellow document envelope since I picked her up, and she sets it on the white linen next to her plate, along with her small white purse. “I’ve never had dinner on a dance floor. Thank you for this first.”
“You’re welcome. Our waiter will be here shortly. He’s from one of the restaurants in the hotel. We’ll order from them.”
Sadie smiles nervously and pulls out the envelope from under her purse. “I brought what you requested. I feel I was overpaid, but thank you for the job. I’m paying my own way to graduate school, so every bit helps.”
“Where else do you work?”
“At the University, for a professor, but I don’t make much. One of my friend’s convinced me to try the stripping, swearing I would make a lot of dough for only hours of work.” Sadie looks to her lap.
“It was foolish of me to think I could ever go through with it, but I tried since I have little free time once I go to class, study and work.”
Our waiter arrives, and I order wine. He says the chef’s choices for this evening, and Sadie becomes even more nervous. We both decide on the bacon-wrapped filet.
“This is too much, Simon. You’ve already paid me for the research I know you don’t really need.”
“I wanted to do this for you, Sadie, and maybe I’m interested in learning more about what you do.”
“Seriously?” Her eyes are bright with excitement. “OK, I will summarize it for you.” She yanks the papers from the envelope, and I get a glimpse of the first page. It’s typed like a report.
She begins speaking rapidly, only stopping when the waiter returns to pour her wine. I struggle to follow her as she explains her findings.
She’s using terms I don’t understand, talking about chemistry and shit. Sadie is smart. Really smart. Now, I’m the one nervous.
My foot is tapping, and I chug my first glass of wine. She continues as I pull the bottle from the ice bucket and pour another.
“Wow, you’re thorough,” I say as she stops to get a breath and take a drink.
“That’s sort of the point to being a scientist.” She giggles, and it’s a fucking glorious sound, especially since it makes her seem normal again. It’s like I’m having dinner with Einstein as she talks about phenylalanine and God knows what else.
“I thought I felt bad for kidna–I mean borrowing you, but now that I know what you think about aspartame, I think I was the biggest asshole when I handed you that diet soda.”
She’s giggling loudly as she places the papers back into the envelope. Holding it across the table, she grins at me.
“For you, sir.”
The top of her hand is tilted over, the envelope swaying left to right from her fingers. I imagine the way her hips moved above me only days ago and can’t help but take hold of her soft hand to kiss it.
She’s too good for me. She’s sweet and intelligent, somewhat innocent and naïve. I think of my drug buys from Noah and the terrorists we’re combating, and I have to acknowledge that her world is nothing like mine. I would only tarnish her. I envision her sobs when she thought I was going to kill her.
“Simon,” she says. I’m holding her hand, staring at her when she tilts her head, signaling me to look over at our waiter. I completely missed him wheeling in a cart. He’s waiting to set my plate in front of me.
“Oh, sorry.” I release her hand and think about how I should let her go, too. I don’t like how that makes me feel at all.
Sadie
Dinner is superb, but the entertainment from my host has fizzled. Simon has tapped his foot nonstop since our food came. He’s barely touched his meal and has instead opted for gum.
I have a feeling it’s not the regular kind, so we might need to have a meeting on nicotine next. “You’re different.”
“I’m fine.” He barely smiles and pushes his plate forward.
“Have I said or done something wrong?”
“No, Sadie, everything is more than right about you.”
I dissect his comment as I fiddle with my food. His demeanor changed once I shared the research with him.
“God, you really didn’t care to hear about aspartame. I’m always naïve. You wanted to take me out for a good time, and I showed what an unbelievable nerd I am on a date.” I pick up my second glass of wine and bypass flavor for effect.
Simon grabs my hand across the table. “Sadie, that’s not it at all. I’ll be honest. I couldn’t understand every word you said during that presentation, but I sure as hell got the gist of it. I love that you’re intelligent.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
He stares at me for a few seconds.
“Are you finished?”
“Yes.”
“We need to move to a different area. The club is about to open.”
“Is what your brother said true? Did you open late to have dinner with me?”
“Yes, but it’s not a big deal. We’re not busy this early.”
“It’s a big deal to me. A guy has never treated me to a date like this.”
He sighs. “Come on.” Holding my hand, he leads me up a flight of stairs to their most exclusive VIP section, which he says is usually reserved by celebrities only. There’s a black leather sofa, white leather chairs and two glass tables.
A dim, blue light shines on us, and small, white ones coming out of the floor give off a little light from each corner of the room.
There is a railing to the left, and when I take a seat on the sofa, I can see the dance floor. Two men and a woman are busy clearing away our dinner.
“Do they work for you?”
“Yes.”
“I’m impressed. You really oversee this whole club?”
He laughs and shakes his head as he takes the spot next to me. “Yes, and one of our poker lounges, but what you do is so significant. I can’t believe you’re even the slightest bit impressed by this.”
A woman clears her throat, drawing our attention to the doorway. She’s wearing a short, black skirt and fishnet stockings. Simon motions with his hand for her to enter.
Her royal blue, sequin top is strapless and plunging, giving us a show of her mammoth breasts as she sets a tray of drinks on the table.
My eyes trail from her killer black pumps up her long legs. Although I think I have a decent figure, my legs are shorter, and my breasts are about three times smaller than this woman’s. Damn, Simon gets to look at attractive women every night.
“Thank you, Rachel.”
“My pleasure, Mr. Cassano.” Her eyes never meet mine. No, they’re glued on sexy man here.
“I don’t want anyone up here tonight. If I need anything else, I’ll call.”
Her smile fades. “Of course, sir.”
Ha, mammoth breasts. God, where is this jealousy coming from?
“Would you like another drink?” Simon asks before he pulls out a bottle of wine from the ice bucket.
“Sure. Is that what your change in mood was about? You think we’re too different?”
“I know we’re different. It’s the ‘too’ part I’m on the fence about.” He hands me my wine and picks up a glass tumbler already made for him. I can’t fathom having people serve me this way every day.
“There is nothing wrong with that.”
“There is if it could impact you negatively. I’m not at liberty to explain in detail, but let me say I don’t always have the best people around me.”
&nbs
p; “I don’t care. I like you.” My fingers move the long section of hair from his eyes. “You’re exciting, Simon.”
“That excitement could get you into trouble and jeopardize all you’re working toward with your schooling and career. I can’t be responsible for that.” He slams his glass down on the table and swipes mine from me. “Let me take you home.”
“No, and I don’t believe that’s what you want at all.”
He exhales a loud breath of air. Music begins to play, so I glance over the railing. A handful of people have come in, and the DJ is playing.
I don’t want him to take me home. I force his torso back and straddle his lap. Leaning his head against the leather cushion, his hands hug my thighs.
“If you find you can overlook me after tonight, I will leave you alone.”
“You’re playing dirty.”
“I don’t have experience in ‘dirty,’ but I imagine you could teach me a few things.”
His hands glide along my legs, pushing my dress upward. “Shit, Sadie, could I ever. You have no clue how much I think about that, too.”
Gripping his shapely biceps, I lean in and kiss him. He’s beyond handsome tonight with his black dress pants and snug white shirt. He’s wearing a grey vest over it, but his rolled up sleeves give it a casual look.
He lets my tongue inside, and it swirls with his. His hands slide up my hips and waist until their right at my breasts.
Please, touch them.
I move my fingers into his hair and kiss him harder, giving him the green light. His thumbs begin to circle my nipples over my dress, and I whimper into his mouth. Rubbing against his erection beneath me, I notice we’re moving in time with the sensual music playing.
I feel in perfect sync with Simon Cassano. He brings out a restless side in me I’m curious to explore with only him. His hands grab my face and pull me back.
“Fuck, you can’t keep rubbing me like that, chick.”
“Then let’s go somewhere more private.”
He loops a finger around one of my long curls and smiles. “I think the wine is encouraging you.”
“I had two glasses. You swiped my third before I could take a sip.”
Stretching his body over to where he can see the dance floor, Simon grins. He holds my hips and moves us to the very end of the sofa. “Do you like to people watch?”
“Oh, yes. Dancing people especially.”
“So do I, and we get the most hilarious dancers in here when it’s early. They’re usually tourists, who don’t get out to clubs much. Watch with me.”
How the hell could Simon have anything bad associated with him? He’s too damn sweet. I do as he says and spy at the people on the dance floor. There are maybe thirty right now, and they’re cracking us up.
Simon laughing is a wondrous sight. He seems relaxed and happy, unlike the cranky man he was the night he borrowed me.
We talk and laugh for a couple of hours. Sometimes the music gets loud, and we have to lean in and speak into each other’s ears. My body shivers with every heated breath to my skin or touch from his hand.
His wide smile could light up the universe, and jet eyes steal the remainder of my night as I stare at him in awe and move a long piece of hair away from them.
“God, Sadie, you’re something special. How is it possible one of those grad geeks haven’t snatched you up?”
“They’re self-absorbed.”
He stares at me for a several seconds, and I want to know his thoughts. “Listen, I’m sorry, but I need to take you home. It’s going to get busy here, and I will have to be back to wrap things up in the poker lounge.”
“Oh, OK. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were working tonight.” I climb off of him and smooth out my dress.
“I work throughout the night normally.”
Taking my hand, he leads me downstairs. I don’t want to believe it, but I have a feeling he’s blowing me off.
Chapter Seventeen
Simon
I hold Sadie’s hand on the way to her place. She doesn’t know it, but it’s because I don’t plan on seeing her again, and it’s painful to think of letting her go.
Talking to her all evening confirmed that she’s on a straight path to success. I feel I’m successful, but what she’s striving for is different. It’s day shift, picket fences and minivans.
I’m not that kind of guy. She deserves the whole package and only finds me intriguing because I’m different than what she’s known. She would come to her senses and be done with me soon enough, and I’m not sticking around for it.
“You’re quiet again,” she says as I help her out of the car.
“Tonight was perfect, Sadie.”
“But …”
I don’t say a word as I walk her to her door. I haven’t a clue how to do this. I usually have no trouble ditching a chick, but I don’t want to tell her goodbye, and I care about her feelings, which is a fucking first.
Cupping her cheeks, I kiss her wet lips, letting mine linger there to feel that tingle she gives and to breathe in her sweet scent.
“Goodnight, Sadie Hart.”
“Bye,” she says sadly. I start toward my vehicle, regretting it in an instant.
“Bacon!” she yells.
I come to a stop and smile as I turn around.
“Bacon.”
“My iPhone password. The numbers spell ‘bacon.’ I’d hate for you to spend a lifetime wondering.”
“Sadie,” I utter, losing my smile completely. It’s dark, but the streetlight outside of her apartment gives away her grin. She’s so fucking adorable it hurts.
I begin to walk away again. “I think I just fell a little harder for you, Sadie Hart,” I mumble. Hearing her gasp, I realize my words were said louder than I meant for them to be.
“I remember,” she says. I freeze for a moment and get the nerve to face her. “I remember the other night, Simon. You said you were falling for me then, too.”
I’m unsure of what to do, but I’m unable to leave, so I stroll back to her. “I remember something else. You said if I told you while I’m sober that I want to have sex with you, you would believe me.”
I can’t help but smile again as I slide a hand across the nape of my neck. “I did say that, too.”
Taking a step closer to me, Sadie kisses my lips.
“I’m sober, Simon, and I want you to stay.”
It takes only two seconds of staring into her soulful ocean eyes for my restraint to crumble.
“Fuck, you’re irresistible.” My lips slam against hers as I hold the back of her head with one hand and snake my other around her hip. Her firm little ass is in my hand, and I groan, imagining her pussy tightly sheathed around my cock. She’s going to be tight. I know it.
I hear her try to open the door from behind, so I take the key from her hand and shove it in the lock as fast as possible. “You’re mine tonight, sweetheart.”
She walks backward into the apartment, unbuttoning my vest as we move and slipping it off my shoulders. Her purse is dropped, and I grab her dress to pull it up over her head.
Seeing her standing in front of me in her white heels and matching lacy bra and panties, it’s all I can do not to take her against the wall beside us.
Our lips collide again, and she unbuttons my shirt. I yank it off and remove my pants and boxer briefs. She’s taking off her heels as I find a condom in my wallet.
“Don’t remove anything else. I want to do it.” I grab her by the hand and pull her to her own bedroom. “I told you; tonight you’re mine.”
Sadie
Simon tosses the condom on the bed and removes my bra in record time. I’ve had sex with three guys, and I think they could have explained the process of creating a bra faster than they could have removed one. Most guys in my field were lucky to get to first base before college.
Don’t get me wrong. There are hot, smart guys at grad school who are cool, but the ones I’ve gone out with were self-absorbed. Along with the three me
n I had sex with, there were a few more who got me to service them, and it was all about them.
My head falls back as Simon’s mouth skims down my neck and across my shoulder. His hands are palming my breasts, the pace and pressure just right.
“Fuck, your tits are amazing. So natural.”
He sails his mouth down to them and gives me a preview of how talented his tongue is, stiffening my nipples and creating a stinging sensation like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I moan and pull on his thick head of hair.
Gliding his wet, open mouth farther south, his strong arm wraps around my hips and lifts me enough for him to put me on my back in my bed.
He has one knee on it as he drags my panties down my legs. His thigh is flexed and toned like his abs, but it’s his long cock at attention that is occupying mine.
“You have seen one before, right?”
My finger goes to my mouth, and I feel the burn of embarrassment to my cheeks.
“Yes, but not one so, uh, long.”
His smirk becomes a megawatt grin.
“I think you’re trying to make it impossible for me to leave.” My panties fly across the room. Picking up my right leg, his mouth kisses the inside of my ankle and begins its trail upward.
“Mmm … I wonder how much scientist Sadie has analyzed oral sex. If I had to guess, I bet you prefer it slow and taunting over being eaten like dinner.”
My arm flies over my eyes to cover them, and I try to free my leg from his grip so I can snap them shut.
“Simon, you’re shameless.”
He only pulls my leg out farther as his free palm connects with the inside of my other knee, opening me wide. “Doll, there’s nothing to be ashamed of here, so tell me; was I right?”
I slide my arm up enough to take an embarrassing peek at him. “I wouldn’t know. It’s only been done to me once and not for much duration.”
Simon’s eyes look like they’re going to pop out of their orbits to the point it makes me giggle.
“What kind of douche bags do you run with?”
“The self-absorbed kind, remember?”
“Then I guess we have to conduct the experiment.”
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