Chapter 39
Chapter thirty-nine
Intimate Birthday Dances
I muse over his words, wondering how we tumbled so thoroughly into dangerous waters. Not having much experience in seduction, I approach warily. However, I'm brave enough to dip my toe in, and I decide I like it.
Alexander picks up his fork and gestures to me. "Unless you need me to feed you now?"
Taking the hint, I pick up my knife and fork to cut the delicate fish for him, placing it on the little dish in front of us meant for sharing.
"No, ma'am." Alexander's eyes snap to mine and hold my stare. "Give it to me from your fork," he demands, keeping still while his challenge processes.
I pause in the act of taking my first bite at the simmering desire within his gaze.
Bold, I swallow slowly and lick my bottom lip before tearing my eyes from his to twirl a small amount of noodles onto the fork.
"Salmon?" I ask quietly, glancing back up through my lashes to see him nod.
Biting back a small smile, I take my time stabbing a bite of salmon, then hold it across the table.
Alexander gives me a wicked grin and leans forward, attempting to take the bite, but I playfully pull back, making him miss.
He arches a brow. "Is this the game we're going to play?" he asks.
His grin broadens in his face at seeing just how delighted I am at besting him.
"Maybe." I hold the fork out again. He wraps his hand firmly over mine and keeps me still for him as he takes his bite, releasing me and sitting back while chewing.
He twirls some of his spaghetti on his fork and holds it out for me to take a bite.
Surprisingly, I'm still able to hold his stare, which turns hot when he slides the tines between my lips.
I can't help my little moan as the spicy flavor hits my tongue.
"It's so good," I whisper, closing my eyes. "But it's not yours," I tease sadly.
Alexander's quiet chuckle has me tightening all over. "It's kind of tough to beat perfection," he quips, taking a slow sip of his scotch. "I've been practicing that recipe for damn near twenty years."
"Hm. That's a long time."
It has me musing on his age. His experience. Not just in life, but in the bedroom. As he speaks, my eyes lower from his face to peruse his neck, caressing the broad expanse of his chest and shoulders. My eyes go even lower; however, sadly, I can't see through the table.
We eat a while, talking about work and what we would normally do for our birthdays when I break and reach into my clutch. Thinking of my dad, I pull out my phone, disappointed as I see he still hasn't tried to contact me.
"What is it?" Alexander asks curiously.
I nibble on my lip. "It's nothing…it's just it's getting late, and my dad still hasn't wished me a happy birthday," I reply softly. Putting my phone back in my clutch, I turn back to him and give him my best smile, carefully hiding the hurt I hadn't intended to show.
The very minor tilt of his head and the flash of his eyes has me suddenly on edge. "Hmm…" he hums, "there seems to be some tension there."
"There is," I say quietly.
"I'm sorry he hasn't contacted you," Alexander says simply, sitting back in his seat and swirling his wine glass between his fingers.
Thankful he's not pressing the issue, I put my fork down and sit back against the cushion, gazing at him silently. The music swells in the background, causing my eyes to slide to the dance floor.
"So, what was your secret? You forgot to finish telling me earlier." Alexander's sudden question has me coming back quickly.
"Oh!" My eyes widen with humor. "Just that I can't dance." I let out a little laugh as Alexander chuckles at me.
"What? I have a hard time believing that!" When he takes another drink, I mirror him.
"Well, it's the truth. So believe it. I've never been dancing before. The closest I get to it is when I am on stage, but that's it."
I put my glass down hastily when he stands smoothly out of his seat and holds his hand out to me.
"Well, join me. Because I'd love to share a dance with you.
" I feel my muscles tightening in excitement at the thought of him pressing me against him.
He leans closer, obviously sensing my nervousness.
The rich scent of his cologne fills my nose, robbing me of my common sense and making me almost woozy with desire.
My heart begins to beat faster, but it's his next words that knock me completely askew, "Let me lead you.
" His eyes bore into mine unwavering and every inch the man who knows what he wants.
The deep cadence of his voice has a shiver rolling through my body. I swear time stops. The sounds of the restaurant and the band fall away as we continue to stare, the both of us searching for something. Longing for it.
"Trust me," he says softly. Running his hand down my forearm, he grasps my hand firmly.
When he gives me a tug, I nervously wet my lips, feeling butterflies erupt in my stomach. My tummy trembles, forcing me to press a hand there. He affords me enough room to rise from my seat, and I let him pull me to the dance floor where a romantic instrumental song begins to play.
Alexander turns me to face him before crooking a finger under my chin to tilt my head up, and I obey every silent command without a word.
So enraptured I am with every movement this man makes.
I hold my breath when his hand rises to brush my hair to my back, exposing the upper swells of my breasts to him.
He stares for just a moment longer than proper before his eyes flit back to mine.
Burning me up from the inside out, the stark intimacy threatens to eviscerate me.
"Touch me," he commands. And I do; I place both palms flat to his chest and fight like hell to not meet his searching gaze.
The taut muscles flex under my hands. To my horror, I begin to shake with nerves when he slowly runs his fingertips down my spine and presses his left hand into my lower back, pulling me flush against every hard line of his body.
He bends to my ear, barely brushing my skin, "Shhh. "
I swallow hard, but in an unexpected movement that ramps up my nervousness, he lowers his hand to the curve of my ass and firmly presses me even further against him. A teasing grin tips his mouth, and something hot and sensual flashes in his eyes, making him harder. On fire.
My lashes flutter at the feel of my hips settling into his, and that incessant throbbing that's been tormenting me deepens.
Peeking up at him through my lashes, I settle my right hand onto his bicep at the same time that he takes my right arm and grasps my hand, holding it out and to the side. I try to ignore my warm cheeks and focus on the feel of his body against mine.
I glance to the side nervously, slightly embarrassed that everyone else has already begun dancing, and we're just standing still. "They're already dancing," I say quietly.
Clearly nonplussed, he cocks his head to the side, and the crinkles next to his eyes deepen slightly as he smiles. "Let them worry about themselves," he replies, his hand firming onto my back and forcing me even further into him somehow, "and I will worry about you."
His words settle deep into my core, affecting me in ways I cannot express. Rolling my lips slightly, my eyes raise to his, and I give a tiny nod.
When his thigh presses against mine, I take a step back, and we begin to move gracefully, following the beat of the song.
"Wow." I giggle.
"Wow is right," he murmurs.
My eyes widen at the realization that Alexander knows what he's doing hits me. As we sway together, I can't help but imagine our bodies entangling in bed.
Alexander presses me even harder against him, now molding my upper torso to his front.
He suddenly pushes me out and gives me a turn, making my hair whip out wildly, and then yanks me back to him.
He lowers his face to my neck as we sway, running his nose down the sensitive spot there and nuzzling me rather blatantly.
What the hell is this between us? I relish his thigh thick between my legs, rubbing me there as we sway intimately. As I gaze up at him while we move in sync, feeling vulnerable, I can't help but wonder…is this love?
Tilting my head back I half-close my eyes, letting him lead me just like he asked. I quiver, feeling myself falling.
Alexander tilts his head down and rests his jaw against the side of my face. "See, in the game of dance, the man is the frame, and the woman is the picture in the frame. And the frame's entire purpose is to show off his picture. And you, Sarah…you make such a desirable picture."
Ducking my head shyly, I flood my panties at his words. Turns out, Alexander is quite the seductor.
I give a breathless giggle.
"And on the contrary, what is the picture without her frame surrounding her so beautifully? I think they need each other to balance it out," I retort.
Our eyes meet as he continues to lead me through the dance, and in a bold move his hand lowers just a bit more, once again cupping the top curve of my ass and pressing me even harder into him just as the music switches into something sexier, more sultry.
My heart rate begins to ramp up, and I glance at him nervously. "Alex, I-I don't know…I don't think I can dance to this! The other one was easier."
Alexander smiles devilishly. "Breathe. I won't let you fall, sweetness. Look at me." I glance up nervously, but I'm unable to say anything. "You're okay; I've got you. Don't think. Just move with me. Here we go."
Tightening his hold on me, Alexander moves us with purpose, lowering his lips to my ear once more as he steps into me four, five, six times, before suddenly turning me, holding me to him by my waist and my hip as we sway.
"Alex!" I gasp, thrilled.
Alexander whips me around again and yanks me to him, molding every inch of us together.
He puts a hand to my chin, tilting my head up to look him in the eyes.
I can tell, just know, something is changing, shifting, between the two of us.
My fingers on his chest flex, feeling Alexander's heart pounding wildly in his chest.
"Are you with me?" he asks quietly.
"Yes," I smile at him, feeling a bit dazed and dreamy.
"Then be alive with me, baby." Alexander lowers his hand and snatches me up by my leg through the split in my dress and hitches it around his hip, making me squeal into his neck.
His thumb caresses the sensitive skin under the garter as he whirls us several times in a circle before stopping and bending me into a daringly low dip just as the music ends.
Our lips are so close we're almost kissing.
Just when I think he will, his face morphs from one of desire to serene joy as he raises me back up, and he breaks out into a chuckle when I throw my arms around his neck in excitement.
My feet leave the ground once more, and he gives me a couple more twirls.
When he sets me down, I can't help how excited I feel as he keeps my hand in his and leads me off the dance floor.
"Oh my gosh, that was wild!" I giggle, stumbling a little as I attempt to keep up with his pace as he guides me back to our table.
We sit back in our booth, finishing our drinks as the server brings out our decadent chocolate cake, complete with a candle in the middle.
The server lights it, and I clap as the band and singer lead the restaurant through the “Happy Birthday” song.
Alexander takes out his phone and records me laughing and swaying in my seat.
At the end of the song, I blow the band a kiss before turning and blowing out the candle, giving Alex a wink.
Alexander stops the recording and puts his phone away. "Hey," he stops me right as I'm about to stab my fork in the cake, "do you mind if we take this back to the room?"
I smile, putting my fork down. "No. But I'm starting to think you really have a thing for food, mister," I breathe, watching the server come back over after Alexander calls for her. I wait patiently as he pays and packages up my cake, and then brings the other one to go.
My mind races at the possibilities for the rest of the night.
Oh God, are we going to have sex? The thought is incessant, swirling around in my brain during the ride back to the hotel. I'm giddy, thinking about Alexander between my legs. It's been so long since I've felt the weight of a man's body on top of mine, and the anticipation is eating me alive.
When he looks at me, those butterflies in my tummy get worse.
"Alex," I say nervously. Dragging a nail up his arm, I lower my voice so the driver can't hear, "What can I do to repay you for such an amazing birthday?
" My anxiety ramps up, becoming almost unbearable in the small space between us when he tilts his head and regards me with an unreadable expression on his face.
"What would you like?" Alex asks hesitantly, rubbing his hand across his jaw.
"I think…I'd like to dance some more i-if you would?" I look at him shyly.
Alexander smiles, brushing his knuckles down my cheek. "Then let's dance, baby."
He leads me into our room and out to the balcony where we kick off our shoes, and he loosens his tie.
We dance another hour under the moonlight until my eyes grow heavy.
Picking me up, Alexander brings me back in the room and places me on the bed.
The silence swells between us as he takes off my dress, leaving my lingerie on.
To my surprise, he takes my garter off. I tense because I feel it's still wet from my arousal that slicked down my thighs, but he doesn't leave me any doubt that he knows.
I know he feels it because his eyes go half-lidded when he closes his fingers over the delicate fabric, and the thick bulge between his legs twitches. But he doesn't act on it.
Yawning, I lay back, working to get comfortable. He shoves it in his pocket and pulls the covers over me.
"Goodnight, sweetness," he rasps, sounding far away, but I feel him kiss my forehead.
The next thing I know, I gently wake up a few hours later to him deeply asleep and wrapped completely around me, with his hand between my legs per usual. Rubbing my hand down his arm, I wedge mine over his and snuggle even more into him on a contented sigh.
This has been the best birthday of my life.