Page 34 of Just a Little Crush

By the time I left, I was mentally fried and worked up at the same time, and when we returned home after stopping for lunch, I wasn’t in the best mood and needed to decompress. I called to see if Cara was around and asked her to watch Owen while I spent the next two hours in the downstairs gym, working off my aggression.

On Sunday, I handed off Owen to Alyssa.

The next three days until I had plans to see Stevie for my business dinner passed at a snail’s pace. The time since I’d seen her last had most definitelynotflown by. I couldn’t get Stevie out of my mind. Not when I was at home, not when I was at work, and most certainly not when I was in my bed alone at night and wished she were there with me.

Every night one or the other of us had been busy, which didn’t stop us from texting each other about our days—and flirting—because if I couldn’t be with her in person, I found myself wanting to connect with her in other ways until I was able to see her for tonight’s dinner with Beck and Chloe, and Gerard Laurent and his wife, Hazel.

After a too long day at the office—though an incredibly productive one since Gerard and his wife had submitted an offer on the triplex penthouse at Central Park Tower, which made tonight’s dinner more of a celebratory event—I arrived home and took a shower and changed into a fresh suit.

Finally, Stevie was all mine. I wasn’t thrilled that we had a long, drawn-out meal and pleasantries to sit through, but once that was over I had every intention of making up for lost time. As in, bringing her back to my apartment afterward, stripping her naked, and keeping herverybusy in my bed for the rest of the night.

At six-thirty, I knocked on Stevie’s door to pick her up.

She answered, her eyes bright with excitement and a wide smile on her lips. She called out to Valerie that she was leaving, and I walked with her to the elevator. Once we were inside and heading down, she smoothed a hand along the front of her silky black dress that was subtly sexy, skimming her body just enough for me to appreciate her sensual curves.

“I hope I dressed appropriately for the restaurant we’re going to?”

The question was tinged with a hint of self-conscious uncertainty that she had no reason to feel. I took in the complete package…the way she’d worn her hair up in a more elegant style, her smoky eye makeup and daring choice of lip color, then continued down to the classic, sophisticated black dress and tasteful heels that completed the ensemble.

“You look gorgeous,” I said, meaning it, and followed that up with a sinful smile. “The only thing that would make you look even more beautiful is if you weren’t wearing anything at all.”

A pink blush suffused her cheeks, but her eyes shone with awareness. “So, that’s how it’s going to go tonight, huh?”

“Me imagining you naked?” I asked, turning toward her and closing the very short distance between us, until her back was pressed against the cool chrome interior wall. “Absolutely,” I murmured.

I lifted my hand and stroked the backs of my fingers along the side of her bare neck, watching with satisfaction as she shivered from my touch. “In fact, all throughout dinner, I’m going to be thinking about pulling those pins from this fancy updo so I can wrap your hair around my fist while I fuck you.”

Her eyes darkened with desire as they looked up into mine, and her lips parted on a soft exhale of breath.

I smiled, skimming my thumb along her chin, not done seducing her imagination that would hopefully keep her on edge until we were alone later. “But first, before I do that, I’m going to put you on your knees because that red lipstick you’re wearing? It’s a goddamn tease and I want to see it smeared all over my cock while you suck my dick.”

A small groan escaped her throat, even while she tried to maintain her composure by raising a brow at me. “You’veverypresumptuous, Mr. Kane.”

“No, not presumptuous at all,” I said, lifting my gaze from those tempting lips. “Just very confident, and now, for the rest of the night, you’re going to think of all those things, too.”

“You’re not playing fair at all,” she whispered, but it wasn’t a complaint.

“It’s been a long, excruciating week and a half since I had the pleasure of fucking you. A week and a half of fantasizing all the dirty, filthy things I want to do to you, and tonight, I plan to indulge. Unless…you’d rather not?”

She gave her head a quick shake, as if she didn’t want to give me the chance to change my mind. “I didn’t say that.”

I chuckled, the sound a little devious. “Didn’t think so.”

The elevator dinged its arrival, and as the doors slid open I placed a soft, chaste kiss on her cheek so I didn’t mess up that sexy-as-sin lipstick. I took her hand in mine and walked with her through the lobby, not missing the glances a few men cast her way that made me feel territorial as hell.

Stevie seemed oblivious to those stares. She honestly had no idea how appealing she was. How sexy but also unassuming and sweet, with a just enough tenacity to keep things interesting. It was a combination I found irresistible.

My driver, Dylan, was already parked and waiting in the valet area for us, and since we weren’t alone I behaved and kept our conversation casual on the way to the restaurant. I caught up on how her campaign was going at Dare PR that she seemed so excited about, we discussed her latest macroeconomics test which she’d passed, and Stevie filled me in on Valerie’s first few days at the firm and how much her sister was enjoying her new job.

We arrived at Mastro’s Steakhouse the same time that Beck and his wife, Chloe, did, and a few minutes later Gerard and Hazel joined us. Introductions were made for the women, then the hostess led us through an upscale dining area to a private room I’d had my assistant reserve for the six of us so we’d have a much quieter and more intimate experience.

Wine was ordered and poured while we perused the menu, and once everyone’s orders were taken, general conversation ensued. Since most of the day had been spent focused on business with Gerard, the men gravitated toward discussing more personal interests, like sports and current events.

Chloe and Stevie hit it off immediately, which didn’t surprise me at all. As soon as Chloe learned that Stevie worked at The Back Door, they realized they had acquaintances in common since Chloe was a Kingston, and her sister, Aurora, was married to a Dare…which connected them to Zach Dare, who was half owner of The Back Door.

“Wait a second,” Stevie said, her eyes lighting up as realization struck. “You’re a Kingston, as in related to Dash Kingston, the rock star?”

Chloe nodded, smiling as she took a sip of her wine. “Yes, that’s my brother.”

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