From the slinky black dress that showed off her curves to the four inch stilettos that made her straighten her back and thrust her br**sts forward, from the soft tendrils she’d deliberately loosened by her temples to the crimson hue that made her lips pop, Solie knew she was sure to make an impression.
She did one last check in the mirror then, as the bell chimed, she drew a scarf across her shoulders and went to meet Ransom at the door.
When she saw her date standing there, hands thrust into his pocket as he smiled down at her, the word that popped into her mind was ‘gorgeous’. And that was quite a compliment for a guy.
“You look wonderful,” she told him as her eyes roamed the black-clad height of him, from his wing tip black shoes to his dark Armani suit to the tanned skin of his neck, such a contrast to the stark white of the collar of his shirt. When she came to his face she saw that he was regarding her with a look of amusement.
“Done checking me out?” he asked with a crooked grin.
She lifted an eyebrow. “Done,” she said and responded with a grin of her own.
Then he reached out to take her hand. “And you, my dear, look stunning.” He bent his head to give her a soft kiss on the cheek.
Solie almost groaned. As he'd leaned over her she’d tilted her face up to his, expecting a kiss, a real one, not a peck on the cheek. Then she did an inward shrug. Oh, well, maybe he didn’t want to smudge her lipstick.
She locked the door then took his arm and he walked her to his car. As soon as they set off she settled into the soft leather of the seat and watched as he took control of the sleek sports car, expertly handling the powerful vehicle, stroking it till it purred. It was like how, she imagined, he would handle a woman, stroking her with a restrained power that would have her writhing with want. And right then Solie was dying to be stroked just like that.
She gave her head an almost imperceptible shake. Enough of that fantasizing. All that stroking and purring would come soon enough. Now she needed to focus on enjoying the evening with this handsome man by her side.
Ransom got them to the restaurant within fourteen minutes of their departure, a journey that would normally have taken over twenty minutes. She wasn’t complaining, though. He’d driven swiftly but carefully and she knew that in his hands she was safe. Physically, anyway. She wasn’t so sure about the effect he was having on her heart.
To Solie’s delight, upon arrival they were ushered to a relatively secluded table for two right by the huge bay window that looked out onto the tropical landscape with its lush gardens and stately palms. Despite the shadowy veil of night the beauty of the scene was not dimmed. The subdued exterior lights softly illuminated the area, providing the perfect backdrop for a romantic rendezvous.
“After you, madam.” Ransom, ever the gentleman, gave her a slight bow as he held the chair for her.
“Why, thank you, kind sir,” she said, playing along. She smiled, loving the mood he was in tonight.
They settled in for a delicious meal of roasted Atlantic cod, local red snapper, a vegetable medley, and white wine. Solie’s favorite was the dessert Ransom selected for her – warm nutella bread pudding with cayenne ice cream erasmo. When he’d described it to her, her mouth had started watering long before the scrumptious treat was placed in front of her.
She giggled as she took her first bite. “Are you trying to get me fat?” She wasn’t the giggly type but somehow, with Ransom, she couldn’t help it. He was turning her into a girl all over again.
He tilted his head. “You could stand to put on a few pounds.”
“I could not.” She threw him a scowl but then spoiled it when she started laughing. “Stop looking at me like that. You remind me of my mamita. Eat, eat, eat, she says. She’s always bugging me to eat more and just now you looked exactly like her."
“Oh, really.” That seemed to amuse the heck out of him because his face broke into a grin. “Since we’re so alike you’d better introduce me to that mamita of yours. Then we can gang up on you.”
“No way.” She shook her head, still laughing. “One of you bugging me at a time is all I can take. I am not letting you link up with my mama.”
But even as she said the words Solie’s heart was curling up with pleasure. Ransom had actually spoken as if he would like to meet someone in her family. That could only mean he wanted to get to know her even better, right? It meant he really, really liked her.
Okay, so he’d said it in jest but still…
Too soon, their meal all gone, it was time for them to leave. Solie did not want the evening to end and when Ransom drove her home then invited her in for a drink she accepted without hesitation.
She’d entered his home so many times before but tonight it seemed so different, bathed in shadows with only softly subdued lights illuminating their path to the living room. There, Ransom tapped the digital music system, filling the room with the sultry sound of John Legend crooning a love song. Before she could react he drew her into his arms and began to rock to the rhythm of ‘Best You Ever Had’. Tonight was the night you’d lose control, the words said. Had he planned this?
By the time the thought flew into her mind it dissolved like a puff of smoke in the wind. Ransom was doing something to her, making her mind turn to mush, making her bones turn to jelly. He’d slid a hand up her back and another onto her right hip and now he was molding her into him, leaving no room between them, not even for a breath of air.
Her br**sts crushed against the flat muscles of his chest, her body pressed so close she could feel the powerful muscles of his thighs, she was left with little choice but to lift her face to his and let him go all the way.
Surrendering her lips to him she welcomed the firmness of his mouth on hers and when he took control of the kiss, sliding his hand up to cup the back of her head, she moaned, her lips parting to receive him.
And so they danced, kissing and caressing each other as they swayed, lost in the seduction of love song after love song.
Solie didn’t know when she got there but she jumped in surprise when the back of her legs touched the sofa. But then Ransom was bending over, tilting her back into the cushions until she was lying on the couch, looking up into his smoldering eyes.