AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Hey, you, she texted him back.I’m certainly feeling a little beastly right now. Would you care to join me for a midnight snack?
Mars replied instantly, saying he would pick her up in ten minutes.
Her entire heart glowed as she gathered her things and waited for Mars in the lobby. After such a strange and harrowing day, she was willing to allow herself to feel excitement at the prospect of being around such an enticing man. If it led to anything even remotely physical, she would likely give in; she was a modern woman and wouldn’t deprive herself of simple pleasure.
He arrived nearly nine minutes after sending his text, flowing slowly into the roundabout in front of the firm. In the late-night dim, the goblin green shade of the sports car throbbed, looking a little tacky for her taste but, nevertheless, amusing.
Mars nearly leapt out of the front seat as she made her way to the passenger’s side, carrying her purse with her heels clicking against the ground rhythmically.
“Allow me,” he said, opening the door with a sly smirk.
The man was handsome beyond belief, his blue eyes burning into her. The idea of him undressed and pressing against her was an appetizing thought. He wore the same thing he had on at the press conference, except he had removed his blazer and had rolled up his sleeves to show off thick and luscious forearms.
Rhi felt dizzy, and no man had ever had that effect on her. She tried to keep her cool as she sat in the front seat, sitting straight and crossing her legs in her pencil skirt. She wanted to catch him looking at the sneaky peek of the bare skin that popped out when she did this; the idea of him having the same naughty thoughts was utterly thrilling.
“You gentleman, you,” she quipped, her voice low and sultry.
Mars regarded her before closing the door softly but did not consider her legs. She supposed he was being polite, but something in her that made her breath unsteady wanted him to tap into the vises she craved. Her favorites were sex and vengeance.
“I do my best,” Mars said, biting his lip and narrowing his eyes.
Rhi was glad he didn’t linger because if he did, she’d have to pull him in and take him in the back seat. Not only was she feeling ravenous for food, but also for his body, sweaty and hard, under her, over her, and all around.
He walked around the car and hopped into the driver’s seat. She cleared her throat and stared forward, attempting to ignore the alluring aroma of his cologne and natural scent.
“Would you like to visit my restaurant?” he said, starting the engine. “It’s not far from here, and once you’ve tapped out, I’ll take you right back home. Deal?”
She was afraid to look at him and those dazzling eyes of his. So she ran her hands over her skirt and settled them on top of her knees, struggling to appear professional and contained, but to no avail.
“It’s a deal, good sir.”
He wasn’t kidding when he said the restaurant wasn’t far. When they arrived, she let out an instinctual gasp, one that made her own cheeks bloom with a blush at the sensual sound of it.
“You own Casey’s Bar and Grill?” she said jovially.
Mars turned off the engine in a parking spot labeled VIP, grinning ear to ear. Before answering her, he jumped out of the car with as much energy as a newborn pup. He opened the door for her, insisting on taking her hand as she climbed out in her sleek heels.
“Indeed I do,” he said, looking pleased. “I have an owner's table on the second floor if you want to avoid the general restaurant din.”
She was thankful for the privacy of the table. The restaurant was bustling with bar-goers and late-night foodies, and the latest top-40 hits were thumping through a titillating stereo powered by a live DJ. His hand on her lower back, Mars led her inside. What was happening felt very surreal, and it seemed that what she was feeling in the depths of her core was actually going to happen.
The booth was private, lit by a dim scone lamp in the center of the table, casting a soft light over Mars’s striking features. They could still hear the ongoings of the popular eatery downstairs, but it was muffled, as was the lively music that went on for the entirety of the night.
“How long have you owned this place?”
They had ordered every appetizer on the menu, which was, of course, on the house. Rhi hadn’t realized how hungry she was until the first few plates arrived … scent streams of teriyaki chicken and crab sushi lingered in the air, swirling into her nostrils and making her stomach clench.
She did her best to eat the way old-fashioned men like to think was ladylike but figured it was pointless the moment Mars himself began to gobble down the selection. She found it endearing that he didn’t comment on her methods of indulgence, which only further enhanced her mounting attraction.
He held a piece of sushi in his hand as his eyes rolled toward the ceiling, considering Rhi’s question.
“A little over ten years now,” he replied. “At this location, at least.”
They had started off across the booth from one another, but after Mars had gone into his private kitchen and made their orders, he’d sat directly next to her. Their legs touched under the table, and a tingling sensation had been palpable the entire time they ate and chatted.
Rhi turned to him, cocking what she hoped was a teasing, sexy eyebrow.
“This location?” she mused. “How many locations do you have?”
