AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He laughed loudly, the sound deep and rich. "Even though I think we are past the dating phase, yes. Consider this my attempt at wooing you. Dress to impress, Josephine. I will see you soon. Jag ?lskar dig. "
I'd been aroun
d Stefan long enough to begin to start picking up on his Swedish. "Love you too. "
He hung up and I held the phone against my chest for a moment. Shaking my head at my own sappiness, I dropped the phone on the couch, hurrying down the hallway to get ready. Sorting through the garment bags on the bed, I smiled when I picked out the dress I'd wear for Stefan tonight.
Dress to impress indeed.
* * *
I was putting on my earrings in the mirror when I heard him clear his throat. Turning to face him, my breath caught in my throat. He was standing the doorway to the bedroom, still dressed in his expensive black Armani suit. It exaggerated the impressive width of his shoulders, tailored to fit him like a second skin. His white dress shirt did little to conceal the muscles in his broad chest and when he slipped his hands into his pants pockets, his gold cufflinks twinkled in the bright lights in the bedroom. He looked like sex incarnate, and he was all mine.
"As usual, you look exquisite. " His blue eyes swept over me, lingering on my breasts and hips to finally caress over my legs in my high heels. The chocolate brown knit dress I had chosen to wear had three-quarter length sleeves and ruched details on the side, giving the hemline an asymmetrical hemline. It clung to every curve I had and the matching shoes added almost five inches to my height.
"I could say the same for you. You look too handsome for your own good. " I almost sprinted across the room to him, reaching up to adjust his red silk tie. His blond hair gleamed against the blackness of his suit and as my hands slipped under his jacket to run over his chest, his blue eyes were glowing with undisguised want.
"Shall we go? It is time for me to suitably woo you. I do have an ulterior motive," he confessed. He ran his fingertips over the swell of my breast and down the curve of my side sensuously, his eyes never leaving mine.
"An ulterior motive?" I eagerly licked my lips at the thought of those very fingers running over my naked body. Frissons of fire and ice ran up my spine and my pulse flickered and leaped from his touch and my vivid imagination.
One side of his mouth raised in a sexy grin as he dragged me roughly against him, his large hands gripping my ass possessively. "I always have an agenda. You are so sexy, Josephine. You do not even realize the power you have over me. "
Looking at him with wide eyes, I let out a shaky breath as he placed his forehead to mine. His soft lips brushed over my cheeks and a low growl rumbled in his chest. He reluctantly pulled away from me and he tucked my hand in the crook of his arm, guiding me down the hallway to the living room, my heels clicking over the wooden floors. He chivalrously opened the door for me and we headed towards the elevator. He pushed the down button and we stood in silence, waiting for the car to arrive.
The elevator opened and we hurried inside. As the doors closed and we began our descent, Stefan turned towards me and captured my lips in a feather-light kiss, then lowered his mouth to my neck, his cool breath whispering over my skin. I was lost in him, surprised when his voice floated into my mind.
"Come. We need to hurry. We have reservations to keep. "
He directed us through the lobby and the doorman opened the door for us, slightly bowing as we exited the building. Stefan steered us towards a black sedan at the curb, the doorman following behind us to open the rear door for me. I slid into the back seat of the car, gliding across the soft, buttery leather. I watched as Stefan folded his large frame into the seat beside me and the door closed behind him.
"349 W. 46th Street," Stefan said to the driver. The car smoothly pulled away from the curb and I was left looking at Stefan with a mixture of wonder and admiration.
"Where are we going?" I asked as we drove along, the lights from the traffic and street lights flickering over the planes of his chiseled face.
"Swing 46. Dinner and dancing counts as a suitable date, yes?" Stefan questioned as he tapped his fingers on his thighs. He seemed nervous and unsure of himself for the first time this evening.
Amused at his obvious discomfort, I nestled against his side. "You did fine. And yes, it counts. "
Chapter 3 Suitably Wooed
Tucked away in the corner at Swing 46, we were hidden from the prying eyes of other patrons, making it easier for Stefan to maintain his fa?ade of acting human. I'd finished dinner and was sipping a glass of white wine, enjoying the soulful sounds of the singer performing. She was singing renditions of Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, and Billie Holiday. Stefan was holding my hand across the table, his thumb tracing patterns on the top of my hand. The dim lighting and candlelight made him appear more mysterious and preternaturally beautiful than usual.
Strains of The Very Thought of You had just begun to play. I was startled when he suddenly stood, smoothly drawing me to my feet and leading me in the direction of the dance floor. He wrapped his right arm around my waist and took my hand in his, tugging me close to him. My other arm reached up to rest across his wide shoulders as he slowly whirled me around the dance floor, his movements effortless and polished.
His breath tickled my ear as he hummed along with the music. When he began to sing in my ear as he pulled me closer, the sound of his smooth voice made my stomach clench. "The mere idea of you. . . the longing here for you. . . you'll never know. . . how slow the moments go. . . till I'm near you. "
Drawing in a shaky breath, I turned my head slightly to meet his eyes. The raw emotion that he revealed to me was so powerful that it shook me to my very core. If it was possible to fall in love with him even more, I think I did in that moment. My eyes filled with tears as we effortlessly moved together in time to the music.
"If there was a song that was written that describes how I feel for you, this would be what I would write, Josephine. "
Speechless, I could only nod and swallow back a moan. "Stefan. . . "
The song came to an end but he didn't let me go. He held me until the next song started, the seductive sound of At Last filled the room. Stefan quickly flicked his wrist and spun me away from him, only to quickly pull me back to his chest in one fluid motion. Our bodies were molded together and it still wasn't close enough to suit me. His right hand began drifting lower to cup my ass and he brought the hand he held to his lips, his mouth cool against my skin. I could feel the outline of his fangs against my hand, aware of his presence in every pore of my body, his nearness, the scent of him, the coolness of his skin. It was almost too much to bear. . .
The song finished and he brought both of his hands to cradle each side of my face. His eyes searched mine for a moment before he lowered his lips to mine. His mouth was firm and strong as he kissed me deeply. I savored the taste of him, losing myself in the moment, standing in the middle of a dance floor in New York City. He smiled against my lips and sighed.
"Are you happy, vackra?" His voice drifted through the haze of my mind. "Have I wooed you?"
