Mr. Big(21)

“Well,” he said looking down at her face, “you’re a beautiful woman, and he loves beautiful women. You’re also independent, and that makes you a challenge to get, and he likes a challenge.”

She smiled widely at his words. “How do you know him?” Mia tipped her wine glass back and sipped the light honeyed liquid in it. It was sweet. She’d gotten Riesling.

“Oh, just from different business connections here in the city. We know some of the same people and we have worked in overlapping circles before. He’s all right, I guess, but he’s not anyone I would do business with personally, and he’s not anyone I’d ever call a friend,” he admitted honestly.

She was surprised at his bluntness. “Why wouldn’t you do business with him personally?”

He was quiet a moment, taking another sip of his drink. He looked down at the olive in it, and then looked up at her. “I don’t like his character. He isn’t as good a man as he could be, and that’s a conscious choice that he makes.”

Mia heard his words and was amazed again at the deep integrity of the man with her. There was so much more depth to him than she was accustomed to seeing in the many men she spoke with day in and day out. Something about him made her want to know more, and she knew when she discovered more, she would still be hungry to learn everything about him that she didn’t know. It was a strange realization for her.

He gave laugh and squeezed her hand. “I’m glad to hear that he can’t get you to go out with him though. That makes me think even more of you.” He winked at her and she felt a warmth spread throughout her from her core, and she couldn’t resist grinning back at him.

They talked through dinner, with each other and the other guests at the table they shared. They watched the speakers for the event and when the formalities of the evening were over, he turned to her and held out his hand.

“Would you care to dance?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

She was completely charmed and delighted as she slipped her hand into his and stood up with him. “I’d love to!”

He walked her out to the dance floor and took her into his arms, drawing her close to him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and breathed in his scent. As he moved her around in the dim light, with the live orchestral music playing and wrapping itself around them like the evening’s cloak, she found herself wishing that time could stand still so that she would be able to be there with him that way for much longer.

Alexander didn’t speak as they danced, rather, he held her close to him and rested his cheek on the side of her head, and they swayed and turned to the music. Mia felt like she was moving through a dream and she didn’t want to wake up, but at some point in the middle of her living reverie, the music paused, and he stepped back from her and smiled down at her.

He took both of her hands in his and brought them slowly to his lips, and gazing into her eyes, he kissed the back of each of her hands slowly and softly, sending shivers of electricity straight to her and making her gasp as her smile spread again. He turned then, letting one of her hands go and tucking the other into the crook of his arm, and he walked her off of the dance floor. It was like waking from the best dream she could remember having in a long time, and she didn’t want it to end. She thought forward toward the minutes and hours to come in their night together, and it was almost the only thing that helped her to leave the serene warmth of his strong and gentle embrace around her on the dance floor.

They were again met by several people as they walked out of the hotel, all of them wanting some of his time, his attention, his regard, his handshake, and she smiled to herself at how personable he was with each one, never passing any of them as if they didn’t matter. It occurred to her at one point that his demeanor with them might very well be the reason why so many people respected and liked him and sought him out.

The limousine was waiting for them, and as they got into it, she knew that the time had come to make her move and get closer to him. They sat by side and she turned toward him, taking his hand in hers. He looked over at her and smiled.

“Thank you for coming with me tonight, it was truly one of the most fun nights I’ve had in a long time,” he told her earnestly. His eyes stayed on hers and she felt as if he was looking right through her again. She took a deep breath and leaned in close to him.

“I had a really wonderful time tonight too. Thank you so much for bringing me along with you.” She smiled slyly at him then and moved forward, pressing her lips to his softly. He didn’t move at first, but she lifted her hand to his cheek and held it gently, and kissed him a little more sensually, and his mouth which had been firm, softened slowly beneath hers; his lips parted and he reached for her and kissed her in return.