Mr. Big(33)

“How…” she tried to ask, but he just pulled out her chair and gave her a wink.

“I thought we’d have a nice dinner up here. You enjoyed Central Park with me so much that I thought you might like it up here too.”

“I love it,” she answered with a wide grin as she took the seat he offered her. He sat near her at the table and reached for the bottle of champagne chilling in the bucket beside the table. He popped the cork and poured each of them a glass of it, and lifted his to her in a salute.

Mia loved the bubbles as they cascaded over her lips and tongue, and she grinned thinking about how the night was starting out. It was overflowing with romance, and she was sure that this was going to be the night that he finally made love with her. She could win the challenge, and then she could go to Italy for a long visit.

The only thing she hadn’t figured out was how she was ever going to get him off of her mind. He had somehow lodged himself in it firmly, and it didn’t matter what she did, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him, or dreaming of him. Mia hoped deep down that after the challenge was won, he would fade from her thoughts, but as she sat there with him, sipping their champagne and talking, she began to wonder if she really did want all of what they were sharing together to end when she had reached her goal.

A waiter appeared through the doorway and began bringing them their meal. Mia watched in awe as each course was brought in separately, and each one proved to be better than the last. She was certain that somehow she must be dreaming. The soft strains of a violin sounded and she turned to see a violinist with his instrument standing near the doorway of the gazebo, playing just for them.

When the meal was over and the table was cleared, Alexander took her hand and led her out of the gazebo back into the garden on the rooftop. He wrapped his arms around her and began to dance with her to the music that the violinist played. As he held her close to him, she closed her eyes and breathed him in. His scent was the same as it had been the first night that they had danced together, and it filled her mind with all the sweet memories of that night as they made new memories together, dancing on the rooftop together.

As the music played, he nuzzled his mouth close to her ear and brushed his lips as delicately as a feather over her skin. She drew in her breath and a smile formed on her lips as she closed her eyes and let her head fall back. Every place that his lips touched began to send waves of heat through her and with every kiss she wanted more. His mouth moved down the side of her neck until he reached her shoulder, and then he lifted his chin and brought his mouth to meet hers, pressing his lips against hers and tasting her softly and tenderly.

Alexander slid both of his hands to her back and pressed against it, drawing her snugly against him, and as he did so, she grew breathless, wishing that there was nothing between them. His kiss deepened and from deep in his chest a soft groan sounded, making her heart beat just a little faster. She let herself believe that this was going to be the night that they would finally be together, and anticipation began to burn through her.

“Mia….” He whispered her name against her lips as his mouth moved over hers. Her lips sucked and pulled at his sensually and he breathed her name again. “Mia….” A moment later he lifted his mouth from hers just a little way and gazed into her eyes as he held her close. “I’ve tried my best to resist you, to wait until we know each other better, and you just don’t make it easy at all. Being around you, being with you is becoming like a drug to me. I think about you so often when we are apart, and I just can’t seem to get you out of my mind.”

His confession made her smile. She was relieved that all of her efforts hadn’t been in vain and that she had just as much of an effect on him as he had on her. His hands moved from her back to her face and he cupped it, his expression growing serious.

“I know you’ve wanted to explore intimacy with me, but we held off. I don’t think I can hold back any longer. I don’t think I can wait to be with you. I want you to stay the night with me tonight. Stay here with me, make love with me…” He trailed off, his eyes pleading finally for what his body had needed with her, and what he had denied them both up until then.

Fire melted its way through her belly and thighs, spreading all throughout her body with a speed and intensity that she had never felt before with him or anyone else. She smiled at him and leaned up to kiss his mouth. “Yes… Alexander, yes,” she said quietly, and he let his breath out in a gush of relief. He kissed her in return for a long moment and then took her by the hand and led her back down the spiral staircase and away from the rooftop.