Dinner For One

...Cassandra POV...

Why would Christian Caine not want to see me naked? Is there something about me that he does not find attractive? Does he find my breasts to be too small or perhaps even too big? Or maybe he finds that I am too skinny? I do not know why, but I feel insulted.

"Why, Christian?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you want me to stop?"

"Because my interest is in you and not your body Cassandra."

"Okay…then what now? What do we do for another five minutes?"

"Put your clothes on and come sit next to me."

Without even hesitating, I do as he says. Does Christian Caine like me for who I am and not what I look like?  Or is this just all part of his game? Whichever one it is, right now, this is definitely a game I want to be played in.

I watch him as he watches me slip on my dress, he is admiring my body, but do I turn him on? I know I am doing something, for he is moving a slight bit uncomfortable in his chair.

"Cassandra, please stop doing that."

"Do what, Christian?"

"You are teasing me to see if you get a reaction."

"So, it must be working then?"

"My dear, you have no idea; now please, will you come and sit next to me?"

"You promise you will behave?" I look at him questionable before I sit down.

"I will be on my best behavior." But the wicked smile on his face does not convince me.

...Christian POV...

She is driving me insane doing that thing with her dress. She is scrunching it between her fingers and slowly, but ever so slowly, pulling it inch by inch over her breasts. And do not forget the way she is swaying her hips. I might not want her to take those black lace panties off, but god knows, I so want to be in them. If she thinks that she is not turning me on, she is seriously mistaken.

All I want from her is to come to sit next to me. Even if we sit in silence for the next five minutes, I just want to be next to her and breathe the same air as her. "So, will you have dinner with me?"

She looks down shyly at her hands and starts twirling her fingers in and around each other. "I don't know Christian; I really do not go out with the guys that come here?"

"And I guess you don't kiss them either?"

"Well, you were the exception, and you kind of took the kiss for yourself."

"Then why not make me the exception again?"

"How many exceptions should I make for you?"

I reach to take her tiny hand which trembles as I touch her. I wrap my fingers around and turn her hand to face palm up. She has long elegant fingers with perfectly manicured nails; how I would love for those to drag down my back. I see her want to pull away, but something makes her stop.

"What are you doing, Christian?"

"I am feeling you, Cassandra."

I place my index finger in her palm and run little circles. As I run the tips of my fingers slowly up her forearm, the touch causes her body to shiver. The strap of her dress falls off over her shoulder; I drag my fingers further until I reach it. When I curl my finger in it, I can hear her whimper.

"Christian."

I slip it back over her shoulder; I fun my fingers up her neck and gently over her cheek. Then I slide them down until they touch her soft, deep cherry red lips. "I am going to kiss you."

"I thought you are going to be on your best behavior?"

"This is my best behavior."

"Remind me next time to ask."

"Ssshhh Cassandra, you are wasting our five minutes."

"But what if Mike or someone comes in here? I am going to be in trouble."

"Then, I will make it really quick."

My hand gently moves over to her hip and lays there for a moment. I pull her dress up to her waist; I slightly slip my fingers under the seams and rub her exposed skin. I drive my fingers into her thighs and pull her into me closer. She knots her fingers in my shirt and pulls me in even further.

My gaze falls to her soft, supple lips. They are parted and full, just waiting to be kissed. A weak gasp escapes her lips, and she softly whispers my name.

"Christian."

I clasp my hands on either side of her face. Never before has my name ever sound so wonderful as when she says it.

Our lips crash together like colliding stars; the kiss obliterates my every thought. Her once parted lips are now melted into mine. They move to the rhythm of a perfect waltz. Hot, fiery, passionate, and demanding. My hands grow possessive in their touch, and they start wandering up her body. Closer and closer to her breasts, ever so slow and crawling. She bites gently down into my bottom lip. The sensation fuels my hunger. In one swift movement, I have her pinned onto my lap.

"Christian."

"Goddammit! I am so sorry, Cassandra."

She quickly slides off my lap and straightens her dress while I have to chuck my hands in my pockets to adjust my ever-mounting hardon.

"I think our five minutes is up."

"There is no way I can have you for five minutes longer?"

"Sorry, but there is that little thing called rules. You know, that one that you so like to break."

"Hahaha. You make me sound like such a bad boy."

"But is that not what you are?"

"My dear Cassandra, please do not believe everything that you hear. Now, will you please tell me that you will join me for dinner?"

"When would you like to do this dinner thing?"

"What about tonight?"

I place my thumb under her cheek and turn her head to face me. Fear and uncertainty are hiding behind those eyes. She might be smiling, but it does not deceive me; somewhere in there lies hurt and pain.

"I want to get to know you. Please. I want to spend time with you away from here, from this place. Just me and you."

"Why me, Christian?"

"Why not?"

"I will think about it."

...Cassandra...

As I watch him leave the booth, my heart skips a beat. To think Christian Caine, the big powerful man wants me. But something about this seems wrong; there is something more to this; he is hiding something from me. The question is, do I want to find out?

I make my way from the booth and head straight for the dressing room. I don't know if I can do this. Every part of me screams yes, but there is that one tiny one called common sense that says no, no, no!

I am so deep in my own thoughts that I do not even see Jessie come walking up to me. "Whoa there, girl, do you want to run me off the ground here? Where is that pretty little head at?"

"Perhaps with a certain somebody in the booth?" Tammy winks at me while she smiles. "You got to tell us what happened in there."

"He kissed me…again."

"And?" Jessie tilts her head as she is asking me.

"I was sort of on his lap."

"Well, hello," Jessie playfully slaps me on the shoulder. "That is why they call it a lap dance."

"No, that happened after," I begin to explain. "When he kissed me, he pulled me on top of his lap, but like really pulled me."

"Don't tell me he stopped," Tammy asks as I continue to tell them about my encounter in the booth with Christian.

"Yes, but that was not the first time."

"Wait!" Jessie excitedly exclaims. "There was a first?"

"It is a long story. The thing is, he wants me to go to dinner with him."

"I hope you said yes?"

"I told him I would think about it." I look at Tammy as she asks.

"Girl, are you crazy?" Jessie slaps me against my head. "Of course, you should."

"I don't know Jess; something is off. I don't want to take a chance and get hurt again."

"Oh, Cass, please don't think that Christian is going to be like Damian," Tammy says to me reassuring, trying to take my mind away from the horrible memories.

"That man was a damn monster" Jessie jumps in to agree. "You are far better off with Christian."

"I guess going for dinner would not hurt. Actually, you are right," I say excitedly. "I think I am going to go tell him."

...Christian POV...

I was so close, so close, and I would have touched her. With every breath I took, my hand moved over the smooth silk of her dress, growing ever so close to her breasts. Every inch of my erection was hot and bulging, and so ready to take her. I have seen her naked so many times before but never once have I wanted her like I want her now. There is no denying that she is the one that I desire, and I shall do whatever it takes to make her mine.

But I am ripped from my thoughts by my phone ringing. As I look to whom it is, my blood already starts boiling, not that boiling way as it would for Cassandra, but more that of annoyance. I put my best fake face on before I answer it.

"Hi, Veronica. It is so good to hear from you."

"Carson, my love, how are you?"

"Quite well until now; what is it that I can do for you, Veronica?"

"I am just phoning to make sure you remember dinner. I know you are in that godforsaken strip club again."

"Veronica, I do not recall setting any dinner plans with you."

"Do I always need to remind you? We set this up last week when we had dinner last."

"Yes, Veronica, we did have dinner, but only because my father set it up."

"So, are you saying you are not having dinner with me tonight?"

"I can't have dinner with you, Veronica; I have other plans."

"You do not want me to phone your father and tell him you have canceled?"

"Veronica." I hesitate before I say something I might regret.

"I thought so; I will see you later, Christian."

I slam my phone down on the table and curse loud enough for everyone to hear me. Veronica just knows how to get under my skin. If she thinks she can threaten me with my father, then she has another thing coming.

Just as I want to get a bouncer to go find Cassandra, I see Jessie come walking out of the dressing room. "Hey, Jess. Can you call Cassandra?"

Jessie turns to me, but there is a clear look of utter disgust written all over her face. "She is not here. She has left."

"But she is supposed to have dinner with me. I don't understand?"

"Christian?" She stands, folding her hands in front of me. "You do not understand? Is that going to be your best excuse?"