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"Are you always this romantic with your girlfriends?"
"I told you. I don't have girlfriends."
"That was before I learned you were the CEO," she says, giving me a sassy look that says,How naïve do you think I am?"And even if you weren't... look at you."
I chuckle. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Have you heard of the phrase 'silver fox'?"
"That's a euphemism for a man past his prime, if I'm not mistaken."
"You are mistaken," she says fiercely. "You're straight out of one of my romance books." She lowers her voice when she glances at the nearby tables, her cheeks flushing.
Her fingers move quickly over her phone.
Sera: It's like you climbed out of the pages of my latest read and now you're here to turn my world upside down.
I smirk and reply.
Luke: That's exactly why I'm here.
Our steaks interrupt our conversation. We thank the waiter, and then Sera's stomach makes a gurgling sound. She looks mortified, placing her hands on her abdomen.
"I'm so sorry," she says bashfully.
I smile. "Sorry for what? For being human? You don't need to be ashamed with me."
"In my books, stomachs don't make noises like horror monsters."
"It's just your curvy body telling meyou need more food."
She laughs, her smile radiant.
"Seriously," I continue. "Don't be shy."
"I still don't believe you don't date."
I shrug. "I'm busy; I've never looked at someone before who makes me think I'd happily sacrifice my entire fortune. Anyway, eat up. I've got a surprise for you after this."
"A surprise?"
I glance at the nearby table, then text her.
Luke: I know how badly you want those steamy books of yours to become a reality.
She bites her lip, which is a dangerously tempting gesture.
Luke: When you bite your lip like that, it takes every ounce of restraint I possess to hold myself back. I want to devour you instead of the steak, to feast on your beautiful body, to kiss and touch you. I want to make you bite your lip as if you can't contain the pleasure building inside you. I want to own you, Sparkplug, every curvy, perfect inch of your body.
As she reads the text, she bites her lip again. She's doing it instinctively at first, but then she notices me watching her. It's intoxicating when she realizes the effect she has on me and bites down more deliberately, widening her eyes in pleasure, deliberately tempting me.
Under the table, my body responds, aching with desire.
She laughs when I cut a huge chunk of steak and stuff it into my mouth.
"In a rush?" she asks with a coy smile.
Chapter Seven