Elvie
When Cassian texted me earlier in the day to be ready before seven, I was literally anticipating. I had the thought that it could be just a normal outing just like the last time where he took me to an art gallery.
But my wildly excited self had still spent a frantic twenty minutes panicking over what to wear, tried my best and wore something that wasn’t too flashy or overdressed.
And now, standing in front of one of the most breathtaking buildings I had ever seen, I couldn’t help but feel butterflies dancing in my stomach. The stunning interior of the restaurant left me in awe.
Cassian’s warm hand settled against the small of my back, his long fingers pressing softly through the fabric of my dress guiding me forward.
"Come on,"
He led me past the main dining area, where a few people were quietly enjoying their meals and drinks towards the elevator tucked away in the corner of the lobby. He reached over and pressed the button. As the elevator doors slid shut with a soft click, I looked up at the polished mirrored walls. "This place is beautiful," I whispered, turning my head to look at him.
Instead of responding, Cassian pulled at my waist towards him my palm instinctively landing on his chest. His other hand slid down, settling over my behind, giving the soft flesh a tight, possessive squeeze that made my breath hitch.
His gaze locked onto mine, heavy and intense. "Not as beautiful as you, little birdie."
Those words sent a wild flock of butterflies somersaulting right in my stomach. A sudden wave of intense heat rushed straight down between my legs, making me squeeze my thighs together. This man seriously knew the exact right buttons to push to completely mess with my body.
I quickly bit back a foolish smile, trying my best to lighten the sudden tension that was making my heart race out of control. His hand on my waist felt like absolute fire burning through the fabric of my dress.
"Which... floor are we heading to?" I asked, my voice coming out a little breathless.
Cassian let out a low hum deep in his chest. His hand shifted from my behind, his fingers sliding down to gently part my legs a little wider. "The top floor."
I bit my bottom lip hard, suppressing a moan that tried to spill out as he slowly teased the inner part of my thigh. I told myself I should pull back, but instead, my body betrayed me. I leaned even closer into him, silently begging for his hand to keep touching me, to keep driving me crazy right through the material of my dress.
Cassian’s head dipped down, his warm lips hovering right against my ear. "You have no idea how badly I want to rip this dress straight off your body right now," he whispered, his hot breath brushing my skin as his voice turned dangerously dark. "I just want my hands all over you."
His deep voice wasn’t even supposed to be ticklish, but a sudden surge of excitement bubbled up, and a soft giggle escaped my lips.
That little moment gave me a sudden burst of confidence. Even though I was completely aroused and practically aching to feel his fingers inside me, I knew I needed to take control before we completely lost our minds in the elevator.
I tilted my head up, closing the distance until my face was just an inch away from his. My eyes dipped down to stare directly at his lips before I flicked my gaze back up to his dark, hungry eyes. "Well..." I whispered softly, a teasing smirk touching my lips. "You’ll just have to keep your hands to yourself. At least until we’re out of here."
With a quick step back, I pulled away from him completely, smoothing down the front of my dress and adjusting my hair.
Cassian’s jaw clenched tight, the muscles flexing hard against his skin as his eyes burned into mine. My gaze slid lower, catching the heavy, unmistakable bulge straining against the front of his trousers.
My throat went completely dry.
"You are definitely getting spanked for teasing me like that," Cassian growled low in his throat.
Right then, a soft chime rang through the small space, and the elevator came to a smooth stop as the doors slid open to our floor. As we stepped out, we were immediately greeted by a young lady dressed in a black and white uniform. "Good evening, Sir," she said with a warm, professional smile, bowing her head slightly. "Your reserved private suite is ready for you. Right this way, please."
She led us down a quiet, dimly lit hallway framed by elegant wood paneled walls, stopping at a door with VIP 3 written at the top of the door. She pushed the door open and stepped aside to let us in.
My eyes widened as I stepped past her, completely losing my breath. The inside looked less like a standard restaurant and more like an exclusive lounge. A plush leather sofa sat in the room and across the wide table in front of the sofa was an unbelievable feast. Platters of piping hot dishes, beautiful garnishes, and incredible aromas filled the air, making my mouth instantly water.
My stomach decided to let out a quiet, embarrassing rumble, reminding me just how empty it was.
I turned my head to look at Cassian, who was standing beside me with his hands casually stuffed into his pockets, watching my reaction with a quiet, satisfied look on his face.
"Did you... did you plan all of this?" I breathed out, still taking in the sight.
A gentle, amused smile broke across his features. "Come, sit down, little birdie."
He walked me over to the sofa, and I sank into the soft leather right next to him. I leaned forward, inspecting the spread. Some of the delicacies I could easily recognize, but a lot of them were entirely new to me—dishes I had only ever seen in glossy luxury magazines or TV shows.
A soft knock came through the door followed by it sliding open. A young man dressed in a vest stepped inside carrying a silver ice bucket with a glass bottle nestled inside.
"Good evening, sir," the waiter said respectfully, bowing his head toward Cassian. "I have the vintage wine you requested."
"Thank you,"
The waiter expertly popped the cork, pouring the rich liquid into two glasses, and setting them neatly on the table. With another polite bow, he quietly retreated, closing the sliding door behind him and leaving us in complete, undisturbed privacy.
I stared at the quiet room, the candlelit food, and the glowing wine glasses, suddenly feeling a tight lump form in the back of my throat.
Cassian turned to look at me, tilting his head slightly. "Why? Are you suddenly short of words?"
His quiet question made a sudden wave of emotion wash over me, making my chest ache in the sweetest, most overwhelming way.
I had never been treated like this in my entire life. I was used to being the girl in the background. I had never experienced this kind of premium, effortless care.
Being taken somewhere so quiet, so protected, and so luxurious... it felt like a dream.
How in the hell was I supposed to not fall completely, hopelessly in love with this man?
Cassian’s gaze softened as if he could read every single thought racing through my mind.
"Let’s eat, Elvie. I’m sure you’re famished," he said softly, reaching out to hand me a pair of utensils. "I ordered a bit of everything so you could try each and every dish before..."
He trailed off, a slow, dangerous smirk curving up the corners of his lips as his eyes flicked down to my mouth, then to my chest, and back up again.
Realizing exactly what—or who—he was implying he wanted to eat afterward, my cheeks instantly flared with a fiery red blush.
"Cassian!" I gasped out, reaching over and giving his thigh a light, playful slap.
He just let out a low, rumbling chuckle, his hand sliding smoothly over my knee to pull me even closer against his side.
**
A small, happy sigh escaped my lips as I took another slow sip of the rich wine. It tasted incredible—smooth, fruity, and warm as it slid down my throat. In fact, it was so good that I had already completely emptied my first glass and was halfway through my second before I even realized it.
I couldn’t lie, the food was absolutely delicious. I had tried a little bit of almost every single dish on the table, my stomach happily full. But as I set my glass down, a realization suddenly hit me. Cassian had barely touched a single plate. He had spent the entire time watching me eat, casually sipping from his own glass.
I rested my elbow on the armrest, leaning my cheek against my palm as I squinted playfully up at him. "You know what..." I murmured, pointing a finger at his plate, "You didn’t even eat anything."
Cassian’s lips curved into a soft, amused smile. "Uhm... the goal was for you to eat and be full, little birdie."
"Well, it’s way too much for just me," I said, dramatically swinging my free hand through the air with a wide grin. "But I really, really love this wine."
Before I could bring the glass back to my lips, Cassian reached over and smoothly snatched it right out of my fingers.
"Yeah, you clearly do," he said, setting the glass far out of my reach on the edge of the table. "But that’s enough before you get tipsy. I seriously doubt you can hold your liquor."
I instantly puffed out my cheeks in a small pout, staring at the distant glass. "Hey! I want to drink more."
I knew I wasn’t drunk—not really. Maybe just a little lightheaded and warm, but mostly I was just intoxicated by the feeling of the night. This entire experience felt completely ecstatic. The effortless care he threw at my feet... he was making me feel so special, so cherished, in a way I had yearned for my whole life.
"No, little birdie," Cassian shook his head.
"Give it back!" I giggled, leaning across his torso to stretch my arm toward his, trying to reach for the glass he held up high above his head.
"Elvie, stop reaching," he growled lightly, holding me steady with his other arm around my waist.
I kept trying to grab for it, but as I wrestled against his broad chest, my gaze dropped to his lips. Right then, a sudden, powerful wave of raw emotion hit me so hard.
The playful laughter dissolved instantly, replaced by a deep, aching tenderness that made my eyes go glossy with unshed tears.
I stopped fighting him. Instead, I shifted my body, swinging my legs over his thighs until I was fully straddling his lap, my dress bunching up around my hips.
I reached up with both hands, cupping his strong jawline. My thumb stroked over his cheekbone as I looked deeply into his eyes. "What am I going to do without you, Cassian?" I whispered, my voice trembling with raw vulnerability.
Cassian immediately let go of the wine glass, setting it down on the table before wrapping his arms around my waist. He brought his hands up to cup my face in return, his thumb brushing over my face.
"You’ll never have to worry about that," he murmured, pulling my face down until my skin melted into his while his hot lips came crashing down on mine.