Dinner With The Suits

As they step inside the lavishly decorated dining area, a greeter approaches them with a practiced smile. "Reservations for Stone?" She asks politely, scanning her list.

"Damon Stone," Nathan replies curtly. At the mention of his brother's name, the greeter's demeanor shifts slightly, becoming more deferential.

"Yes, right this way please gentlemen." She leads them across the opulent main floor to a private dining room.

As soon as the greeter opens the double doors leading into the private dining room, the sight of Damon Stone stops Eli dead in his tracks. Time seems to slow as he takes in the breathtaking vision of masculine perfection that is Nathan's older brother.

There, standing near the grand fireplace chatting with a group of impeccably dressed individuals, is Damon.

...His gaze rakes over every inch of Damon's tall, muscular form draped in a tailor-made Armani suit that likely cost more than everything Eli owns combined. The material hugs Damon's broad shoulders and narrow waist, hinting at the sculpted physique underneath.

feels a sudden rush of heat, cheeks flushed as his eyes linger perhaps a bit too long on the tantalizing view before him. Holy... whispers under his breath, quickly catching himself and clearing his throat.

Composes himself just as Damon turns to face them, piercing green eyes locking onto Nathan initially before shifting to appraise Eli with a penetrating stare. Those eyes seem to pierce right through him, sending an unexpected shiver down Eli's spine despite the warm temperature of the room.

Get it together, Eli.

Damon’s eyes lock on his for a moment almost appraisingly, Eli takes a deep steadying breath, trying to calm his suddenly racing heart as Damon strides over to greet them, exuding raw charisma and power with each confident step.

Damon, looking devastatingly handsome, reaches Nathan first. He claps his younger brother on the shoulder firmly, giving it a slight squeeze. "Glad you could make it, Nathan."

Next, Damon turns his intense emerald gaze upon Eli. Up close, the sheer magnetism radiating off the older man is overwhelming. Eli feels pinned in place, hyperaware of every movement as Damon extends a large, strong hand in greeting.

"You must be Eli," Damon says smoothly, voice deep and resonant. "I've heard a lot about Nathan's roommate. Welcome."

Eli feels an electric tingle shoot through him at the brush of Damon's fingers against his palm during the firm handshake, pulse jumping at the contact. Swallows hard, trying to find his tongue.

Oh, um, thanks for having me, Mr. Sto-ne , Damon, stammers slightly, cursing inwardly at his flustered state.

Damon flashes a charming smirk, clearly amused and perhaps even pleased by Eli's flustering. He holds the handshake a beat longer than strictly necessary before releasing Eli's hand.

Please, just call me Damon. No need for

formalities among... new friends, hmm?

Notices Damon's gaze flick briefly to Nathan, seeing the realization dawn followed by a subtle shift in his expression. Whatever flirtatious quip Eli had been about to utter dies on his tongue as Damon speaks next, his rich baritone carefully measured yet still undeniably charming.

“Ah, I'm sure that won't be a problem, Eli. A man who knows what he wants is always refreshing company. But tell me, are you a fan of fine wine and cuisine? Why don’t you both come join the others” Damon leads them to a spot at the table close to him

Damon turns to address the small gathering in the room, his presence commanding immediate attention. "Everyone, thank you for coming tonight. I'm glad we could gather to celebrate our partnership's recent successes."

He gestures elegantly to the table laden with exquisite delicacies and vintage wines. "Please, help yourselves to the offerings. Our chef has prepared a special menu for us tonight."

Damon's emerald eyes glint with mirth and intelligence as he surveys the assembled guests, seemingly unfazed by the weight of

responsibility that comes with his station.

Throughout the evening, Eli finds himself increasingly captivated by Damon's effortless charm and intellect. Despite the initial flutter of attraction, he tries to focus on the engaging conversations around him rather than dwelling on his uncharacteristic distraction with Nathan's brother.

As the dinner progresses, Eli attempts to engage in the various discussions swirling around the table, discussing art, politics, and business ventures. However, he finds his attention constantly drawn back to Damon, hanging onto the older man's every word.

Under the guise of reaching for a hors d'oeuvre, Eli leans in closer to Damon, inhaling subtly.

inhales deeply, catching a hint of Damon's expensive cologne mingled with a purely masculine scent. It makes Eli's head swim slightly, a pleasant buzz warming his veins. Your cologne... it suits you. Sophisticated, assertive. Like you, really.

Damon turns his head to the side subtly lowering his voice Damon leans in incrementally, voice lowered to a intimate rumble meant only for Eli's ears. “And you, Eli, have a knack for compliments that border on boldness. I like that fire in you. It's...intriguing.” his green eyes bore into Eli's baby blues with undisguised interest and perhaps a flicker of heat.

Eli feels a thrill run through him at the low timbre of Damon's voice and the blatant appreciation in his gaze. Emboldened, he decides to push the boundaries just a bit further, a coy smile playing at his lips.

Is intriguing necessarily a bad thing though? he murmurs back, holding Damon's mesmerizing stare. “Some might argue that intrigue is the spice of life. Without it, things can become rather...predictable.”

Raises an eyebrow suggestively. “And I, for one, much prefer excitement over tedium any day.”

Damon's lips curve into a genuine smile at Eli's bold response, clearly entertained by the young man's audacity. He chuckles softly, a rich sound that resonates through Eli. Leaning back slightly, Damon appraises Eli with an appreciative gleam in his eye.

Excitement and unpredictability are certainly...invigorating, he concedes, taking a sip of his wine. “Tell me Eli, what sort of adventures fuel that adventurous spirit of yours?”

smirks, leaning back in his chair and crossing one leg over the other casually. “Well Damon, as you may have gathered, predictability isn't exactly my forte. I'm more of a spontaneous, seize-the-day kinda guy - whether it's hiking trails, jamming out at underground concerts, or... exploring new connections with fascinating people”.

fixes Damon with a meaningful look, letting the implications hang in the air between them. “I believe life's too short not to chase thrills and take chances on the exciting possibilities. Don't you agree?”

Damon's eyes darken with intrigue at Eli's brazen words, a muscle twitching subtly in his jaw as he considers the young man's impassioned declaration. He sets his glass down deliberately, folding his hands on the pristine white tablecloth as he leans in once more, voice dropped to a husky murmur.

“Chances can be exhilarating...but also risky. One must tread carefully lest they burn bridges or strain relationships beyond repair. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Or so I've learned in my years.”

meets Damon's intense gaze unflinchingly, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Oh, I'm well acquainted with risk, Damon. After all, fortune favors the bold, doesn't she?”

unconsciously licks his lower lip, drawing Damon's gaze briefly. “Besides, the greatest regrets in life often stem from the chances not taken. Imagine if you'd played it safe all these years no groundbreaking deals, no empire built on daring moves...”

pauses meaningfully before continuing in a pitched whisper..

“No captivating encounters like this one here today” holds Damon's gaze, letting the loaded statement linger in the charged space between them before breaking away with a playful wink.

“But hey, that's just my two cents! Probably easier said than done for someone with the weight of a billion-dollar empire resting on those broad shoulders, huh?”gestures expansively before plucking a ripe strawberry from a nearby fruit platter and popping it between his soft pink lips, relishing the burst of sweet juice.

“Mmm... delicious!”

notices how Damon watches intently as Eli savors the succulent berry, his own tongue darting out to wet his lips reflexively. Seizes the opportunity to press further, emboldened by liquid courage and the crackling tension.