2

Before long, I found myself drifting into fantasies about Mr. Tall and Dark. In my mind, I pictured those powerful arms encircling me and that commanding mouth pressed against mine. I pictured myself throwing my arms around his sturdy neck and drawing him in close. I found myself wondering whether his male anatomy would prove as pleasing as the rest of him was to behold.

It seemed our small contest of stares had taken on a momentum all its own. The only pauses I allowed myself were to make some kind of connection with the man sitting across from me at dinner.

Not once did the man's dinner companions appear to register how little attention he gave them. Amongst themselves they chatted and laughed. Mr. Tall and Dark simply kept his gaze fixed directly on me. Every now and then I caught him saying a word or two to the group. The instant his lips began to move, every other conversation at the table died out. A man who clearly held some position of authority, I concluded.

"..did you live, Elizabeth?" asked the man seated beside me at dinner. Because I had been gazing back at Mr. Tall and Dark, I caught only the second half of the question. Jeff's baby blues were fixed squarely on me, and I had not the faintest idea how to respond. What I ended up saying was, "On the east side." That answer must have passed muster, since Jeff grinned and launched into a speech about how property values on the east side had climbed considerably.

I shook my head and stared down at my half eaten dinner. The finest steakhouse in town, and I cannot eat my meal because I must devote every moment to stealing glances at the mystery man. With a sigh of revulsion, I drove my fork down into the steak. I'm not even noticing the date I'd been looking forward to so much. I raised my eyes to Jeff, who kept rambling about how great a 15 year mortgage is. He seemed pleased, so I must be nodding at the appropriate moments.

A man who understood mortgages was not what I truly needed. What I truly needed was a man to slide between my legs and do something. By then, just about anything would have done. Even the clumsy groping of my high school boyfriends from the last time I dated was starting to seem worth repeating.

'No, no, no,' I scolded myself. Dating exists for marriage, and that is the reason I am here.

I lifted my gaze and felt a sharp pang of disappointment. Naturally Jeff was still sitting there, but Mr. Tall and Dark had vanished. Well, at least I could now give Jeff my attention, aside from that maddening dampness in my underwear. I shifted around in my chair, hunting for a position in which I didn't feel as though I were seated in a puddle.

"Um, excuse me Jeff, I just need to use the women's facilities," I mumbled with a smile. Jeff smiled back, rose to his feet, and gestured toward the way we had entered. He fired off a string of directions that went straight in one ear and out the other.

I made my way through the restaurant, silently berating myself for squandering a perfect dating opportunity with Jeff. Instead, here I am flirting with some guy I'll never lay eyes on again. I tried to unwind as I walked, but Mr. Tall and Dark had left me feeling unsettled.

I soon found myself disoriented within the labyrinth of rooms and came to the realization that I had lost my way. In one corner, a cluster of waitresses stood together chatting animatedly, so I paused to request directions. They practically tripped over one another in their eagerness to point me toward the restrooms. 'Well, this establishment was reputed to be famous for its service,' I mused silently.

The restroom was genuinely a showcase of art deco design, featuring separate stalls for total privacy along with a big mirror in the center for grooming. Standing before the elaborate golden mirror, I silently berated myself while tousling my curls. Not that this was doing anything to alter my appearance, I observed.

All at once, I found that I was no longer by myself. Pressing me back into one of the private stalls, Mr. Tall and Dark shut the door behind him. I had been mistaken — not tall, but enormous. His hands seized my upper arms forcefully and pinned me to the wall. A small squeak escaped me as my back met the tile, and I lifted my gaze to him. His expression gave nothing away while his fingertips brushed gently across my cheekbone. "This is the ladies room," was the only thing I managed to think of saying. A faint smile crossed his lips as his thumb rested against my lower lip.

At such close range, the man gave off an incredible scent, reminiscent of leather and spice. He stood near enough that I could sense the warmth radiating from his chest. This was terrible, truly terrible. Then the realization struck me: I was about to be raped in the women's restroom.

I pressed both palms against his chest and pushed with all my strength. He did not move an inch. I parted my lips to scream, and his mouth covered mine just as fast. He tasted of wine, a rich and heady red. His tongue moved inside my mouth, sliding against mine. I had almost no experience when it came to kissing, yet even I could tell when it was done properly. Hesitantly, I touched my tongue to his, and a low groan was my reward. I delighted in the sensation of his large, warm hands cupping my face and supporting my head. It struck me that I was no longer resisting him.

With his seductive mouth he lured me in, pinning me to the wall with his body. The man was resolute, and boldly his hands traveled down my body, past my waist, until they settled on the curve of my backside. He began to stroke softly, gripping a handful and then letting go. Gradually, my skirt was riding up and gathering at my waist. My fingers had closed over the warm, firm muscles of his chest. Pectoralis muscles, I corrected myself, as my eyes snapped open.

'I am a doctor. I am sitting in a fine restaurant, searching for a man to marry. I am not so desperate that I would do it with a stranger in a bathroom,' I told myself.

Jerking my head away quickly, I shoved him once more. He chuckled and pressed his face into my neck, nibbling at the skin. His five o'clock shadow was rough, and a shiver ran through me.

At last, he managed to completely shift my skirt aside, leaving it gathered up around my waist. I could feel his hands sliding beneath my underwear, easing it out of the way. The damp silk slid down my legs and landed in an ungraceful heap at my feet. Mr. Tall and Dark seized the chance to grab my ass with real intent. A low groan rose in his throat as he fondled handfuls of my backside. I kept pushing against his chest, though it did no good.

"Stop this right now," I said, though it came out far more breathless than I had meant it to.

He appeared not to notice, sliding one hand around to cover my now fully exposed mound. His lips traced a wet path down my neck, kissing and sucking at the sensitive skin.

What I intended to say next was, I'm going to scream, but what actually came out when he slid his fingers between my moist lower lips was something else entirely. His rough fingers were nothing if not exploratory. They traced the whole length of my slit before playing softly over that tender, ready bundle of nerves. It was heavenly. He touched me with a skill I had never known before.

I stepped out of my useless underwear and opened my legs wider to give him easier access. Without thinking, I began running my hands up and down his muscular chest. Bringing his mouth back to mine, I kissed him hard, thrusting my tongue inside and tasting him. His fingers kept flicking and rubbing, sliding down my labia to pause right at the entrance to my womanhood, then starting the circuit all over again. Drawing back from my kiss-swollen lips, he gazed down into my eyes, watching my arousal with unmistakable pride.

I was unraveling fast. My hips shifted back and forth within his broad hands, entirely governed by them. Caught up in the feelings, I pressed my pelvis against his fingers, craving far more. I ran my hands through the hair at the back of his neck, savoring the sensation of the firm, smooth muscles underneath.

Ending our silent standoff, he leaned down and closed his mouth around a nipple, shirt and all. I completely lost control. Groaning and shuddering as his fingers barely entered me, the orgasm was absolutely mind-blowing.

My legs went weak, and my breath came out in quick, shallow gasps. My pale skin was burning, and I knew the flush on it was unmistakable. He pressed himself against me, his forehead resting on top of my head. I couldn't tell whether I felt humiliated until he put his fingers in his mouth and sucked them. That was all it took.