Grounded

all he needed was to get her naked and under himto get all of this, this … emotiona l crap out of his system.
    Having come to that decision, Dion stepped back and looked at himself again. There, that was all he needed. A good, long talk with himself to figure out the problem and to figure out a workable solution. After all, wasn’t that what he did? Find solutions for problems?
    He exhaled; satisfied he would have it worked out of his system by the time this night was over. He went back into the bedroom and dressed. Black slacks, black turtleneck with a black blazer thrown over it, and black shoes on his feet. Against all that black clothing, his blonde hair looked paler, his eyes that much darker. She’d be a fool to turn this down, he thought, and smiled. Greek god or no, he was hella hot!

~ 5 ~
Seduction
     
    Holding her chair, Dion seated Patty at a table covered in white lace, set with silver candlesticks holding tall, white tapered candles that flickered carelessly in the breeze. The waiter poured champagne into delicate crystal flutes for them both, and served the meal on elegant china, then discreetly disappeared. From a distance, violin music floated on the air, mingling with the soft scent of the roses Dion had given her. He’d planned their dinner on the balcony of his room to the last detail while she getting ready, and from the look on her face, he knew he’d made the perfect choice.
    "I can’t believe you did all of this," Patty exclaimed. "It’s so perfect, so wonderful. So much better than a restaurant."
    "I’m glad you like it," he replied and poured them more champagne.
    Conversation was light as they ate anti-pasta, followed by channel lobster, and for dessert, there was zuppa ingles, a wonderful rum-soaked cake layered with pastry cream.
    Dion found himself hanging on her every word, noting her every reaction. He couldn’t get enough of her, and he wanted to know everything about her.
    "I was so average growing up," Patty told him as she licked cream from her fingers. "My dad was a pharmacist, my mother was his assistant. They were best friends and I don’t ever remember them fighting. We lived in the same house where my father was born and I went to the same schools he went to, and when I was a teenager, I worked in the pharmacy after school. Then I began keeping the books for them, doing the taxes, so when I was ready for college, I didn’t even have to think about what I wanted to do with my life. I majored in business."
    She paused to drink deeply from her champagne, and Dion could sense a change in her mood. He brushed his hand over hers, squeezing it reassuringly.
    "When I was a junior at Columbia, my father had a massive coronary and died. I missed a full semester so I could stay with my mom, although she kept telling me to go back to school. Finally, I felt like if I didn’t go back, I never would, so… " Her voice trailed off.
    She took another drink from her glass. "I went back, finished the semester I’d missed then took summer classes to make up for lost time. I graduated with my class and my mom was there to watch me get my diploma."
    "I bet she was proud of you," he said.
    Patty nodded, but a tear slipped down her cheek. "She was. She died two months later."
    "I’m sorry. I didn’t know," he said and held her hand in his.
    Wiping her cheek with the linen napkin, she smiled softly. "It’s all right. It was a long time ago."
    "Even so, it can’t be easy to lose your parents. You don’t have brothers or sister?"
    "No, I’m an only child. How about you? What’s your story, Dion?"
    He almost choked, but managed to force a smile. "Nothing special," he replied. "I have one older brother and my parents are still around, though I don’t see my father very much."
    "They’re divorced?"
    "No," he said and chuckled. "Actually, they were never married."
    "Oh, that’s pretty common, you know. It’s no big deal."
    Dion laughed out loud. "If you only knew my parents," he began then stopped and shook his head. "Dance with me."
    It wasn’t a question. He stood, still holding her hand, and pulled her to her feet.
    The music soared and the lights from inside dimmed. Beneath the clear skies and a full moon that seemed to appear from nowhere, Patty felt as if she was floating. Her breasts were pressed against his muscular as he held her gently, yet securely, to him. She felt warm and safe and breathless and calm and excited and tingly and hot and… so hot.
    Everything about her