Falling Fast by Lucy Kevin

his hand on hers with something akin to alarm. Her pulse beat rapidly in her throat and her neck flushed. Brandon wanted to sweep the plates and glasses off of the table.
    He wanted to tell the cameramen to go home, so that he could make love to her on the fine linen tablecloth.
    All too aware of the cameras, he reluctantly removed his hand from hers, picked up his silverware and forced himself to eat an asparagus spear.
    Alexa surfaced from her daze and reached for her wine glass, downing the rest of her chardonnay in one large gulp. The second she put down the empty glass, a waiter rushed over and refilled it for her.
    A permanent flush now on her cheeks, she too picked up her silverware and began to eat, not looking at Brandon, not saying a word. After every bite, she took a large sip of wine, and her movements became less mechanical and more fluid.
    Several silent minutes later, she set down her silverware on her clean plate, leaned back against her chair and said, “Yum. That was delicious.”
    She seemed relaxed, suddenly, and Brandon was glad for it, even if the wine was to thank for it, and not him. The rest of the meal moved swiftly as they talked about their favorite movies and books and places in San Francisco.
    “Do you know what I like to do sometimes when I’m alone in my bedroom?” Alexa said.
    Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
    “I can’t wait to find out,” Brandon said. He already knew exactly what he’d like to do with Alexa in her bedroom. First, he’d slowly remove her clothes, kissing every inch of skin as it was revealed. Then he’d lay her back on the bed and...

    Alexa’s voice brought him back from his sensual daydream. Lowering her voice slightly, she shared her secret. “I turn on the radio really, really loud and I dance around the room, lip synching to my favorite songs. I love to pretend that I’m a rock star on stage in front of thousands of people.”
    Brandon smiled, thinking about how adorable Alexa would be singing Like A Virgin.
    Especially if she danced around in skimpy lingerie like Madonna did. “Promise me you’ll perform for me sometime soon.”
    Alexa wagged her finger at him playfully and took another large gulp from her wine glass. “Wouldn’t you just love an invitation to my bedroom?” she teased him. “Anyway,” she said, rapidly changing the subject, “right now my favorite song is Old Friends by Simon and Garfunkel. There’s something so wonderfully comforting about seventy-year olds sitting together on the same park bench their whole lives. Old friends, ” she sang slightly off key, “ sat on their...”
    Brandon joined in on the impromptu serenade, loving every minute he spent with Alexa.
    She had become increasingly loquacious with every sip of wine, and as far as he was concerned, she was not only a joy to listen to, but a joy to watch as well.
    He was glad she had such an obvious appreciation for good food. A woman who ate with such relish probably enjoyed lots of earthly pleasures. As she took her first bite of the freshly caught salmon she moaned in pleasure, and Brandon imagined her lying beneath him, moaning in pleasure as he kissed and nipped between her thighs. And then, as she took in a spoonful of the decadent white chocolate mouse, she closed her eyes and said, “I think I’ve just died and gone to heaven.” Brandon laughed and agreed with her, but he hoped a far more potent heaven awaited them both.
    After desert was cleared and a fine bottle of Kopke port wine was opened, Brandon slid back his chair and held out his arm to Alexa. “What do you think about exploring the chateaux?”
    Unsteadily, Alexa rose to her feet. “I’d love to.” Supporting her slim figure with one hand in the middle of her back, Brandon led them back up the steps and into the ballroom.
    “You really do look like a princess.”
    Leaning into him, she lowered her eyes and then raised them to meet his. “That means you must be my prince.”
    Her words slammed