Seized By Seduction

Randi nodded. She always enjoyed hearing a good love story. “Are your grandparents still living in Florida?”

He shook his head. “No, they both passed away years ago.”

Then, as if he wanted to change the subject, he asked, “Want to grab something to eat before we take the trolley back to our cars?”

Instead of driving either of their cars, they had taken one of the DC sightseeing tour trolleys. It was great since it allowed them to hop on and off at various sites. “Yes. That would be nice.”

It was getting close to five, and she had gotten hungry. Other than grabbing a few snacks from vending machines, they hadn’t eaten a meal since breakfast. When she left that morning, she’d told everyone she was meeting a friend for breakfast. After agreeing to extend her time with Quasar, she had texted Haywood that she wouldn’t be returning until around six or so that evening. Other than telling her to enjoy herself, no one asked the identity of the friend, and she hadn’t provided any information.

“How about you suggesting a place we can grab a bite to eat this time?” Quasar asked.

She smiled up at him. “What about Marlon’s Seafood? Their crab cakes are to die for.”

He chuckled. “So you’ve got a taste for seafood, huh?”

It was on the tip of her tongue to confess that what she really had a taste for was him, but she figured that would be too scandalous. Her body had felt like it was in heat most of the day. Just being with Quasar Patterson set off intense desire. This was a unique experience for her. One she intended to take full advantage of...within reason. She was a woman, and as far as she was concerned, there was nothing wrong with appreciating a good-looking man who could fill out a pair of jeans like he did.

“Yes,” she said, “I like seafood. Do you?”

“I happen to love seafood. I’d take a bucket of raw oysters over a steak any day,” Quasar said, grinning.

His smile spiked another kind of hunger inside her. Sexual hunger. Whenever she looked at Quasar she felt it. And it didn’t help matters when she recalled that raw oysters were considered an aphrodisiac.

“You won’t be disappointed. Their oysters are amazing,” she said.

“Then let’s head on over there.” He tightened his fingers around hers and began leading her toward the zoo’s exit.

“Auntie Rand! Auntie Rand!”

Randi stopped walking and turned upon recognizing the chorus of voices. Two little girls, namely her nieces, rushed over to her. “Brooklyn! Brynn!” Sliding her hand from Quasar’s, she bent down to give the girls hugs.

She glanced around and saw the group—Haywood, Trey and their sons, Quad and Dev; along with Zach and Anna and their sons, Zach Jr., who was seven, and Noah, who was five. From their expressions, the adults were as surprised to see her as she was to see them. And of course they were curious about the man she was with.

“Hi, guys,” she said, smiling at everyone when they reached her. “I didn’t know you all planned to come to the zoo today.”

“We hadn’t,” Trey said, looking from Randi to Quasar, more than a little bit curious. “It was the kids’ idea.”

“Oh.” Randi knew introductions were in order. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine, Quasar Patterson. Quasar, this is my family.” She then went around and introduced everyone.

Randi didn’t miss how both Trey and Zach kept staring at Quasar as if they knew him from somewhere. She wondered how long it would take before one of them figured it out. She could tell Haywood and Anna had already done so by the way they were smiling all over themselves.

Randi should have known it would be Trey who remembered. “Hey, man, didn’t we see you last night at the Kennedy Center?”

“Yes,” Quasar said. She could tell from the look passing between Trey and Zach that they were recalling their wives drooling over Quasar when she’d pretended nonchalance. And now, after telling them she would be spending the day with a friend, here she was with Quasar, and chances were they’d seen them holding hands. She decided it was time to split.

“Quasar and I need to leave or we’ll be late for dinner.”

“Dinner where?” Trey asked, giving her a look that clearly indicated he was about to flex his big brother muscles.

“Not that it’s any of your business, Ross Donovan Fuller III but Quasar and I are dining at Marlon’s.”

“How long have you lived in DC?” Trey asked Quasar.

“I don’t. I live in Charlottesville. I came into town Friday night for security detail.”

Randi knew Trey was about to get in his interrogation mode, so she said quickly, “I’ll see you guys later.” She then leaned down to give the kids kisses on their cheeks.

“At a reasonable time, we hope,” Zach threw out.

Leave it to Zach to be just as bad as Trey today. Figured. Grinning, she did likewise to Trey and Zach, kissing them on the cheeks and then saying, “Don’t wait up.”

She grabbed Quasar’s hand, and this time she was the one leading them toward the exit.

CHAPTER SIX (#u7210caa9-9a38-576b-be8c-b97a090d9292)

AFTER RIDING THE TROLLEY for a half hour, Quasar and Randi finally walked through the doors of Marlon’s Seafood. The place was packed, and Quasar immediately knew they would be in for a long wait.

“Do you want to go someplace else?” he leaned down to ask Randi. His lips came so close to her ear that he was tempted to lick it. Instead he quickly seized the opportunity to grab her by the waist and pull her closer when the man standing in front of them turned abruptly, almost colliding with them.

“Sorry,” the man said.

“No problem,” was Quasar’s response.

Randi looked up at Quasar. “Thanks.”

He smiled down at her. “Don’t mention it.”

“We don’t have to go anyplace else,” she said.

“Okay.” He didn’t mind the wait if she didn’t. Besides, he hadn’t removed his arms from around her yet. The way she fit against his body was sending all kinds of sensations rippling through him.

The door behind them opened and more people came in. He moved, edging her in front of him to accommodate the new arrivals. He inhaled sharply when her perfectly shaped backside pressed against his groin. Her intoxicating scent filled his nostrils and her beauty almost blinded him. Suddenly a big, tall, brawny older man came barreling through the crowd, a mass of blond hair flying around his shoulders. Quasar was about to pull Randi aside, out of the giant of a man’s path, when unexpectedly the huge hulk stopped in front of them. The smile on his face was so huge his blue eyes seemed to illuminate the entire area.

“Little Randolph! One of the waitresses sent word to me that you were here,” the brawny man said before grabbing Randi in a massive bear hug, lifting her feet off the floor in the process.

Little Randolph? Quasar watched the affectionate exchange between the two.

When Randi’s feet were planted firmly back on the floor, Quasar noted her smile was almost as big as the giant’s. “Uncle Marlon! How are you?”

Uncle Marlon? Quasar glanced from the man back to Randi, definitely not seeing any family resemblance.

“Quasar, I want you to meet my Uncle Marlon Farentino. Uncle Marlon, this is my friend Quasar Patterson.”

They shook hands, and Quasar felt the man’s strength in his handshake. “Nice meeting you.”

“Same here.” Marlon turned his attention back to Randi. “Come on, girl. I’ll take you to your special place.”

Marlon led, and they followed through the crowd of people who seemed to open up a pathway like the parting of the Red Sea. Although Quasar was wondering where the man was taking them, he decided not to ask. Not even when they went through the double doors that led to the kitchen. An older lady and younger women noticed the procession and happily waved at Randi, who waved back and threw kisses.