Soul Sucker

Ingrid Anderson (Frances Dortmund’s) POV

Ocean Prime Restaurant, Denver, Colorado

Saturday, August 20, 2022

I prepared myself for tonight’s seduction as Lonnie opened the passenger door of his car for me. “He’ll never have a chance,” my son told me. “He’ll be putty in your hands by midnight.”

“It’s not my abilities I’m worried about,” I replied as I stood tall. With the three-inch heels, I’d stand nearly as tall as Landon. “It’s keeping my mouth shut and acting interested and loving for the next few months.”

“You’ll do fine,” he replied. “I’m going to pick up Nicole. Our reservation is in thirty minutes.”

“Have fun,” I told him as I turned away.

I heard him fire up the Jaguar and take off as one of the staff held the door open. I walked to the hostess desk, where a young blonde looked up at me with barely-concealed lust. She was at least a switch-hitter, if not playing for the home team. “Welcome to Ocean Prime, Ma’am,” the young woman said sweetly. “Do you have a reservation?”

“I’m meeting Mr. Street.”

“Of course,” she said. “Follow me, please.” She was young, stacked, and showed her desire for me before I released any of my pheromones. I might have to return here, preferably before closing. A succubus is a sexual creature that doesn’t discriminate by gender. We fuck anyone we want, and this one was ripe for plucking.

The noise level in the bar area dropped as she led me to a set of stairs. I could feel the eyes on me, male and female alike, as I strode across the main floor. I carried myself like a predator looking over the savannah and picking out tonight’s meal. Combined with my ethereal beauty, I left a trail of open mouths and lustful thoughts behind.

My dress certainly helped. The black silk dress had a triangle on top from my left shoulder down to the right side below my breast. The front clearly outlined my B-cup breasts, and the rub of the fabric kept my nipples erect and visible as they moved under it. The horizontal portion of the triangle was underneath the swell. Another triangle began on the left side, slanting down and across to finish low on my right hip. It exposed much of my stomach and back, showing off a true athlete’s tanned skin and six-pack abs. It flowed into a skirt that angled to just above the knee, the slit going dangerously high on the left side. The cut made it impossible to wear even a thong, so I wasn’t.

It was pure sex appeal.

Every eye watched me climb the stairs, the silk stretching and sliding over my smooth skin. “Mr. Street reserved a table in the Prime Corner,” she told me as we reached the second floor. She opened the door and stood aside. “Your server will be with you shortly. May I take a drink order?”

“I’ll wait.” I walked into the small space with windows on two sides overlooking the square. Inside was a single round table in the center with a white tablecloth and a red rose. I was slightly annoyed; I’d arrived ten minutes late, yet I was waiting for him.

I gave him a few minutes while I looked out the window, then turned for the door. “I’ll be at the bar waiting for my date,” I told the server when she came in.

I wasn’t going to do petty power plays at the start of the relationship. I didn’t care how much of an Alpha Male, Top G, or Player Landon thought he was. He’d never met me.

I’d barely gotten through the door when Landon reached the top of the stairs. “Standing me up already,” he said with an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. Work held me up.” He held his hand out, and I put my right hand over his. “It should be illegal for a woman to be this beautiful,” he said after he kissed it.

“Then take me to jail,” I replied. “Join me?”

Landon let the server get my chair as he sat across from me, then we ordered drinks. Failing to pull my chair out dropped him in my estimation. Manners and respect cost nothing. After living through the Renaissance and the Victorian Age, I kept hoping this and dueling would return to fashion. Life was better when insults had a price. “I didn’t expect a private dining room tonight.”

He smiled. “You can’t blame me for wanting to keep you for myself,” he replied. “I’ve been thinking about you all week.”

“What happened to your date? Did you have to get her home before Dad’s curfew?”

He snickered at that. “Catty. I like that.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

“She was arm candy for the night, nothing more. If I had known about you, I’d have come alone and left with you instead.”

He certainly didn’t lack confidence. “It’s for the best. You got to bang another cheerleader, after all.”

“I never bang them twice, and they always leave before breakfast,” he replied. “If you keep them around, they start talking, and then they start expecting things I’m not willing to provide. It works out better for both of us.”

“I’ve never been turned down for a second date before the first drink arrived,” I replied. I waved a finger between us. “Why even ask me out? I’m not your usual fare, and I won’t fall in bed with you.”

He leaned forward and looked into my eyes. I allowed a little of my power to come up, drawing him in. “I find you fascinating, Ingrid.”

“Why is that?”

The waitress arrived with our drinks, and I found that Landon had worked with the chef and pre-ordered dinners for us. “Trust me on this,” he told me as the waitress left. I had their Crystal Margarita, a top-of-the-line cocktail with Komos Cristolina tequila. I sipped it as he formulated his response. “Did you do any research on me before this date?”

“It didn’t take long. I’m sure your research agency did a better job on me.”

“Touche. You know I had a bad divorce years back?” I nodded. “I vowed I would never make that mistake again. I devoted myself to my work, building my company and my fortune. I worked eighty-hour weeks, sometimes sleeping in the office. I put my heart and soul into my crypto exchange. I built it from nothing to the major player it is today. If I had money and success, then I’d be happy.”

“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. Ecclesiastes five, verse ten.”

“You’re religious?”

“The benefits of a private school upbringing,” I replied. “My parents didn’t want me to think I was special because I’d inherit their money.”

“Ah. The prophet is right; while I thought money would buy freedom, it had the opposite effect. It brought shareholders, lawyers, Federal regulations, the IRS, and untold other headaches. I have fewer friends now than when I was married, and not a one I can trust with my back.”

“That’s harsh.”

“Everyone wants something, especially when they say they don’t,” he replied. “Relationships are even worse. Are you familiar with the pyramid theory of dating?”

“Do you mean hypergamy? Women always marry up?”

“That’s the idea. I know I’m desirable. I’m over six feet tall, good-looking, athletic, single, and in the wealthiest one percent with a net worth above $11 million. Do you know how many men in the world are like that?”

“Not enough.”

He smiled. “I can walk into a room, and the women flock to me. I don’t delude myself into thinking that attraction equals love because it doesn’t. I’m tired of being alone. I want a partner who doesn’t care about my money and will be loyal to me.”

I shook my head. “If you want loyalty, buy a dog.”

“I’ve dated beautiful women, younger women, intelligent women, kind women, and rich women. Sometimes I get lucky and get three or four of those traits. What makes you a unicorn is that you are all of them in one. When I saw you that night, you took my breath away. Tonight has shown me you are my equal, AND you are a fellow climber. You have enchanted me, and I find no other woman matters anymore.”

Our appetizer arrived, a shellfish tower with three levels. “Heavy on the oysters?”

“I’ll take every advantage I can get,” he told me. I didn’t see the attraction of a seafood restaurant in a landlocked state, but at least it was relatively fresh. I thought about what he was saying as we dug in. “There was little in the tabloids or press about you,” he said.

“I find social media self-indulgent, and I like my privacy,” I told him. “If you think you have dating problems, imagine my life! Either I’m a rich man’s trophy wife, or I’m a means to gain wealth and status. Plenty of suitors are handsome, older, and wealthy. Finding someone who is my intellectual equal and a likable person is where I run out of luck. You checked enough boxes for me to risk the society pages by seeing you.”

“Have I checked all five?”

“Three checks are solid. The fourth looks good, and the jury is out on the fifth. I won’t tell you which is which,” I teased.

We never did go to a club. The hours flew by as we ate, drank, and learned about each other. Landon had the staff move the table aside after dessert, and we danced together in the private room until it was time to go. “Come home with me, Ingrid.”

“I refuse to be just another woman for you, Landon. Do you want me?”

He pulled me into him as we danced, and his arousal was evident. “More than I’ve wanted anyone,” he whispered.

“Then you must pursue and catch me,” I replied. “I will not fall easily to your charms.”

“But you will fall,” he promised.

“Perhaps.” He led me downstairs, where a cab was waiting. “Goodnight, Landon. I had a wonderful evening.”

“Allow me to drive you home,” he offered.

“That’s not a good idea. I’d be too tempted to invite you up.” I got in the taxi, waving as we pulled out.

I wasn’t lying about enjoying the night. He was charming and intelligent, and it was easy to be at his side.

I reminded myself of his illegal activities and all the people he’d cheated out of their life savings. I wasn’t changing targets now.