by Romi Hart
“Not to me, it’s not.” I saw nothing wrong with waiting for Mr. Right to come along before falling in love. “I think you’re the perfect age if you want to know what I think. Females in their twenties think they’ve got what every man wants. But they fail to understand that they need to be aware of what they want as well. They’re too busy trying to catch a man and don’t think about what they want in a man.”
“I also don’t know what I want in a man since I’ve pulled myself off the market.” She looked me up and down and I found that a good thing. “You’ve got a great body and that’s nice and all, but I would want more than just that.”
At least she was talking to me about personal things and not telling me to leave. “I should hope so. You too have a great body, but I want more than that too.”
Her dark eyes rolled. “Stop telling me lies like that.”
“I am not a liar, Linda.” I felt tingles in my body as I said her name. It was insanely delightful. “Your body is soft, pliable, and cozy. You’ve got the kind of body that feels awesome in a man’s strong arms. There’s nothing better than holding a body like yours on cold winter nights. Snuggling with a stick isn’t a thing I find enticing in the least. Does that sound nice to you?”
“A stick?” She shook her head. “No, not really. I like a man with meat on his bones. You’ve got lots of muscles, so I bet you work out most of the time. That doesn’t leave a lot of time for other things – more enjoyable things.”
I didn’t have to work out at all. “You might be surprised at all the free time I have. I’ve got time to take my lady out on the town. And I mean all the major cities in the entire world too. Traveling is another joy of mine. Doting on my woman is a thing I find pleasure in. Pleasing my woman is a thing I think of as my job.”
The way she shuddered told me it hadn’t hit her in the wrong way. “I think you might be telling me things that you think I want to hear. But all I am hearing is that you’ve had many women to know all this about yourself. So, that tells me that my first instinct was right. You are a Lothario.”
Being alive for such a long time did mean that I had a high number of females in my past. But what she didn’t know was that I hadn’t had even one of them stay with me until the end of their lives. They’d all been taken from me before I got the opportunity to give them the chance to know that I could change them into immortals like myself. But only if they wanted that. I would give a human the chance to make that decision for themselves.
Being an immortal had its rewards. But loneliness came along with being unable to die. Time was an enemy too. Waiting for things or people to come alive wasn’t always easy to deal with. So, I wasn’t the type of being who took the right to make that choice away from any human. I never had given immortality to anyone. But if I ever found my forever mate, I would want to keep her with me for eternity. But of course, she would have to want that as well.
Linda’s scent told me she might be the one. The one and only person I would ever want forever. The one who I would have offspring with and want to raise them with. And maybe even give some of them eternal life as well.
Who knew? Offspring could be real pains in the butt. But there was the opportunity to make them immortal if we really wanted to.
Linda needed to get to know me or she would never believe that I wasn’t this Lothario thing she thought I was. “I can only prove myself to you in one way. You and I would have to spend time together for you to see me for who I truly am. I would like it very much if you would give me the opportunity to show you who I am and to get to know who you truly are too. I mean, surely you’re not this person I see standing before me – thinking herself unattractive and unlovable or incapable of giving love. You’ve got to be more than that. I can see it within you.”
With a heavy sigh that made her ample bosom rise and fall, she seemed to be thinking as she stood there, staying silent. I had to give her a moment to make her decision. She was about to change her life rather drastically after all.
I would make her life into something out of a fairytale. She would become just like a princess. Or a queen. Linda would be the queen of my castle. But only if she could get over her insecurities. If she held onto them this tightly forever, she would die a lonely woman who would only shortchange herself from living life to the fullest.
“Dinner and dancing, huh?” A slow smile moved over her lips. “Are we to meet somewhere?”
“I will pick you up as custom dictates. And if you live with your family, I will introduce myself to them before taking you out. I am a gentleman.” Hope began to rise inside of me.
I’d had grand ideas that the woman would fall into my arms, wanting me to take her away. But I’d been so wrong. She was going to be a real challenge for me. I’d never had one before, so I felt it must’ve meant something.
I had heard that if something was worth it, you had to fight or work for it. Maybe winning Linda’s love would feel even better if I had to actually earn it.
“I have a roommate. You don’t have to meet her.” She tapped her chin as she thought. “I should take my own car though. It would be safer to do that. I don’t know you at all.”
“For safety is what you’re saying?” I hadn’t counted on safety measures being needed but I hadn’t come to visit Earth in such a long time that I had no idea what dictated safety anymore.
“Yes. I don’t want to be alone with you in a car. Not yet anyway. You could be some kind of a killer or a kidnapper. Until I’ve checked you out, I’ll have to do things the safest and smartest ways.” Although her caution was warranted, she would never find out a thing about me.
“How would you go about finding things out about me?”
“A simple Google search will tell me if you’re a killer or any other kind of criminal. It won’t tell me much else about you unless you’re extremely famous.” Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a cell phone.
I’d gotten myself one too since I’d come to Earth for my visit. I hadn’t used it at all though. I hadn’t had anyone to call. “Oh, good. Let’s trade numbers.”
“Well, yeah.” Handing me her phone, she instructed me, “Just put in both your first and last name and your phone number, then I’ll call you and you can add me to your contacts.”
I had no idea how to do any of that. “Um, I just got this phone and I’m clueless.”
The odd look on her face told me that what I’d said seemed preposterous. “You’re screwing with me.”
Pulling out my cell phone, I handed it to her. “This is my first time. Please be gentle.”
Her laughter hit me in places nothing ever had. I could listen to that sound for eternity and then some.
4
Linda
What am I doing? What in the hell am I thinking? I can’t do this.
Turning around, I headed back toward my car. Tieris was an exceptional being far beyond the realm of my realities. There could be no way the man actually wanted to spend time with me. There had to be some agenda behind his urgent need to take me out.
I am part of a dare or a bet!
That had to be it. I had to be a pawn in some kind of bet that he had going on with other people. Perhaps it was something like who could get the fattest girl to go out with them. Or maybe who could get the person with the lowest amount of self-esteem. Whatever it was, I wasn’t going to play a part in Tieris winning.
“You look lovely, Linda,” came Tieris’ smooth, deep voice. His hand moved over my shoulder. “You’re going in the wrong direction.” Trailing his long, thick fingers down my bare arm, he took my hand in his. “This way, my sweet.” His lips barely grazed my bare shoulder. “I love this dress. Strapless looks amazing on you, might I say? I know you abhor compliments, but I must let you know that you look beyond what I’d even anticipated.”
I had tried to look my best. I’d borrowed a black cocktail dress from my roommate. It was one size smaller than I usually wore, so it fit me like a glove, hugging my curves in a way that m
ade me a little uncomfortable. Flora insisted that it looked great on me and made me keep it on. She’d even thrown in her grandmother’s freshwater pearl necklace. With the shiny black heels, I didn’t resemble myself much at all.
“Thank you, Tieris.” Running my hand over my hair that I’d slicked back into a loose bun at the nape of my neck, I tried not to let the butterflies gain too much control over my insides. “This bistro requires a reservation. Have you made one?”
“I have.” Leaning in close, he took a huge sniff of my neck. “How alluring you smell.”
“Again, I’ve told you that sniffing people isn’t a thing you should do.” I smiled though. The thing was that I kind of liked it. No one had ever told me that I smelled nice and this man was going on and on about my scent – which was completely natural. I hadn’t put on any perfume at all.
“Yes, yes. I will try to contain myself.” His hand gripped mine tighter. “I’m so glad you showed up. I know you were about to leave when I saw you.” He stopped and stopped me with him, pulling me around in front of him, he took my other hand too. “Why were you leaving?”
Honesty seemed the best idea. “I think you might be using me to win a bet is why I was leaving.”
Confusion riddled his handsome face. “A bet? What kind of bet would I win by taking you out on a date?”
Shrugging, I didn’t want to say it. But then again, if I was right, his reaction might tell me what his mouth wouldn’t. “The kind of bet where you win if you take out a fatter woman then one of your friends does. Or something along those lines.”
With a heavy sigh that made his broad chest rise and fall, he looked into my eyes. “Linda, don’t ever call yourself fat. You’re nothing like that. And I have no friends here to make any sort of bet with anyway. I am here in Rome alone. Now let us put this nonsense behind us and enjoy our evening together. I hear the food here is excellent.”
“I’ve heard that as well.” I didn’t know what else to say. Ruining the only date I’d ever had seemed to be a thing I didn’t want to do.
So, whether this was real or a setup, I was going to make the most of it. This was the first time I’d been taken out in my thirty years it might be another thirty years before I got a second night out. I would appreciate what I had.
Flora had coached me about putting my naturally feisty attitude on the back burner for this date. Not that I expected Tieris to ask me out again, but I kind of hoped that I wouldn’t throw him off so badly that he’d never ask me out again.
The whole process of getting ready and having actual plans was rather invigorating. I had fun doing my hair and makeup. I even had fun shimming my body into the tight dress and putting my feet into shoes not nearly as comfortable as I normally wore. And being on the arm of a man who turned every head in the room wasn’t bad either.
Only Tieris thought it wasn’t him they were all looking at as he leaned in to whisper in my ear, “See, Linda all eyes are on you, my darling.”
Laughing lightly, I knew better than that, but I didn’t want to ruin the moment. “They are looking our way, aren’t they?”
“They are indeed.” He looked at the maître de. “I have a reservation for VanDrago.”
“For two?” he asked.
Nodding, Tieris let go of my hand to run his arm around my waist. “Yes, my lady and I will be your guests this evening.”
Being so close to the man, made me hot in places I hadn’t been hot in for many years. Fanning myself as we followed the maître de, I whispered, “VanDrago? Is that your real last name?”
“Sure.” He smiled at me. “Why?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never heard it before. It’s a little – I don’t know – different, I guess.” I thought his entire name was on the extraordinary side. “Tieris VanDrago. You got a middle name?”
“It’s almost impossible to say.” He helped me take the chair the other man offered me. “Here we are, my lady.”
“Thank you.” I sat back as the maître de placed a black linen napkin over my lap.
Tieris took the seat across from me, sitting back to allow the man to put a napkin over his lap. “Your best bottle of red wine to start with, please and a cheeseboard. Saltimbocca for us both for our entrees.” His eyes met mine. “Anything you would like to add?”
For a moment, I was afraid he was going to take on all the ordering like some kind of Neanderthal. “Tiramisu for dessert for us both please.”
With a nod, the man left us, and I found myself lost in the eyes of the man across the table from me. He reached out, taking my hand and holding it on top of the table. “I like your hair that way too. Is there any way that it doesn’t look good?”
“Many ways.” I had to laugh. “Have you not seen many women of color before?”
Nodding, he gave me the answer I had thought he might. “I have seen none of them. I know that might sound odd but it’s true. I have seen males though. Are you from Italy originally?”
“No.” I smiled at the waiter as he brought the wine and cheeseboard. “Thank you.”
Filling our glasses with the scarlet liquid, I found Tieris only looking at me. It was as if he was transfixed on me for some weird reason. After the waiter left us alone, he asked, “So, where are you from originally?”
“America. New Jersey to be exact. My father moved us here when I was five. The company he worked for sent him to manage their offices here in Rome.” I took a sip of the wine and found it tasted like nothing I’d ever had before. “This is delicious.”
Nodding, he only gazed at me. “Yes, it is.” He hadn’t even tasted his wine yet.
Laughing, I pointed that out to him. “Tieris, taste it before you give your opinion.”
Putting the glass to his lips, he sipped it. “Yes, it’s good.” He put the glass down. “How many siblings do you have?”
I found that an odd question but answered it anyway, “Three. I’ve got an older brother and sister, then it’s me and my younger sister. I felt more like the middle child in our family. My brother was the one male. My older sister took the oldest sister spot. My younger sister took the baby spot. And I got the middle spot.”
“What is it like to be the middle child?” He picked up a piece of cheese then leaned over to put it against my lips. “I am the oldest. I only have one brother and he’s a few years younger than I am.”
After swallowing the cheese he’d fed me, I asked, “And how old are you, Tieris?” I figured he was around thirty but wasn’t sure.
Stalling, he beat around the bush a bit. “Well, I am around your age. You know, around thirty.”
“Around?” I had to ask. “People don’t normally say they’re around any age. Most people know exactly how old they are. Are you younger than me? Is that the reason you said that?” His features were so striking that he could’ve been practically any age under fifty.
“I am not younger than you.” Looking to one side, he finally looked back at me. “I don’t know my exact age. My mother had me at home. We also don’t have birthdays the way most people have them. Maybe because in my village, no one cares to know the exact date anyone came into being.”
The answer seemed reasonable. “Okay, so around thirty is good.” I picked up a thin slice of ham and ate it. I wasn’t feeling that hungry and that wasn’t like me. Usually, if there was food on the table in front of me, that alone triggered my appetite.
“Did your family have pets of any kind?” It seemed like he wanted to really get to know me.
“No. My father was busy with his job. Momma was busy raising us kids. And she homeschooled us as well. She had lots to do with teaching all four of us and keeping house, making meals, and doing lots more. My mother was a very busy woman when we were all living at home. Now though, since we’ve all moved on to our own lives, she does her own thing. She likes to paint.”
“That’s a nice hobby. Do you have any hobbies, Linda?” Picking up his glass, he sipped the wine as he gave me his undivided attention.
; I’d never developed many interests. Finding enough work to keep a roof over my head filled my time. But that sounded dull and a bit on the whinny side. This was a rare night for me. I didn’t want to spend it in the usual way. So, I dug deep and found an old interest hidden in the far reaches of my memory. “I used to like to fish. My father would take us out on a boat to fish. I thought that was a lot of fun. And the fish of the sea are all so beautiful as well as tasty.”
With raised brows, he leaned forward with a smile. “I too like to fish. Already we’ve found something in common. We should go on a fishing trip together. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”
He didn’t look like a fisherman. “You sure that you really like to fish, Tieris?” His casual attire hadn’t changed. He’d come in the same clothes he’d had on before. But he didn’t seem like the type to wear fishing gear.
“I love to fish. I do it all the time back home. We have this amazing pond that a giant waterfall flows in to. And around our island, the ocean waters are crystal clear. There are many different fish species that live there. You would love it where I come from.”
It sounded beautiful. “So, where is this island?” Leaning my chin on my palm, I rested my elbow on the table as I envisioned this place he spoke of.
“Far away. But not so far that you can’t get there within a day’s time.” The way his eyes widened as he looked behind me had me turning back to see what he’d found.
A very tall man with exceptional muscular features and beyond handsome came strolling up behind me. “Tieris, old man, fancy meeting you here. And who is this ravishing young female you’re entertaining this evening?”
Looking back at Tieris, I found fire in his blue eyes. “Codut.”
The man reminded me very much of Tieris. “Is this some relative of yours?” I asked him.
Shaking his head, he kept his eyes on the man who had come up to the side of our table. “This is Codut. He’s from the same village as I am.”