His Spanish accented request to be dismissed went unnoticed.
I was feeling good until Cas saw his face and turned to look up. I so wanted to freeze on the step right there but I willed my feet to move on. He was completely still. Deathly still. No smile, no frown, no anything. I kept going despite.
When I reached the bottom step and stood a foot away still taller than him because of heels and a step, I prayed he would say something soon. I didn’t even notice we were alone now.
“You are absolutely stunning. Like an angel.”
I smiled. A lot. His hand reached out to take my arm and I caught the brief glimpse of how his arm shook just a little like he might be nervous.
Very!
Why?
I’ve never been privileged to have this much beauty surround me.
I’m not that great.
Absurd. You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. I let it rest not wanting to spoil anything tonight.
“Where are we going?”
He just smiled, trying to appear more relaxed.
We walked like a king and queen out the front door and into a black sleek tinted limo. I managed a grim look when I saw how elaborate he was making this.
What is wrong? he asked.
He’d seen my worried look. Or felt it. All this is just to take me out on a date?
You are my prize. I want to show you off.
“Prize? That’s sexist.”
“Stace, do you not understand men in any way?”
I glared. I don’t like limos.
“No, your brother was never much the gentleman. Your father…well if your mother had lived, your father would have been different than the man you know. We, or at least me, am marveled by the beauty you surpass. I can’t get enough of you. We as men don’t have that, so I think we crave it. To be around it.”
Who could dispute that?
We drove forever. I was gifted with the sound of Pat B’s Fire and Ice through the back seated speakers.
Your love is like a tidal wave, spinnin’ over my head...
I hummed to the music and watched the huge thigh beside me gain a tidal wave size inch on proximity near my own. I forced those thoughts away and looked out the window. Cas was texting something and mumbling about what the dessert should be and adding dollar signs to make it so.
When the car slowed down, I realized how involved with the outside world I’d become. I turned my head and he was watching me. I felt suddenly very self conscious of every inch of me.
“You’re watching me.”
“And…”
I smiled. I do this a lot around him.
Is that a bad thing?
No, NO! Just...makes me self conscious of my every move.
The limo was stopped without me knowing. “We’re here.” He was out of his door and the driver was opening mine. He was there waiting when I stepped out. I was forced to take my time in the heels for fear of looking a fool. Pity he can read all my thoughts. Blocking! Blocking!
I looked up to a fifty million story tall building in front of me. Is this where we’re going?
Not yet!
What does that mean?
No answer, of course. Maddening, but exciting.
He veered me left to the restaurant called “le bibliothèque” and paid the valet. We were escorted in and led straight to a table in the back room where several attendants were waiting. He’d either been here before or paid off a lot of people.
Both.
So this is a habit. I was miffed.
I come here alone most nights because I don’t want to make the kitchen cook for just one.
Oh!
We were seated across from each other and promptly served salad with breadsticks. The walls were line with books of all kinds like the larger room at the entrance. I saw many standing at the shelves, reading and talking with their friends and table mates. Our room replicated it exactly but was empty with the exception of us.
Italian?
Isn’t it your pick?
What do you like?
Isn’t it obvious?
Cas!
Mexican.
Really?
He nodded. The people around us had to wonder why this couple was so silent. Or maybe I was overly self conscious of everything tonight.
Will you take me to get it sometime?
“I would love too. I have a favorite taco shop in downtown New Orleans.”
Wow! Is that an overnight date?
He raised an eyebrow. His mind was becoming clearer to me when I fumbled up over my not meant to be suggestive comments. He was definitely very male.
Thank you, glad you noticed.
Well noticed. Very much noticed. “You look really nice tonight. Do you think maybe you’d wear your black Levis for me to get tacos?”
“As you wish. Any other requests?”
“Um, button up, not a pull on.” Definitely! They look really good on him. Really, really good. I daydreamed a second too long about both.
I got it. Cas said internally.
Blocking! Blocking!
He chuckled but held my gaze with more heat in his eyes than I could handle. Sometimes Cas’ natural sexy mannerisms disturbed me. If I get all heated just by the way his shoulders moved when he was laughing at me or simply answering a question with one of those quick nods that makes his hair fall in place above his eyes just the way I like, didn't other girls do the same. He's gorgeous. He has to be fighting off girls left and right?
We were both served some type of pasta dish with shrimp and chicken distancing my thoughts a little. Very little!
The dinner was divinely good. I freely dipped my bread in the sauce forgetting my attire and the ambiance of the room. So when I put my bread back on my plate he knew and asked me why.
My father always said it wasn’t lady like.
Well, do you see him here now?
I smiled and picked up my bread again watching his eyes as I dipped my bread in the sauce and savored the bite for as long as I could.
May I? He leaned in taking a piece of another breadstick and reaching across to me. He dipped it and held it up to my mouth. I ate the bite carefully knowing he was watching how I tried too hard to accommodate his attempt at easing my worry. This sent different emotions altogether.
Our eyes didn’t leave each others for a long time as we ate the rest of our meal.
“My father’s room is where we would stay.”
Whatever my face conveyed, it said clueless.
Earlier today, you wondered where we would stay if married. My father’s room is on the floor above ours. The main suite.
I blushed. He’d really listened all day. I didn’t try to but my dang mind shot to the other item I’d wondered about earlier.
It is twice the size.
My cheeks were burning so hot. The dang shower and bathroom size.
“And everything went fine this morning. No snags!”
“That’s so great. I wish the best for Dr. Green, now Lord.” I wanted out of the previous conversation, fast!
A thought ran across my mind imagining calling him something besides Cas. Off topic again.
I prefer Cas from you.
“Okay, Lord Cross.” I played with it on my lips. It sounds so strong. I felt silly. The wait staff ignored us, but I caught the nearby waiter feeling uneasy and scared of our verbally scattered talk. He knew something wasn’t right with us. Did he worry about a Valkyrie and Vampire sitting together? Others weren’t necessarily ready for combined forces yet.
“Okay Lady Anastacia,” Cas’ large frame shifted, uneasy.
Or other names come to my mind. I seem to acquire names so easily lately.
“You will be lady of my house one day if I acquire what I want.”
His hints and reminders were melting but so very scary to think about. I couldn’t think of a viable answer so I didn’t.
Dessert came and went and I wondered if this was the end of our date or if there was
more.
Do you want more?
No hesitation, “Yes!”
When he stood, I did. He was there too fast taking my chair and then my hand. He thanked the entirety of the room and we left out the front door with every eye watching us.
You, not me. They don’t even notice me when you are around.
Not fair. You are so yummy to look at. He stopped and eyed me curiously. Sorry, girl moment. But you are. You have to see that.
No, that’s the first I’ve heard of being described in that way.
Well, all true.
Hmm! I wouldn’t want to misconstrue your thinking my love, but that would be a tad suggestive.
I meant it to be, just didn’t mean for you to hear. He called me his love.
We were outside now and the chill hit my bare shoulders. He saw me shiver and asked me to stay where I was. He went to the limo parked on the wall of the building beside the restaurant and came back with a golden shawl to match the dress.
“Aren’t you full of surprises?”
Yummy ones. His eyes shined after a melting wink.
You devil.
Do you want me to be?
I hit his chest with my fisted up hand holding the end of the wrap around me. He caught it. And pulled me against him. I swooned not stopping the reaction from such an atmosphere.
We are late for our next stop.
He led me to the building next to the restaurant we’d pulled up in front of to begin the night, not the limo. I looked up wondering what floor and what was on it. We rode the quiet empty elevator up to the top opening to the roof.
We walked out to an elaborate display of flowers, music, and twinkling lights. I turned in every direction and then back to him. You are all about the details.
I’ll have you enjoy every second.
And you’re not? Good goddess of Odin or Ra or any who helped in his making, he looked so sexy all the time. I honestly think he has to be a gift. As clichéd as it sounds, I wanted to unwrap him. At that thought I closed down the direction my mind was going. I wasn’t ready for that.
Do you think I’m not enjoying myself?
I smiled as he watched me so intensely. He did that a lot too.
“What shall we do?”
He stepped back a touch and bowed, “Will you dance with me, my lady?”
I’d also done this a million times. Every dance. But this...was different.
At first his hands were wavering, unsure of my reaction. After a few minutes his confidence was up and his hand moved to my side. I breathed him in making his smile grow and he quickened our pace. He was like a consuming haze over my senses. By the time I looked up at his face again I realized he was as breathless as I making everything around me in slow motion.
We waltzed, slow danced, and every dance we knew in between. The tango was fun. He even had a yellow rose between his teeth that somehow transferred to mine without me breaking out into a fit of giggles. I was so not able to play the ice queen role I held onto for years. With him, dancing was fun.
The hours passed.
He poured a glass of water at the table with candles covering it. I didn’t even notice the water bottles or glasses, or that I was thirsty.
“Thank you.”
He poured a glass of water at the table covered in candles. I didn’t even notice the water bottles or glasses, or that I was thirsty. He drank an entire glass then took my hand to dance again after I shoved the heels off and onto the cold concrete with the reoccurring shiver.
He shoved his jacket off and reached to put it around me neglecting the shaw.
He looked a little long at my bare shoulders, my neck line, my waist, and finally my bare feet. I felt the warm tux jacket hit my skin securing around me now as he lifted me off the ground and put my arms around his shoulders. In the air. We danced that way forever.
“In case you’re wondering what I think, you’re the sexiest creature I’ve ever seen. You’re not alone.”
Man, I needed to control my thoughts. I swallowed back the embarrassment and laid my head on his chest appreciating everything that was him. He was sexy, warm, caring, overprotective and perfect for me.
When I felt like I might not be able to keep my eyes open any longer, he broke us apart and told me, “Close your eyes and wait right here.” Returning ten seconds later and gently pulling my hand he whispered for me look. A blanket was spread out. “I know it’s not the most comfortable, but I felt you’d guilt me if I’d brought an air mattress.”
I laughed. “What are we doing?”
He looked at me like it’s obvious. “Watching the sunrise.”
I couldn’t believe it. I’ve never done this. “Really?”
“I’ve never thought to watch it.”
I settled down beside him with his arm for a pillow. I draped his jacket over me like a blanket and nestled closer inching up to make my face right beside his hoping to catch his scent.
I shot up, “How can you do this. Will the sun hurt you?” I panicked.
“You are so lovely when you worry, but I still don’t like it. No, I cannot be up with the sun my love, but it will not hurt me in only an hour’s time. It only weakens me the longer I stay in it. So I avoid it mostly, but can withstand more than you realize.”
“Why would you?”
“For you, anything.”
“Stop. You had cause before me to go out in the day. What did it do?”
“No cause previously that mattered and it only makes me weak, like being sick with a cold. I don’t do it very often.”
“Okay. Maybe. How weak will you be in an hour?”
“Less than any amount that you’d ever notice.”
“And you’re at your strongest at night?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” His eyebrows wiggled a little.
I hit his chest. Back up Bucko!
“Who is this Bucko I keep getting compared to?”
“Something I heard on a movie from the south. I think it means Hey hot stuff, take a cold shower by yourself.”
“Does it now?”
He laughed with me.
“Hey, we’ve had almost an entire conversation out loud,” I marveled. “Amazingly not normal and the irony of it can’t even be shared elsewhere.”
I wouldn’t want to. He smiled at me from the side tossing his hair from his eyes that had loosened from the long night. Seeing his eyes look at me sideways just boiled me over.
Your heart is racing.
Don’t know why. I forced myself to look away.
I do.
Watch the sky, Bucko.
You’re the one all hot and bothered.
And you’re not?
He pulled me over and kissed me slowly and then stopped to bite my lip and stay there. I knew his heart was beating in tandem to mine with the speed of a racehorse.
What do you think?
I can’t when you do that, that’s the problem. My brain cut off from my mouth...or rather my thoughts. Look at the sky! Sky!
We watched the sun peek over with pink hues finding the first tips and spreading into oranges and yellows and turning into something bright and white. The calming beauty of something so quiet and undisturbed by any of us was the awe that outdid my existence and a needed reminder that I can screw up. After the time passed and I knew it had been almost an hour I asked him if we could go besieged with fear of him in the sun. He sensed my worry and we left without cleaning up a single item.
I was mostly used to that part until the months at Hunter school where I served myself. Now I noticed when others were forced to clean after me.
The morning proved even more exciting with breakfast in jeans and a tee and a catnap afterward all afternoon. The best part, Cas lay with me until I fell asleep after a closer examination of my mark. He traced it with his finger making all matter of feelings well up around me that I couldn’t hide. The strongest of them was the pure uncontrolled love we both felt for each other. Apparently he was tired too. When I wo
ke first and pretended to sneak out of the bed and go to the restroom, he yanked me back.
“I thought you were asleep.”
Thought wrong.
I need a moment, Cas.
He let me go and when I returned he was patting the bed smiling like a Cheshire cat.
You look happy.
I am.
Chapter Nine
Two wolves battle inside of all of us. One is good and the other is evil...
The next few days were awesome. Every time one of Cas’ guards came around he took care of some kind of business and was back focused on me faster than lightning. Once, I overheard a backlash of human activity that stemmed from a human wanna be Vampire club that turned into a blood bath, but not the fanged ones. I heard his guard murmur something about a small situation where the humans wanted to make it look like Vampires were the culprits and clean up was needed. Or being watched. I lost track of the conversation. But when I asked Cas after he returned to me, he simply shrugged it off saying it was taken care of. How many small situations did they take care of on a regular basis? I don’t remember my court having as much. Was I hidden from these cruelties of nature?
On the fourth day after we’d developed a solid routine of being simply with each other, someone threw a monkey wrench into our clock of stopped time.
Lying on the Sun room sofa watching a movie for the fourth day in a row, his phone rang and he fumbled to grab it off the table in front of us. When a second text came through, he checked it and rolled away from me, stood and walked to the washed in moonlight mezzanine method of escape. I paused the movie and waited to see if he was leaving again. I knew he had duties. And I should be focused on other things as well.
A figure entered the room behind me, but I hadn’t seen him. Or felt him.
“Liam, you’ve not officially met. This is Stace, former princess of the Val Court.”
Former? I am so in between.
He bowed to me saying, “I’ve also protected you for years my lady. He has fancied you for quite a while.”
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