by Rayne O'Gara
Why didn’t I ask where we were going?
If I knew then this wouldn’t be so damned difficult! Do I need classy restaurant dress or seductive cocktail dress? Casual or flirty? Heavy or light? Then the shoes! Oh no…I can’t go there yet.
A nervous look to my clock shows only one hour before he shows up and he is definitely the punctual kind of guy.
“AH!” I scream in frustration and throw my hands up into the air before letting them fall back down to my sides.
You know what? I’m just going to put on something red for seductive, black pants for casual, and go classy with my make-up and hair then wait and see how he dressed for the shoe selection. Ha! I win.
Grabbing up three different pairs of shoes, I arrange them on the floor by my bed for easy grab access and start dressing. Smoothing the red lace and silk camisole over my stomach, I sigh at the cool feel of it. I think I might have a silk fetish. I laugh at the wayward thought. Sure I like silk, but enough to constitute as a fetish? Surely not. Looking at all my scattered clothes surrounding me I snort and shake my head. Yeah, it’s a fetish…an addiction. I roll my eyes and pull on my black dress slacks. My hands skim over my fabric covered hips and thighs, smoothing any wayward wrinkles away before heading into my bathroom.
A brush through, twist, and some bobby pins have my hair up in a simple but elegant French twist. I leave my bangs down but swoop them across my forehead to rest over my right eyebrow. I go with soft smoky eye look with just a hint of matching red eye shadow on my lid crease to give it an extra flare. A smear of lip gloss finishes me off.
Back in front of my mirror in my bedroom I scrutinize my reflection. I lift my naked arms up and drop them to my sides. My brow lifts at me from reflected me. This won’t do. What if he wants to take a walk, or the place he takes me to is chilly? Shivering is not attractive. I need something…but what?
Oh! I know!
Hanger after hanger grate across the pole in my closet as I look for my add-on in a frantic gesture.
Where is the blasted thing!?
“Yes!” I yell out in victory. On the second to last hanger in the very back of my closet is my prize. I quickly slide my arms through the long sleeves of my black half shirt cover up. I flick my eyes to my bedside clock as I tie the loose ends into a knot under my bust line and let them fall over my rounded tummy. Almost out of time. So I take one last, I hope, look into my mirror for a looking good confirmation.
Damn but this makes my boobs look huge!
A smile creeps across my face.
Awesomeness.
My heart starts a double beat when I hear knocking at my door. I gulp in a huge lungful of air before slowly releasing it. I try to stop the shaking of my hands as I walk down my hallway. Why am I so nervous? It’s not like a blind date. Can this even be considered a first date if we have already slept together? Jesus! We’ve known each other for years, stop this foolishness.
I reach out to open the door and notice my somewhat of a pep talk didn’t work. Hands still shaking, I pull the door toward me revealing Luc’s masculine frame to my greedy eyes. His smirk flows into a full smile showing off his white even teeth and his eyes travel down my body. His slow perusal leaves me to do my own up and down to him.
He cuts a nice form in his gray dress pants and black button down dress shirt. I’ve noticed he likes to wear a lot of that color but it’s okay because black likes him right back. Done with my lustful looks, I notice his gaze stuck to one particular spot on my body.
So I clear my throat wanting his attention back up to my face and off my breasts. “Like what you see?” I ask playfully.
His molten eyes lock onto mine when he answers with a very serious, “Yes.” All playfulness leaves me. My body responds to the heat in his voice and I am on fire. He steps forward but stops in my doorway, leaving only half a foot between my craving body and his.
“We should get going. Are you ready?” he asks.
His hand reaches up to my face but falls before the connection is made. Disappointment runs through me. Why didn’t he follow through? He has to know how badly I want his touch. I guess my face shows him my confusion because he explains to me softly.
“I told myself I would try to go slowly with us. If I touch you now we will never get to where were going.”
Oh my.
My downstairs muscles clench at the ideas his words produce.
“We could just stay in. I’m okay with that,” I huskily say.
“No, Harmony. I want to do this right. You ready?” he asks again.
Sighing loudly, I start to nod my head but stop.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
I was going to follow his lead here, but his loafers are not an indicator I can really follow.
“Can it not be a surprise?” He smirks at me.
Fine.
“If that’s the case then give me just a moment and I will be ready,” I say with my own smirk.
Turning away, I leave him in the open doorway to walk briskly into my room. I slide on my black flats and snatch my wallet. No fuck me pumps for him tonight. Snickering to myself, I spin around to my hallway and catch a watching Luc just outside of my bedroom. His eyes on the other two pair of stand-by shoes on my floor.
“Wear those,” he rasps out, pointing to none other than the red stilettos.
“Nope. You wouldn’t tell me what kind of place we are going to so this is your penalty. Maybe next time I will wear them for you if you are a good boy.” Smiling hugely at our banter, I step around him and into my hallway. I laugh when he turns to me and winks.
“Yes, ma’am. But if I am really good, can you add in some matching thigh highs to go with those shoes?” he asks, so not pulling off the innocent voice he tried to.
“I’ll think about it. Now come on, let’s get to this surprise place.”
“Yes, let’s.” His deep laughter follows his words and we both chuckle all the way to the elevator.
I have never laughed or smiled so much with a man before, I think, surprised at myself. And from someone who I have fought with for so long. I didn’t know he had this side to himself. I wonder what else he has hidden away?
*****
Luccas…
Shit. I completely lost my head back there. That door opened and fuck! Every thought in my head disappeared. She looks incredible tonight. Every time I try to make some kind of small talk I catch a whiff of her sweet vanilla perfume and all blood rushes to below my belt and I am left looking like a fish, mouth gaping and gasping for air. The elevator ride down to my car was pure torture. Not knowing who we were going to come across, the battle that waged between me and my cock was hard pressed. Finally thinking about sport stats had my cock deflate enough I was able to walk without too much pain or embarrassment. Once in the car though? End game.
Enclosed space with close range contact is not helping. I want to show her I want to get to know her in a better sense than just sexual, but one look down and she’s going to think that’s all I want her for.
Turning into my driveway, I stop and park. I jump out of the car and go around to open her door. I wipe the sweat from my palms onto my pants before gabbing the handle. I put a lot of thought into tonight to make it special. Even called the mom. That was tricky in itself. How to get information from your mother while hiding all information from her? I’m not sure I succeeded and will be getting a call or visit tomorrow for a complete rundown. That woman could have excelled in a job for the CIA.
Harmony’s soft hand in mine pulls me back into the here and now. All thoughts of anyone or anything else is gone when her sweet, shy smile crosses her lips.
“Welcome to my home.”
Her shocked eyes at where I brought her on our date has me inwardly smiling like the cat from Wonderland. She wasn’t expecting this. Good. Unlocking the door and escorting her inside, I flick on the light switch in the living room. I set the lighting low and step back from her too tempting body.
“Would you like
some wine? I have red and white,” I ask.
“Red please.”
“Make yourself at home and I will be right back.” I motion to my couch before giving her my back and entering the kitchen. With the wine uncorked already, both of them just in case, I make quick work pouring two glasses. I press a couple buttons on my oven to heat up the dinner I made before picking her up and walk back into the living room.
“Thank you,” she murmurs as I hand her one of the glasses before taking a sip.
I smile in acknowledgement of her thanks and take a drink of my own. Her eyes don’t sit in one place for long as she scans my home.
“Your place is beautiful,” she says with her eyes finally resting on me.
“Not what you were expecting?”
“Honestly no. Not that I don’t think you have good taste, but for a workaholic bachelor? Not what I thought it would look like at all.”
I relax back into the couch and cross my legs.
“If it was up to me it would have probably been exactly like you imagined. Ratty furniture that should be in a dump somewhere and stacks of pizza boxes. But my mother and sisters took over. I actually love what they did, but don’t tell them that.”
“Mums the word, promise,” Harmony says with a laugh before continuing, “So you have a large family? Lots of siblings?”
“Oh yeah. There are six of us. What’s worse, and I don’t know how this happened genetically speaking, is there are four girls and only me and my brother to bring in the testosterone.”
“Oh you poor guys, all those female hormones raging.”
“Now no teasing. That’s not nice. It was pure hell. Vik and I are smack dab in the middle, two girls older two younger.” I try to look exasperated but I can’t help my smile. “They were hell on a growing boy but I wouldn’t trade my sisters for anything. Familia.”
“Oh stop your belly aching. You were very fortunate to have a family like that. I didn’t have anything like that until I was fifteen, so I can attest to how wonderful family can be.”
The quick faraway look in her eyes makes my heart clench.
“I was extremely lucky growing up even when I was hating it. Is that why you went into family services?” When I finish asking the question I instantly want to take it back. Her walls were down and I shouldn’t have pushed. Thinking her walls where building back up and a fight’s gearing up, her softly spoken words are a shock to me.
“Yes. Some places were good, some even great, but there are bad ones that you can never forget. I wanted to be someone who helped other lost children find their place in the world, a great place. A forever place like I did with the Marks. Every child deserves to be loved,” she ends softly, an almost whisper.
Her willingness to share with me is indescribable. I can’t stay away from her any longer. The inches separating us are too much. Wanting to keep it light but show her what I am feeling, I graze her lips with mine in a sweet not lustful gesture. Her soft lips tease mine and vanilla fills my lungs. I pull away before it can go any farther. Her eyes shimmer in the low light with unshed tears and I feel myself falling faster.
Chapter Ten
Harmony…
The light brush of Luc’s mouth on mine was the sweetest thing I have ever felt. The nerves that were raw from opening up to him like that was soothed by his kiss. In this relaxed setting with him, it is easy to open up a little and talk about things I wouldn’t normally say. Looking up into his eyes, I know I can trust him not to judge me for my past. I’m not ready to divulge everything just yet, but when I am, I know he will listen. Maybe I can start to let go of the past a little. Maybe.
Beeping from the kitchen pulls us apart. His body heat disappears and I feel so disappointed. I want nothing more than to be held right now. Which is odd. I am not a lean on someone kind of person…I am the strong one to be leaned upon.
“Dinner is done, I will be back in a moment,” he says softly before leaving the room.
Blinking back the stupid water in my eyes I pull myself back together, now thankful for his departure. Definitely not the direction I wanted the evening to go. Light chitchat and sex. That is what I want. Right? How did he pull all these emotions out? I have to get this back on track. Keep it light.
Standing up, I move away from the couch, I smooth out my clothes and check my hair. Fixing everything internally and outwardly, I make my own way into the kitchen.
The spiced aroma that hits me when I enter is delicious. My curiosity is definitely peeked. What did he cook?
“Would you like some help, Luc?” my brisk tone is back into place.
He raises a brow at my voice but doesn’t call me on it, thank God.
“Will you set the table for us? Then I will bring out the food.”
“Of course,” I answer, pasting on a smile.
I reach up into the cabinet he just gestured to and pull down two plates. Placing them on the counter top, I turn for the silverware but end up in Luc’s strong arms. Damn he moves quietly!
“Hey.”
I move my eyes from his pulsing neck to his warm eyes. “Hi,” I whisper back to him.
“Don’t go hiding on me again, baby.”
Oh Luc.
“I’m—”
“No,” he interrupts. “You need to protect yourself, I get that. But don’t close yourself off from me completely again, okay?”
“I’ll try,” I answer his question the best I can.
“Thank you.”
His arms tighten around me and he leans in closer. Yes, please. I very much want his kisses right now.
“Oh my! I am terribly sorry, I didn’t know Luccas had company.”
A woman’s slightly accented voice has us jumping apart. We look over to the doorway and Luc starts laughing.
“What is so funny?” the woman asks Luc.
She cracks a smile giving up on her scowl in seconds. Her pretty red flowery dress swirls around her legs as she walks up and wraps Luc in a hug before kissing his cheek loudly. Her brown eyes are twinkling suspiciously when she pulls away from him. She pats her black hair back into perfection and turns to face me full on.
“Harmony, this is my mother, Cecila Ariea. Madre, this is Harmony,” Luc introduces us.
Mother!? Oh holy crap.
Putting my nerves aside, I stick out my hand in a professional manner.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Ariea.”
She just smiles at my hand and looks back to Luc. Rapid fire Italian flows from her mouth before she wraps me in her plump arms. Pulling away from me, she looks me over again. My normally fast brain is so fogged by this woman’s actions that I have nothing to say. I was not prepared for this.
“It’s wonderful to meet you, bella Armonia. Please call me Cecila or Momma works well too,” she says to me, all smiles with a little wink.
“Umm,” I sputter out, trying to refocus my thoughts, but thankfully Luc saves me.
“Madre?”
Moving her eyes away from me to him, thankfully, she answers.
“Yes?”
“What are you doing here?” he asks. Leaning back against the counter behind him, he crosses his arms over his chest looking completely relaxed.
I have to look away before his mother catches me oogling her son’s muscular body. I don’t think that would go down well. Hopefully nobody catches my blush either. I feel the heat in my cheeks and can only imagine how red they are right now.
“You don’t like to see your momma?” Cecila asks in an almost believably hurt voice.
“No, I love seeing you and you know that. But why right now? What did you need to come to my house for that a phone call could not get you, I wonder?” he asks with a smirk creeping up on his face.
“Oh do not be so suspicious, angelo mio. When you called this morning about recipes my interest was piqued, but did I ask questions or nose around for answers? No, I did not. I am simply here because I did not think you had certain ingredients you needed, so I bring them over for you.�
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He called his mom so he could cook for me? Okay, that is sweet. My head bounces between the two, I am completely entranced with their conversation.
“I wouldn’t have the ingredients? That’s why I called you, so I could go shopping. Have you seen what you came for?” he asks in a quite mock serious tone, which was tamed by the soft smile on his face. You take one look and know how deeply he loves her. His family ties run so deep it’s beautiful to see.
“Always so clever, my young one, yes I have seen what I needed. See you Sunday for dinner, angelo mio.” With a large sigh, she gives in to being caught. She wraps Luc up in another hug and two quick cheek kisses, her attention was back on me. Her intense brown eyes have me thinking maybe her attention never left me at all.
Before I can think, I am wrapped into her warm embrace. She smells like frosting. Warm vanilla frosting. I think I like that. I smile back at her when she pulls slightly away to look into my eyes.
“We will see you Sunday as well. Have to get to know your future suocera.”
“Madre!”
“I’m going, I’m going. Ciao, bella.” She laughs out and as quick as she appeared she is gone.
When the slam of the door signals her exit, I burst out laughing.
“Okay, she’s amazing,” I tell him once my chuckling subsides.
“She is at that, along with many other adjectives,” Luc snickers back before turning once again to the stove.
“Now I caught a lot of that but there are some words I was confused on.”
“Oh yeah? I’m sure you don’t want to know. My mother rambles, a lot.”
“Hmm…she seemed very focused to me,” I say back before leaving the kitchen to set the table.
Once set and food is displayed, we both sit at the small intimate dinner table and start to fil our plates.
“God this looks so good, Luc, I can’t believe you cooked this.” If this tastes as good as it smells, I am about to be in food heaven.