by Cindy Pike
“Wait! Can I get a picture of you exactly like this, so I can use it as a reference?” His hand shoots out in the universal stop pose. I nod my head, not able to say anything due to my suddenly dry mouth (it’s not from fear but the raw desire from Flynn’s facial expression). He reaches into his front pocket bringing my gaze down to that area. Yep, there is a definite bulge there, bigger than normal. My eyes shoot back up to his face as I feel mine catch fire.
“Silas is one lucky bastard tonight. Don’t move, Spitfire.” He holds his phone up and snaps a couple quick pictures, putting his phone back into his front pocket when he’s done, drawing my attention back there as he does. He’s still got a significant bulge. “Nora, you need to stop looking at me like that. I’m already going to have the worst case of blue balls known to man, and we haven’t even touched each other.” All I can do is stand there like a dummy and stare at him.
“I’m sorry about your Jeep.” The words spew out of my mouth, not knowing how to handle that last comment.
“Did you sneak into the garage, put a dummy in your seat and that note on the hood?” I start to shake my head as he continues, “Then did you set the dummy on fire and sneak back out?” Flynn moves so he’s standing directly in front of me, I have to tilt my head back to keep eye contact with him.
“No, but I sti…” Before I can get anymore out Flynn lifts me up, setting my bare ass on the bathroom counter.
“No, you didn’t do any of that. That guilt you’re feeling isn’t necessary. If anything, you’re just as much a victim to this sick fucks games as I am. Does that mean I need to tell you I’m sorry for the psychological strain they’ve inflicted with these recent events?” I hate it when he has a point.
“No. I just feel bad that your Jeep got trashed in all this.” I can’t help but say.
“It’s a good thing I know an awesome mechanic that won’t charge me an arm and a leg to fix it then huh?” He’s trying to make things light and I let him, not wanting to be in this weird mood before my date with Silas.
“Yeah, it helps that he’s also into me so you might get even more of a discount.” I wince at that but Flynn just smiles at me and moves back, helping me down.
“I actually came in here for a different reason than to get a picture of you, are you almost done?” Flynn’s words make me realize that I need to get going anyways.
“Sorry. Yes, I was just going to clean up before I left.” My voice is a raspy huskier version of my normal tone.
“I’ll do it.” He motions for me to go before he calls my attention back to him, “You should probably lock my door if you’re in here and don’t want me barging in like this again. Not used to having to share the bathroom with anyone.” I nod that I heard him, but I’m not sure I’m ever going to lock his door if that’s the reaction I’ll get from him every time. I hesitate one more moment and Flynn growls, “Nora, go.” At that, I move my ass as I get wet in all the right places, and close the door on my side as I do. I lean against the door so I can attempt to control my suddenly raging hormones. I’m not sure Silas would appreciate me being all hot and bothered from another man on our date.
Once I think I’ve got them under control I go to my closet and peruse my vast amount of options. Owen really needs to stop buying me clothes! I’ll have to have a chat with him before long otherwise I’ll need another closet.
I haven’t worn a dress in a while so I move down to that section (yes, there’s an entire section devoted to them). I’m shifting through the hangers when a knock comes from my bedroom door. I make sure my robe is secure before I go and open it to see Owen standing with one of his arms thrown up, bracing himself along the top of the jam. There goes the control I thought I had on my hormones! Gah! Just the sight of his muscular forearms, all sinewy with veins running along them is a good start to a very great wet dream of mine. He puts a hand on my abdomen and gently moves me back, heading straight to my closet. I’m still standing by my open door, trying to get the image of him that decided to burn itself in my brain, out. I hear the hangers sliding on the closet rail and my curiosity gets the better of me so I go to lean against the jam, crossing my arms over my chest so I can hide my hard nipples.
He pulls out a dress that’s a deep purple it’s almost black and hands it to me. It’s got a Sweetheart neck line, is strapless and tucks in at the waist, with a medium flare in the skirt. It’s all got this delicate lace over the underlining in the same color. It’s a good pick and I’m thankful for his help (Seriously, the man has a real shopping addiction, but the other side of that coin is good taste in clothes), I was starting to get overwhelmed with all the choices. He hands it to me and then starts on my shoes. He hands me a pair of nude, peep toe, ankle boots, with a zip on the inside. Coming back out he gives my elbow a gentle squeeze before he goes to move past me, I grab his bicep, stopping him.
“Thank you, Owen.” I try to convey how just how thankful I am and go up on my tip toes to kiss his cheek. He has to lean down slightly so I can achieve it. At the last second, he turns his head so we end up kissing on our lips. He doesn’t open his mouth but the way he presses his lips to mine speak of a deep seeded hunger that’s not been satisfied. When we come apart, he’s got a compassionate look on his face and just gives me a soft smile.
“Anytime, Gorgeous. I’ll wait outside the door to help you with the back when you’re ready.” Then he kisses my hair and closes my door as he leaves me to get dressed. Help me with the back? I turn the dress around and the back is a corset with a pitch-black ribbon as the ties. Holy mother of risqué?! I’m going to kill him! Maybe if I can find a cute jacket, I can hide that part. Slipping my robe off I rummage through my underwear drawer and find a strapless bra in a nude color that’s got a lace overlay and matching underwear. Apparently, lace is the theme of tonight. Loosening the lace up back on the dress I step into it and pull it up so it’s sitting where it needs to be before I call out to Owen.
“Owen!” My door opens immediately and Owen comes over to me giving me a once over as he makes his way across the room to me.
“You look stunning, Nora.” He compliments me before stepping behind me and moving my hair over one shoulder.
“You don’t think this dress is a bit, indecent?” Did I mention the hemline hits above my knee?
“No, but if you’re not comfortable in it I can pick another, it’d just be a shame for Silas not to see you in it tonight.” His hands are on my upper arms waiting for me to decide. That helps convince me to wear it, plus it makes me feel sexy, something I haven’t felt in a long time.
“No, it’s fine I just don’t want to give him the idea that he’ll get to home base tonight.” I voice a concern I’ve had in the back of my mind since Silas asked me out tonight.
“Nora, he would never take things further than you’re comfortable with, none of us will.” Owen’s voice is firm and rings with truth. He starts to tighten up the back so it’s snug but still comfortable.
“I know, I just don’t want to disappoint any expectations he might have of something like that happening.”
“Talk to him about it. I think you’ll find you’ve worried over this for nothing.” Finished, he turns me to face him. “We can’t read your mind, so when you have these concerns you need to voice them. I’m sure he’d rather you say something than worry about it all night and not have the best time possible because of it.” Owen’s hands travel up and down my exposed arms making goose bumps break out all along them.
“You say you can’t read minds but you seem to have a knack for knowing what’s on mine more often than not. But, okay.” I wheeze out.
“Did I get your dress to tight?” Of course, Owen would notice my awkwardness.
“No, in fact it’s perfect and makes me think this isn’t the first time you’ve done this.” I tease him to try and dispel the attention from my awkwardness. Thankfully he lets it go.
“It isn’t, but it’s not from doing this for women I’ve dated. Sara often needed help gett
ing into her formal dresses for dances and dates.” Owen chuckles as he explains his level of experience in doing up a corset type dress. The doorbell rings and I hear the dogs barking at the front door.
“I’ll go let Silas in while you finish up in here, Gorgeous.” He gives my arms one last encouraging squeeze then leaves. I blow out a breath and slip my shoes on before taking one last look in the full-length mirror Kyle hung on the back of my bedroom door. My earlier thought of hiding under a jacket long gone.
10 Date With Silas
If You Want Love by NF
I grab my matte suede gray clutch, with a flip opening, that I already transferred everything I’ll need tonight into from my purse. It’s not much, just my ID, phone and lipstick for touch ups. As I make my way down the hall, I can hear Silas’ deep voice as he’s talking. I come to the mouth of the hall and see Silas with his back to me. He’s got on a pair of (you guessed it) black slacks with a matching long sleeved dress shirt tucked in at the waist. A dark grey belt and matching dress shoes complete his look.
Owen looks over Silas’ shoulder when he catches my movement, and a very appreciative male grin takes over his face. Silas turns at Owen’s look and takes me in. Out of the corner of my eye I see Flynn get up from the couch and move my way. He stops before he gets within arm’s reach when Silas starts toward me.
“No, no fucking way. Nora, you can’t wear that out.” His voice growls out as he places his hands on my hips. My mood plummets. He doesn’t like the dress, shit. This entire thing is a bad idea, I should’ve never agreed to this.
“If you’re having second thoughts about going out, we don’t have to.” I can’t stop from looking into his ice blue eyes, letting the disappointment leak into my voice.
“Stop fucking thinking you know what I’m feeling. You can’t wear that out because I’ll end up in jail before we can get our meals. The first guy that approaches you while I’m with you, and they will, I’m beating the shit out of. Every guy is going to be ogling you, they already do and this is going to make it ten thousand times worse.” Then he turns to Owen and accuses rather accurately, “You picked this, didn’t you?” Owen just gives him an evil grin that gives me a glimpse at the bad boy side of him.
“Did you pick this just to torture him?!” I’m shocked Owen would do something like this, Flynn I could see, but not Owen. He’s usually so serious and reserved, in control of… Well, everything.
“I get to pick her outfit for your first date, dick.” Silas points his finger at Owen. Flynn bursts out laughing, when I don’t find any of this funny.
“How about I go change really quickly and then I pick my outfits for my dates from now on?” I interject while giving Flynn a glare that clearly should’ve melted him into a puddle of goo, but he must have protective shields around him. As he’s still standing there laughing his ass off, unscathed. So, I point my finger at him and inform him, “You’re now on my shit list Picasso.” Abruptly he stops his laughter and looks to me.
“Why? I’m innocent in all this?!” Flynn cries in defense.
“You’re never innocent!” All three of us respond in unison. Flynn feigns a look of hurt but quickly replaces it at Silas’ next words.
“You don’t have time to change, we’ll be late for our reservation if you do. Flynn, if your innocent in any part of your body or brain, I’m a fucking woman. Since I’m clearly not a woman, you’re not fucking innocent.” Silas moves to my side and begins to lead me toward the front door.
“Rude.” I hear him say under his breath before louder, “Wait, let us say bye to her first, Casanova!” Silas growls at Flynn calling us back, before things can escalate, Owen steps in.
“Flynn quit it, you’re just jealous you didn’t get to go out with her first. Silas stop being so possessive and let us at least give her a hug.” Owen moves in front of me and pulls me from Silas, wrapping me in one of the many perfect hugs they all give. A body slides up behind me and I’m now between to very firm and rock hard (and I’m not just talking muscles here) males. They both pull away and my face is so hot I swear it’s got to be as red as a tomato.
“Have a wonderful time, Gorgeous.” Owen slides a finger down the side of my jaw before he moves into the kitchen to start dinner for him and Flynn.
Flynn comes around so he’s in front of me and frames my face in his hands, “Sorry for my laughter, Spitfire, it wasn’t at you. Have fun and don’t let him get away with being a dick tonight.” Then he kisses the top of my head and goes to help Owen.
Silas comes up next to me and his jaw muscle is ticking away as we head toward the front door once more.
“Don’t let him upset you, please Si.” I look up to his face, hoping he’s not angry.
“It’s not that, Doll. It’s just that’s the first time I’ve seen them be more than just casually physical with you and I wasn’t prepared for the jealousy that came up at seeing it.” Crapola, that’s not good. “Don’t worry about it, it’s mine to deal with. I just don’t want you thinking I’m angry. Flynn pulls shit like that all the time, I’m immune to it now. Come on, Doll, or we’ll be late.” My ice-cold-eyed Silas opens the front door to let me proceed him. Just before he closes it, I hear Flynn and Owen’s conversation.
“Lucky bastard.” Flynn’s voice reaches me.
“Yep.” Owen agrees. I look up to Silas wondering if he heard that and a smirk of satisfaction is on his face. Yep, he heard them. He closes the door and leads me out to his Tundra, opening my door for me before helping me in. I buckle my seat belt as he goes around and into the driver’s seat, starting the truck up. He buckles his seat belt too and I smile to myself at it. Win for me!
“I hope you’re not the kind of girl that gets shy on a date and only eats salad.” Silas pulls out onto the main road from the guys long driveway.
“While I do like salads, not that I’m for sure not going to get one, but why would I be shy?” I ask him in puzzlement.
“Some women do that shit, even if I’ve been around them before the first date.”
“No fear of me doing that, Si. Though if they have a salad that looks good, I might order it.” I add, because I do like them. I chew the side of my lower lip before I work up the courage to say my next thought.
“Owen said I should bring up the fact that I don’t want you to think I’m sending a message that I’m ready to have sex.” My nerves are back as I say the last part.
“Nora, it’d be impossible for you not to send a message of sex, especially in that fucking dress. You’re like sex on a stick. But to ease your mind, I have zero expectations of having sex with you. For one, you’re nowhere near ready, and two, when we do get to that part, it will mean more than just sex between you and me.” See what I mean, blunt but who cares when its shit like that, where he follows it up with that kind of beauty?
“I really want to kiss you right now, Si.” Glancing at me out of the corner of his eye, he pulls the truck over to the side of the road and puts it in park. Turning toward me in his seat Silas leans over the middle of the truck and with his hand behind my head pulls me into him for a quick kiss.
“Like that?” He asks me in a soft whisper that flutters across my face.
“Yeah.” I breathe out.
He turns back in his seat so he’s facing forward and puts the truck into drive, flipping his turn signal on so traffic knows we’re going to merge back onto the road. The hand that was behind my head finds mine in my lap and he interlaces his fingers with mine. I turn on the radio and play If You Want Love by NF.
Silas pulls into a nicer steak restaurant and finds a parking spot right up front (I swear these guys have the best luck with parking… Ugh, me, not so much, not that I’ve done any driving since they came into my life) and looks my way before turning the truck off.
“Don’t get out, I’ll come round and open the door for you.” Then he turns the truck off and does just that. Who knew he was such a gentleman under all that roughness? I unbuckle and take his proffered hand a
nd he helps me down and out. He slams the door and beeps the locks with his key fob while leading us to the front door. He opens that one too and we make our way up to the reception station in the entrance way.
“Party of two for King.” He tells the hostess when we reach her. The hostess searches her list and finds our reservation before grabbing two menus’.
“Right this way, Mr. and Mrs. King.” She turns and leads us to our table. I get stuck on her calling me Mrs. King for a beat noting Silas did not correct her. He places his hand on the small of my back moving me forward. The hostess stops at a table in the corner and sets the menu’s down on the white cloth covering the table.
“Your waiter will be right with you.” She gives us a smile and makes her way back to the front entrance.
Silas pulls my chair out and tucks it in when I move into position to sit. Then he moves to the chair next to me and settles in. Putting his arm around the back of my chair as he looks over the menu, his calloused fingers stroke the side of my arm in an absent-minded way as he does. I lift my menu and look it over, deciding on shrimp in a garlic lemon marinade, with steamed veggies and an iced coffee for my drink.
“Hello, my name is Shawn. I’ll be your waiter this evening. Have you decided what you’ll be having tonight?” Our waiter introduces himself and does what I’m sure is his regular verbiage of a greeting for him. Silas looks to me and I nod that I’m ready.
“I’ll have the ten-ounce steak, baked potato, and steamed veggies. A beer from tap to drink.” Shawn writes it down and gives me his attention. He must not have really looked at us before because I see a look that can only be described as hunger run across his face before he can mask it. Silas’ arm pulls me closer to his side, before I relay my choices to Shawn.
“Okay, I’ll give this to our chef and be back with your drinks.” He gives Silas a look of envy before he disappears into the kitchen.
“See, once that kid got a good look at you, he wanted to jump you, Doll. You’re gonna cause trouble and not even try.” He relaxes his hold on me and studies my face. “You don’t need all the makeup, though I appreciate the effort and it looks good, just know I don’t need it to think you’re beautiful, Doll.” I’m starting to like his blunt and open personality. We sit and talk about upcoming jobs at Kings until our food arrives then we both eat keeping the easy conversation flowing between us.