28. Anton
CHAPTER 28
ANTON
LONDON – A FEW DAYS LATER – DATE NIGHT
S ince we got back from Spain, Marcie and I had been inseparable—eating, fucking, and sleeping in a blissful loop. But eventually, reality pulled us apart, and we had to return to work. It was the first time we’d spent more than a few minutes away from each other, and every moment dragged. My thoughts kept drifting back to her, to her laugh, her smirk, the way she filled the spaces in my life I hadn’t even realised were empty.
My stomach churned as I adjusted my cufflinks, the faint tremor in my hands betraying my nerves. I’d done this a hundred times—suited up for meetings, events, negotiations—but tonight was different. This wasn’t about business or socialising; it was about her. About us. This was our first proper date. I’d done countless deals before, but this felt bigger. This felt like laying the foundation for the future I badly wanted. The kind of future I’d thought was out of reach forever until Marcie had taught me to open my heart again.
For what had to be the hundredth time that day, I checked my phone. No cancellations, no last-minute hiccups—everything was exactly as I’d planned. Still, I couldn’t shake the urge to double-check. Marcie wasn’t the kind of woman you impressed with half-measures. She was an event planner, for fuck’s sake. Details mattered, and I wasn’t about to get this wrong. Not because she’d judge me if I did—Marcie would love anything I put together—but because I wanted to give her a night worthy of her.
She had no idea what I’d planned, and I wasn’t going to spill the surprise—not until the last possible moment. The anticipation buzzed under my skin, making the hours crawl by. My eyes kept darting to the clock, no matter how hard I tried to focus. This wasn’t about grand gestures or flashy displays—it was about showing my Little Miss Sassy just how much she meant to me. After all those months of pushing her away, denying us what we could have been, I owed her this. I owed us this. I’d promised myself that I’d spend the rest of my days making up for the time I’d wasted, and tonight was a start.
After everything we’d endured in Spain, Marcie deserved a night where she didn’t have to worry about anything, especially the shit we’d been through. She deserved a night where the only thing that mattered was the growing love between us.
I shrugged on my jacket, smoothing it down with a quiet sense of satisfaction. My hand brushed against the long, thin box in my pocket, and my lips tugged into a faint smile. I hoped she liked the necklace I got her to match the earrings I’d given her for her birthday. The little life savers she rarely ever took off.
The knock on the door broke me from my thoughts. Nick stuck his head in.
“Oh, sorry, I was looking for the boss. Can’t be you, you’re way too fancy for him,” he said, with a cheeky grin.
“Ha, ha. Very funny. What do you want?” I asked, fixing him with a mock glare.
“Your car’s here, boss. Good to see you at least know how to treat a lady. Thought I’d have to give you pointers on romance,” he said, with a wink.
“Derrick already has,” I told him ironically, earning a chuckle.
“Well, he does love our Marcie,” he replied.
“Less of the ‘our.’ She’s mine,” I fake growled.
“Only because I’m gay,” he taunted, his lips twitching at my scowl.
“Better get going. You don’t want to be late to pick up ‘our’ girl, and I don’t have to tell you to treat her well. Otherwise, you’ll have me and Derrick to answer to,” he said, the faint trace of warning in his voice letting me know that only part of this conversation was a joke.
“Yeah, yeah,” I chuckled, brushing past him.
I had no doubt if I didn’t keep my Little Miss Sassy happy, I’d never hear the end of it from him or his boyfriend. My heart clenched at the thought of how loyal these men were to my woman. As I stepped into the hall, I turned back to him. “I love her,” I told him, all false bravado and pretence gone.
He beamed. “Glad you finally came to your senses, boss. She’s good for you, and frankly, you deserve to be happy—both of you.”
The driver of the limo I’d hired for tonight opened the door, and I slid inside. Settling back into the seat, a grin spread across my face at the thought of seeing her. Just the idea of Marcie, waiting for me, was enough to make my chest tighten with anticipation.
Marcie must have been just as excited to see me. When I knocked on the door of her flat, she threw it open and launched herself into my arms.
“Oof!” I laughed, lifting her up and twirling her around before setting her back on her feet and kissing her soundly.
“Hello, beautiful. I love your dress. Another of Sara’s?” I asked.
“It is indeed. I love the silky fabric. It’s so sensual to touch,” she said, running her hands slowly, teasingly over her body.
I gulped, feeling an immediate rush, and pulled her closer. My hands found their way to her bum, squeezing gently. “It is soft and sensual. Just like you,” I murmured, my voice a low growl.
Her eyes sparkled, and she shimmied against me, rubbing herself against my groin.
“Hmmm, if you keep this up, honey, we won’t make our date,” I whispered in her ear.
“And that would be a bad thing?” she murmured, her body pressing closer to mine, making me instantly erect.
“Definitely not. But it would be a waste of my plans, and I’ve been working hard to impress you,” I said, my lips brushing her ear.
“Oh, you have? I thought you already knew just how much you’ve always impressed me,” she replied, nibbling at my neck as her hand slid down to squeeze my cock, the evidence of how much she impressed me, unmistakable.
I groaned in pleasure but reluctantly pulled away, my lips lingering on hers. “Later, honey. I really want us to have that first date we should have had from the start.”
“I’d love that. So, go on, Mr Sexy Soldier, impress away!”
I grinned and held my arm out to her. “Your limo awaits, my lady.”
She beamed and slipped her arm through mine, her eyes flicking over me, appreciating the effort. “You’re looking very suave tonight, Anton.”
I grinned back. “And you’re not just looking beautiful, Marcie. You’re always beautiful. But tonight…” I paused, letting my gaze roam over her—her dress hugging her body just right, her hair falling in soft waves around her face. “Tonight, you look like trouble. And that’s exactly what I love about you.”
She raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing at her lips as if my words had made her think. “Trouble, huh?” Her voice had softened, a flicker of devilment in her gaze. “I’ll look forward to living up to that assessment later then.” She purred.
“Oh, I bet you will,” I replied, with a chuckle.
As we walked arm in arm, she pressed in close to my side.
“You haven’t told me where we’re going,” she said, her curiosity piqued.
“Because it’s a surprise. It’s a night for us. No interruptions. Just you and me.”
“I can’t wait,” she said, her voice soft with anticipation as I helped her into the back of the limo.
The drive to the venue was filled with the tension that simmered between us—expectant, eager, and Marcie’s excited chatter as she listed possible places we might be heading to. I laughed softly and said, “Just wait and see.”
We finally arrived at the venue, and I could see her eyes widen. “Oh my god, I’ve been dying to go here! But it’s so difficult to book. Even with my connections, I’ve never been able to get in for any of my more affluent clients, let alone myself.” She gushed, and I could see I’d chosen right.
“How did you make this happen?” she asked in awe, her eyes wide as I led her up to the private rooftop restaurant. The soft glow of lights bathed the sleek tables and elegant setting. The low hum of conversation added to the atmosphere, but there was a sense of exclusivity, a sense that we were far removed from the world we’d left behind.
“I’ve got connections of my own,” I replied, silently thanking Marko for hacking into the restaurants booking app, bumping the person who already had the reservation, and setting up my own.
“Anton…” Her voice trailed off, disbelief and admiration mixing in it as she turned to face me. “This is…”
“Just wait,” I said softly, brushing my thumb across her hand before leading her inside.
We were escorted into a small private room with an amazing view of the city—perfectly framed, like something out of a dream. A candle flickered on the table between us, casting a warm glow.
“This is amazing,” she grinned, her eyes sparkling as she took in the scene.
A pianist began playing softly in the background, the familiar melody adding an intimate touch. The atmosphere shifted, and I could feel the moment grow heavier with something deeper. Marcie’s expression softened, and she looked over at me, her gaze filled with wonder that I didn’t often see.
“I didn’t expect this, Anton,” she murmured, her fingers resting lightly on her wineglass. “This is…”
“Special,” I offered, my voice low, almost a question.
“More than that,” she whispered. “I don’t know if I ever thought I’d deserve something like this. It’s the kind of thing I’ve helped plan for other people, but I never expected anyone to plan something like this for me.”
I leaned forward, feeling the words come from a deeper place as I caught her gaze. “You deserve everything, Marcie. I want to give you everything.”
Her throat worked as she swallowed hard, her eyes shimmering in the dim light. For a moment, I thought she might say something—maybe confess something of her own—but she didn’t. Instead, she reached across the table, her fingers closing around mine, warm and steady. She knew what I was offering without me needing to say more.
Dinner came, and we fell into easy conversation. We joked, laughed, and talked about everything and nothing. The connection between us felt effortless, and with each word, I found myself falling deeper under her spell.
After the main course, the pianist shifted to a more familiar melody. Her eyes flickered with recognition, and I could see the way her body relaxed, all tension slipping away. She loved music, loved how it could capture emotions in ways words couldn’t.
“Dance with me?” I asked quietly, my voice rough with the emotions I’d been holding back all night.
Her lips curved upward into a smile that I’d swear could light up the whole damn room. “I’d love to.”
I stood, offering my hand, and without hesitation, she took it. The second our bodies met, everything else faded away. We moved together, perfectly in sync, as if we’d been dancing together our whole lives. The soft slide of our bodies, the shared breath, the quiet rhythm between us—it was effortless.
And in that moment, my whole life fell into place and everything was right.