8 #2
He’d found two empty parking spaces next to each other, and she pulled into one of them as he did the same. She grabbed her purse and opened her door. Elion was coming around to her driver’s side as she got out.
She placed her hand in his when he held it out to her, and she locked her door as they made their way inside the restaurant. They were seated quickly, and she thanked the host as he placed menus in front of them.
After reviewing her menu for a few minutes, Olani decided what she wanted and placed it down. When their server came to the table, they gave their drink and food order before she turned her attention to Elion.
“So, I’m assuming that you’d been zip lining before,” she sparked up the conversation.
“Once for Clara’s birthday. We spent the whole day there doing all fifteen lines they had.”
“That’s a lot. I don’t think I’d be able to do more than six or so.”
“I’m sure you could,” Elion responded. “I’d carry you the entire time if you wanted,” he finished with a smirk.
Olani found herself laughing, but she was sure she’d be able to manage a few more zip lines if they went down them the way they had the first three.
When their instructor told her they could go down together, it helped curb some of her nervousness.
She hadn’t expected Elion to pick her up and for her to essentially sit on his lap as they went down.
It wasn’t until she asked him not to let go and he assured her he wouldn’t that she was able to relax. Something about the way he said it, the finality in his voice, and the way he’d pulled her closer made her feel as if nothing could go wrong.
Their server returned with their drinks, and she placed her straw in her lemonade before stirring it a bit. She took a drink before leaning back in her chair.
“You will be happy to know that our owl mug is serving its purpose well,” she informed Elion.
She’d allowed it to sit for an entire day and washed it out.
Since then, she’d been having her morning tea in it.
The little mug was slowly becoming Olani’s favorite.
It was the first thing she’d ever made of clay, and she had fun making it.
The fact that she felt as if she and Elion connected while creating it was a plus.
Ultimately, he’d been the only person she enjoyed going on a date with.
After giving the doctor a second chance and not hearing from him, she decided that it was for the best. She was enjoying getting to know Elion.
More surveys continued to come in, and while she looked at them, she marked a few of them in the event she decided to contact them.
At the moment, she had no desire to do so, and Olani wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.
“I’m glad you like it,” Elion responded. “We can make another at some point, and you’ll have a pair.”
She smiled at him. “I’d like that.”
Her phone began to vibrate in her purse, and Olani apologized, reaching in to get it.
She looked at the screen and saw that Xola was calling.
Olani sent her to voicemail before sending her a text message.
Xola had a late session, so she hadn’t been able to come along and make sure that Olani was safe, which was fine with her.
She didn’t think Elion would do anything to her.
Olani: Hey, I’m fine. We decided to have dinner. I’m dropping a pin of my location.
Xola: Okay, I just wanted to check. Have fun and tell me about it later.
Olani returned her phone to her purse before giving Elion her full attention again. “I’m sorry, it was my cousin.”
“You don’t need to apologize,” he informed her. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, she was just checking in.”
They talked for the next fifteen minutes until their food came.
As they ate, Olani asked him if he’d decided on the next theme for his exhibit since he was getting over his creative block.
Elion told her that he didn’t have a clue, and usually, he just subconsciously ended up creating pieces that went well together.
She knew it took great talent for something like that to happen.
He asked her how work was going, and Olani told him that she’d just contracted with a new business opening up, that she had a meeting with another next week, and that she was hoping it went well.
When they finished eating, their server brought their bill along with two complimentary mints. She took one while Elion took the other, picking up the bill along with it. Olani opened her mouth to protest, but he stopped her.
“I asked you out, remember?”
“Fine, but I’m paying next time,” she responded, placing the soft mint in her mouth.
Their server returned a few minutes later, taking the bill and Elion’s card. Olani made a mental note to come back to the restaurant. It was her first time there, and the food and service were both amazing.
“So, it’s your turn to choose what we do next time,” she stated as they waited for the server to return.
“I’ll have to think of something as exciting as zip lining. Though, you may not have to be in my lap while doing it,” he teased with a smirk.
She shook her head with a smile. He knew that she hadn’t been scared on the last line. It seemed that he wasn’t going to let her live it down, and he enjoyed teasing her about it.
When their server returned, Elion signed the ticket, and Olani left some money on the table for a tip.
As they exited the restaurant, he took her hand and opened the door for her, leading the way to their cars. When she unlocked her door, he opened it for her, and she turned to him.
“I had fun. Thank you for helping me through my nervousness.”
“Anytime,” Elion responded, running his knuckles down her cheek.
She leaned into it momentarily. “I guess I’ll see you next time.”
She turned to get into her car, but he cupped the side of her face, and before she could take a breath, his lips were on hers. Their lips moved slowly, in sync, and after a moment, he slipped his tongue into her mouth, and his free hand went to her waist.
Olani’s arms went around his neck, and she pushed up on her tiptoes, deeper into the kiss.
His hand on her cheek went to the back of her neck, and she followed him in the kiss, allowing him to control the tempo.
With the way he was kissing her, she was sure she’d be breathless when they pulled apart.
His hand on her waist tightened, and he pulled her body flush against his. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been kissed like this. With so much deliberation, so much want and passion, and yet she got the feeling he was holding back, restraining himself.
When they pulled apart, Elion rested his forehead against hers. Olani’s chest rose and fell as her hands slipped from over his shoulders and down his chest, feeling the muscles strain against the T-shirt he wore.
He pecked her on the lips before releasing her. “I’ll see you next week,” he told her. It wasn’t a question; honestly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to wait until next week. However, she had to respect his time as well. So, she nodded.
She slipped into her car, and he closed the door when she was situated and stepped back. She started the car, and he watched her pull out before going around and getting into his car.
As she headed out of the parking lot, Olani ran her tongue over her lips, remembering what Elion’s felt like against them, and she wanted to know how he’d kiss her if he didn’t hold back.