Chapter 24 #2
I turned and pulled my hair to one side.
I felt his fingers grazing the sensitive skin on my back as he tied the cords together.
He took his time, lightly touching me again and again.
Shivers went up my spine and a fraction of a second later I felt his lips touch the back of my neck.
He kissed my skin softly just once. I didn’t want him to stop; his lips felt so soft against my skin.
He leaned close and whispered gently in my ear. “You look absolutely breathtaking, now that I have regained my ability to actually speak.”
“Thank you,” I said, turning around to face him. “I’m pretty sure whoever designed that suit didn’t know it could look that good. So good, in fact, I think it might look even better wadded up on the floor.” I could see the flare in his eyes. He chuckled and shook his head.
“You, my dear, are in very serious trouble.”
He laughed, his smile lit up his whole face, and I came to a realization. I was already past the point of no return; he had me, whether he knew it or not. I wasn’t going to let him know that though—not yet.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine.
It was a sweet kiss, and I was both disappointed and thankful that he didn’t deepen it.
I took a few steps away from him and twirled.
When I stopped, I stepped out with my left leg, exposing it in its entirety, all the way to my hip, through the slit of the dress. Maddox swallowed hard.
“So much fucking trouble. We need to leave now before I change my mind about letting you leave this room at all. Even to eat, which provides energy—which I fully intend on completely depleting at some point very soon.”
He slowly closed the space between us as he spoke. Leaning down, he let his lips graze my ear as he trailed a single finger down the center of my exposed spine.
“Over and over—again, and again.”
I put my hand flat on his chest and pushed him back. “I got all dressed up. You will be taking me out before I even consider letting you take any of this off,” I said, gesturing to the length of my body and its attire.
“If you insist,” he said, making a sweeping motion toward the door of the hotel room. “After you.”
He picked up his wallet and slid it into his pocket.
He placed his phone in the inside pocket of his jacket.
I picked up my phone and walked toward the door.
I hated carrying a purse and opted for a wristlet with my identification, cards, and cash.
If I had pockets, I wouldn’t even be carrying that.
Maddox opened the door, and we headed out to make our eight o’clock dinner reservation.
Walking up the sidewalk to the restaurant, I was impressed by the thought and effort that Maddox had put into this in such a short time. The enormous building had once been a prominent home. It was built from pink stone and there were so many windows.
“It’s pink,” I blurted it out. “This building is remarkable. I can only imagine what the inside looks like.”
“It’s made from jasper; the architecture is Romanesque Revival. It took four years to build and was completed in 1894.” Maddox started sharing facts about the restaurant as we approached.
“Do you have a secret love for architecture?”
“No, I like to research places that I visit; it allows me to appreciate it more. I also enjoy places with history and a good backstory. Besides, after a couple hundred years I sure hope I’m more than just a pretty face and great abs.”
“Don’t forget the hair. You do have great hair,” I said, teasing him.
We walked up the steps and under an archway onto the porch.
Maddox opened the door, and I entered into a hallway that emptied into an enormous room full of mahogany and three crystal chandeliers.
There was a stairway leading to the top two floors directly in front of us.
The wood was dark and rich, giving the entire room a masculine feel.
I could see a gorgeous stained-glass window on the first landing of the stairs; it stretched two stories.
A wooden grand piano was to the left, opposite a very prominent fireplace flanked by two antique wooden chairs with velvet seats.
I was in awe of the structure’s majestic beauty, and I had only seen a mere fraction of the first floor.
Maddox spoke with the hostess; she picked up two menus and led us to our table.
She informed us that we would be sitting in the library.
When we entered the room, the first thing I noticed was a lot of blue.
It wasn’t a bad thing in the slightest. The ceiling was muted blue with white designs and an ornate wooden grid design with small hanging lights.
A blue mosaic tile fireplace was surrounded by more mahogany and matching bookshelves holding classic novels.
There was wood running halfway up the wall with beautiful blue and white wallpaper above that tied the design of the room together.
The tables were covered in long white linen tablecloths, and the chairs appeared as old as the building itself—gold trim with exquisitely designed cushions.
She led us to a table for two that was positioned in front of a window with floor-length white curtains.
Maddox pulled my chair out for me and gently slid it in as I sat.
He proceeded around the table, taking his seat across from me.
“Thank you so much; this building really is an experience all on its own. Not to mention, I am in my happy place in any library or bookstore.”
“You are very welcome. I’m happy that you can appreciate it as much as I do.
I have lived a long time and tend to appreciate things a little more because there is so much ugly in the world; it’s a nice reprieve to get lost in the small pleasures of life.
It’s easy for things to become mundane. I desire to see new places, have new experiences, taste new foods, and learn new things. ”
“You’re a man that tries every day not just to go through the motions.
To take your time and never miss a chance to make memories.
That sounds like a man who doesn’t do things half-ass—a man that puts forth his all into everything he does.
You are blessed with time, and you use it exactly as you should. ”
“It becomes easy to appreciate things and not be concerned with time constraints when you have all the time in the world.”
His eyes smoldered, saying more than the words that left his lips. Their weight hung heavily in the air. I was hungry, but the signals firing in my brain were focused somewhere lower than my stomach. I crossed my legs, seeking pressure.
“Hello, my name is Shelby, and I will be your server this evening.”
The girl continued to give us the entire rundown. I nodded in all the right places and tried to listen. I was painfully aware that Maddox was still staring at me and didn’t look away for a second until the girl finished speaking.
He smiled at the server and then looked back at me, indicating that I should order first. We gave the server our order and she returned a few moments later with water and wine. When she left, Maddox smiled at me. “So, when do you think that you want to address the Xavier situation?”
“Well, I’m not sure how this whole thing works, but I do have an idea on how I think it should.”
“Normally you would have the final say on what his punishment is and how to proceed. However, if you have an idea that you believe would work better, that is your prerogative, and I am all ears.”
“I believe it should be all five of the leaders that decide what happens. I think that we should have Alexander recite his version of events and for Scott to do the same. Then the five of us discuss what we think and come to a decision together.” I didn’t know if he thought it was a good idea.
I wasn’t sure the other four would agree, but I didn’t think it was fair for me to be the judge and jury.
I needed to learn to walk before I tried to run.
“Honestly, I think it’s a good idea. The reason it was never done that way before is because we entrusted the weakest race with making those kinds of decisions.
They seem to be more levelheaded and run more on morals than instinct.
As someone who is not considered human, I have to tell you our viewpoints and the manner in which we handle things tend to be…
animalistic and self-serving. It is the nature of the beast. So, by allowing the weakest to be self-serving, it didn’t normally inflict too much pain on us. Humans are more forgiving.”
“Checks and balances of sorts. It makes sense; humans have the greatest risk of losing everything. We are in charge because the others allow it. That sounds like a precarious situation.”
Shelby returned to the table with our appetizers and checked our beverages. When she left the table, we resumed our conversation.
“Yes, although I get that it sounds like an agreement that could be easily severed by any of the other four at any time, and that doesn’t sound good at all.”
“You are not wrong. Try being the human in that scenario,” I said, picking at my food.
“Jos, this agreement, pact, oath—whatever you want to call it—has been in place for the better part of two thousand years.”
“Holy shit, are you serious? You failed to mention that before,” I said, completely dumbfounded.
“I am serious. This has been protecting all of our species since before any of us were even alive. It is bigger than you think. There are even rumors that there will come a time when five blood heirs will reign side by side. It’s said that when that time arrives, it also means that great destruction will rule worldwide.
That when those five predetermined heirs come together, they alone have the ability to save us.
If they don’t come together and accept who they are, the world will perish—along with all of our races. ”
“Well, let’s hope that it’s just a rumor,” I said, genuinely hoping so.