Chapter 7
At 5pm there's a knock at the door. When I open it Cassey breezes in with a bottle of champagne. She throws her arms around me in a back breaking hug. “Happy birthday! I brought bubbly to celebrate!”
I take the offered bottle and we go to the kitchen.
I get a couple of glasses and make a show of trying to pour it underarm.
Surprisingly I do a good job. I give Cassey her glass and we go upstairs.
I notice Cassey bring the bottle with her after raiding the cupboards for a bag of popcorn.
She nestles herself in my pink fluffy bean bag in the corner of the room and I plonk myself down on the bed.
“Wait don't tell me anything yet!” She opens the bag takes a gulp of champagne then starts munching whilst watching me like I'm the latest blockbuster. “Right I'm ready.” She says around a mouth of popcorn.
“Ok... I'm a Nymph!” I beam at her with my arms wide in the air.
She stops mid chew. “Right OK great! But you wanting sex all the time doesn't solve everything that's been going on. Good for you though! It takes a lot to admit something that personal.”
“Not a fucking Nympho! A Nymph! I'm like a nature fairy. I have to keep balance and protect earth and stuff.” I snatch the bag of popcorn from her before she clears the bag.
“Wait so... like a mother nature sorta thing? Like D.C.'s Poison Ivy!” She bites her bottom lip and stares at me wide eyed.
“Yeah kind of. I'm the opposite of evil though.” I fill her in on everything my mum told me. By the end of it she's bouncing up and down in the bean bag.
“This is so awesome! By the way I don't feel obsessive over you. I love you but Christian is more than enough to keep me from turning lezzie.” She gives me a wink. “So, what does this mean about Alistair?”
Shit Alistair! I check the time it's 6:45pm! He's gonna be here any minute “Umm... Funny you should say that. I'm kinda supposed to be having dinner with him in about 15 minutes.” I wait for the explosion whilst wringing my hands.
“Well what are you sitting there for!? Get ready! A crazy hot guy wants to take you out for dinner on not only your birthday but Valentine’s Day as well!
Now that we know why all the shit happened, Alistair is more or less in the clear and maybe he was stalker-ish because of your new Nymphyness.
” She tips the crumbs from the popcorn bag into her mouth.
“Go have fun and if he tries anything you can hang him from a tree!”
“You really think this is a good idea?” The butterflies from earlier have turned into bats. The nervous excitement is making me feel sick.
She refills my glass and pushes it up to my mouth. “Yes! Now drink up your liquid confidence and don't do anything I wouldn't do. You can fill me in on everything on our way to college tomorrow.”
I do as she says and check myself in the mirror.
Considering I've trekked through the woods I look great.
I don't think I even need make-up. My lashes look long and sultry, my complexion is blemish free and my hair has volume and shine.
I squirt a bit of Jean Paul Gautier on my neck and wrists and slip on some nude stilettos.
My phone dings and Cassey grabs it. “Oooooo he's outside waiting for you!”
My heart skips a beat and I take a second to calm myself. Why am I so nervous! It's not like I'm into him or anything. I don't even know why I'm going. Yeah keep telling yourself that Krista. I straighten my dress and throw my phone in my black clutch.
“While you’re gone, I'm gonna hang with your mum and drink this champagne. I have loads to find out from her!” She ushers me downstairs and out the door. “Have fun!”
I stand stunned on the porch for a second then turn.
“I'll try!” I shout back.
I look across the street and see Alistair standing next to a sporty looking black Mercedes.
He's wearing a black suit with a black shirt.
The top button is undone giving him a slightly laid-back look.
I half hear Cassey shout bye and close the front door but I'm too busy trying to slow my racing heart to answer.
His gaze is locked on mine and it takes all my concentration to put one foot in front of the other without tripping in these stupidly high shoes.
Today has been a whirlwind and it doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
As I get closer, I start to sense the darkness that surrounds him.
Wafting around and lurking beyond sight.
It gives me goosebumps and makes me feel uneasy.
Once again, my instincts tell me to run.
I'm reminded of the way he would hang around watching me like a creep.
When for a second, he seemed to just watch whilst Nick attacked me.
Then when he caressed my side in the changing room.
He helped me with Robbie and since then has been arrogant and cocky.
I have no idea what to make of him but I can't help but be intrigued.
Cassey had a complete change of heart but maybe she's overconfident in my new-found power.
As I reach the car, he comes around to the passenger side and opens the door for me.
He puts a hand on my side pulling me closer to him.
He smells of expensive cologne. Not overpowering in the slightest. It's like a cold musk with a hint of something sweet.
It's alluring in the most addictive way.
It makes me clench deep inside and I bite my lip, eyes wide and unable to pull away.
He's intoxicating. “You look delicious.” His voice is soft and seductive sending shivers racing up my spine.
He takes a deep breath in then lets me go. “After you.”
With a small 'thanks', I get in his car. He closes the door and as he makes his way round to the other side, I take a second to recover my senses. It's frightening how easily he turned me into putty in his hands. I straighten my back determined not to be so easily won over.
As he gets in and starts the car, I hazard a glance and see him watching me a smile playing on his lips. I quickly look away and hold my bag tightly in my lap.
“You are radiant tonight. I knew you would change but this is incredible. I don't know how I will resist you.” His tone is smooth and enticing.
“What do you mean you knew?” I narrow my eyes at him. It's clear he knows far more than he's letting on.
His grin is predatory as he looks me up and down. Like he's undressing me with his eyes. I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him accusingly. “Quit the bullshit Alistair or you can turn this car around.”
He laughs and his perfect teeth shine in an oncoming car’ headlights. “Just as feisty as ever. I know every fibre of your being is telling you to run like hell away from me so I can't help but wonder why your choosing to ignore your instincts so fiercely?”
How could he possibly know that? What's more how do I reply without looking like an idiot? I can't even explain to myself why. It's like he's a magnet drawing me in and I can't help myself I want to know more. “Your hiding something what is it?”
“Curiosity killed the cat you know.” The cocky grin is back like he has all the control in the world.
He slows the car as we come up to a small bookshop on a quiet town street.
The lights are on and all I can see in the front windows are rows of full bookshelves.
He parks right outside and gets out. I open my door and as I go to get up his hand is outstretched for me to take.
I accept his help as the car sits low to the ground.
His skin is soft to the touch and he practically lifts me to standing without any sign of effort.
As soon as I'm up I drop his hand and I straighten my dress.
He chuckles and walks towards the book shop.
The windows are surrounded by fairy lights and the outside is made of wood painted white.
The sign above the door says 'Kitty's Book shop'. As I catch up to Alistair, I notice a metal stand just beside the door with an open book sitting on it. On closer inspection, I realise it’s a menu.
We go inside and the smell of Italian food hits my nose.
I've walked past this book shop a million times but I never knew it was a restaurant by night.
It's adorable and cosy. There’re rows upon rows of bookshelves and nestled in discrete corners are tables for two with candles and flowers in the centre.
Soft classical music is playing in the back ground and you can just about hear other couples at their tables and the clinking of cutlery.
An elderly lady meets us at the door and introduces herself as Kitty.
She walks us through to a quiet corner near the back.
As we sit she hands us a couple of menus.
I'm shocked at how Alistair could have known this place exists.
It doesn't strike me as the sort of place he'd go to for a meal.
He seems like the type that would be more at home at a place like the Ritz or any other huge high-end restaurant.
Not a secret, romantic bookshop. I couldn't think of a more perfect place to go out to dinner.
Alistair orders a couple glasses of pink champagne and as Kitty leaves I feel like we're the only two people here.
“So, what do you think?” That predatory grin is back as he reclines in his chair.
I give him a genuine smile. “It's lovely. How do you know about this place?”
“I make a point of knowing places that are off the beaten track. I find them much more intimate.” His silver eyes flash and my heart flutters.
I bite my bottom lip as I look down at my menu determined to not get tangled in the web he's weaving.
I don't trust him yet and he's got a lot to do to come close to it, despite what my hormones think.
I put my menu down, lean forward on the table and stare him dead in the eyes.
The champagne from earlier is kicking in making me feel a bit reckless.
I reach across the table and trace a circle on the back on his hand.
“Are you going to tell me what is going on or not?
You know a lot more than your letting on and I'm not interested in mind games.” I keep my voice low and look up at him through my lashes.
He leans forward as well leaving just a few inches between us. His voice is barely a whisper. “You are far more important than you know Krista. You are unlike any Nymph that I have had the extraordinary pleasure of meeting before.”
His knowledge of what I am shocks me and I pull my hand away but not before he grabs it in his own and brings it to his lips.
A low growl leaves his lips that heats me up from within.
He brushes his lips against my knuckles and inhales.
“You are divine Krista.” As if broken from a trance his blinks and lowers my hand back to the table.
I realise I was holding my breath and manage to snap myself out of it just as Kitty walks over with our drinks.
“Are you ready to order?” She says as she places our drinks on the table.
I haven't even looked at the menu. “Umm...-”
“We'll have two of the Spaghetti Con Polpette please.” Replies Alistair as he passes her his menu. He gives her a dazzling smile and she nods shyly as she takes my menu as well.
He turns back to me all business. “I know you have questions and I fully intend to answer them but first I want to know. Why aren't you running for the hills away from me?”
His question catches me off guard. “I don't know...”
He narrows his eyes at me. “You do know Psychi Mou. Tell me.”
Maybe it's the champagne but I feel bold.
“You intrigue me. You have a fog around you that feels dark but for some reason I know that there's more to you than that.
You've helped me a lot just lately, maybe I do owe you a favour in return.” I lick my lips then take a sip of champagne without breaking eye contact with him.
His eyes narrow and he also takes a sip from his glass.
“I'll be sure to take you up on that someday.” His voice is dripping with promise.
It leaves me excited for when he does cash it in.
My core tightens and I cross my legs to try and elevate the growing tension between them.
He seems to sense my reaction to him and his eyes darken with that familiar cocky grin.
This is going to be a long night and I don't think I want it to end.