21. Chapter 21
Jade
“Stay with me, for one more night?” Fylis strokes my still damp hair as we lie in his bed together. A shower was desperately needed after the mess we made not only in his office, but also when we arrived at his house.
“Oh? Just one more night?” I tease, wiggling my hip into his.
“Or forever?” His voice nearly shakes like he’s waiting for me to flee at the drop of a hat. I scoot closer to him now, to reassure him I have no plans of leaving him again. When I don’t answer, his arms squeeze me, begging for reassurance.
Giving him a sultry smile, I finally speak, “Forever, huh? But you hardly know me, Fylis. How can you be so sure? What if I am simply unbearable to live with?” Keeping my tone curious and playful so he knows I’m here to stay.
It’s true, we hardly know each other, but that doesn’t mean our feelings aren’t already at a level of no return.
“Let’s go on a date. Or three. Or ten. However many it takes for you to feel like you truly know me. Let me show you that you are it for me.” He chimes in immediately with that boyish charm. A thrill shoots through me at his eagerness, my heart skipping a beat.
“A date sounds lovely.” Planting a kiss on his lips before he practically leaps out of bed.
“Great, I have a few calls to make.” Fylis rushes around his room, grinning ear to ear. “Tonight. 8pm. Our first date.” When he stops tearing through his room like a tornado, he comes back to the edge of the bed, kissing me on the forehead.
“What can I get for you? Food? Water? Coffee?”
I laugh at his eagerness but find it absolutely precious. It feels like I’m free-falling, but I don’t hate it. Our first date. This is really happening.
“I’ll go home and get ready for our first date.” Peeling myself out of his bed, I toss on some old sweats from my bag as he hands me one of his favorite sweaters. I take it with a smile, pulling it over my head while Fylis helps me gather my things and walks me to my car.
“I guess I should ask where you live so I can pick you up tonight.” His hand scratches at his curls nervously.
“835 Winding Pine Lane. Apartment 6.” Giving him one more kiss and a quick horn stroke for good measure, I get into my car and drive away, giddy as can be.
***
Fylis arrives before eight, my ever punctual satyr.
I make him wait until eight o’clock, though, just to get him riled up.
When I finally walk outside, a limo greets me with Fylis standing in a sage green suit off to the side.
The sight is mouth-watering. His curls bounce as he quickly walks over to me.
“Wow, Jade. You’re absolutely breathtaking.” He spins me around to get a good look at the emerald green dress I decided on. “Absolutely delicious,” Fylis whispers against my neck as he guides me over to the car, helping me in.
“So, do I get to know where we’re going?” I smirk as he scoots in next to me, his hand landing on my thigh.
“It’s a surprise.” Fylis cuts my next thought off with a kiss. My body heats at the passion behind it, and if this dress wasn’t so snug, I would have gotten down on my knees and sucked him off right there. Clenching my thighs together, the car takes off into the night.
We sit in blissful silence, as the world around us gets darker and darker. Only the starlight illuminates the car interior. Finally, the car stops, but nothing outside gives away the location. If I were with anyone else, I would be worried I was being driven to the middle of nowhere to be murdered.
Fylis takes my hand as the car door opens. Adjusting my dress, I take a look around and notice some lights up a small hill.
“Are you ready?” His eyes gleam at me, eyes that I would follow anywhere.
Nodding, I follow him up a gravel path toward the top of a hill, thanking myself for wearing flats tonight.
When we reach the top, a small gazebo lit up by string lights greets us.
A table sits in the center, surrounded by floor pillows and blankets.
A wine bucket is neatly placed in the corner, accompanied by a small speaker playing soft music.
“This is beautiful.” I turn back to Fylis, in awe. “You did all this? For me?” Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
Instead of words, he guides me over to a floor cushion, inviting me to sit. As he sits beside me, waiters come out of seemingly nowhere carrying a variety of charcuterie boards and food. My stomach growls, making Fylis laugh.
“Dig in, beautiful. Let’s eat, and then get to know each other.” Fylis begins telling me about the different foods as we sample everything before us. Once my stomach is near bursting, I finally take in the view. The small town lights twinkle below us like glitter.
“I grew up an only child. My parents are retired and live in another country. My favorite color is green. I love cheese and seafood, but I will eat about anything. My biggest fear is drowning, and before we met, I feared I would live alone forever.” Fylis spits out facts without hesitating, eliciting a giggle.
Finishing my bite, I think for a moment.
“I am also an only child. I was adopted by my lovely parents, who have since passed.” Fylis gives me a sympathetic look.
“It was a peaceful passing. They adopted me much later in life. Barb and John were great. We travelled all over the world, hence the multiple languages. I always wanted a love like theirs.” I swallow the knot in my throat, remembering their love for each other.
Deep and endless like an ocean. Always so patient with each other and encouraging.
They didn’t bat an eye when I started working for the club.
Barb always told me I was a go-getter and had a way of bringing out the strengths in others.
Fylis sits quietly with a soft smile, watching me.
Rubbing the stray tear off my cheek before continuing.
“My favorite color is also green. Cheese is one of my top food groups, but I prefer beef over other meats. Steak girl.” He nods like he’s logging every detail I give him.
“My biggest fear was the future. I couldn’t picture it if I tried.
Before you, that is. With working at the club, you don’t really expect to meet the person you want to be with forever.
” My hands start to fiddle with my hair, and Fylis bites his lips like he’s holding something back. “Go on,” I laugh. “What is it?”
“Dr-”
“Don’t you dare say Drogo.” I squeal, slapping his knee playfully.
“I’m just saying, the guy is hot. Pun intended.” Fylis winks, and we both snort.
“Drogo’s my mentor, he helped train me. Yeah, we’ve messed around a bit, and sure, he’s good-looking. But he’s not the kind of guy I’d ever settle down with. Honestly, I doubt he’d ever settle down with just one person.”
“Thank you. For sharing parts of yourself with me.” His voice is soft and sincere as he pulls me onto his lap, my legs straddling his hips.
“Thank you for tonight. For walking through my door that first night. And for every night after.” Lying my head onto his shoulder, we sit quietly embracing as the town lights below dim one by one.