I didn’t even stress about trying to find a nanny to watch Zion while I was away. Aaron made provisions for that just as he did to ensure safety in my neighbourhood by acquiring security for Zion and me. He already thought ahead, and Ivan came over to stay with my son. He was the cool uncle, after all. I didn’t want to put too much into my appearance, but a part of me wanted to look good for this man. It was his first date, lest we forget, and it deserved to be special.
My phone buzzed before the dressing mirror where I stood, and I saw the caller ID as Diya. I smiled, picked up the call, and placed the phone to my ear.
“Zera! How are you doing?” Her cheerful tone came charging through.
“I’m fine, Diya; it seems you’re out.”
“Greg took me out to the newest club opening on East Street.”
“Oh wow, you’re living the life with your husband, and I am happy for you.” I heard a honk from the car, and I knew Aaron was already at the door waiting.
“Who’s that?” Her tone came off suspicious, along with her question.
“Aaron?” I bit my lower lips gingerly.
“Why is he there? I thought you had Zion on Fridays.”
I pressed my lips together; she was way behind in the happenings in my life. In my defence, she was still newlywed and deserved to enjoy her time with her husband, so I bothered her less with the things taking place in my life, including the little escapade I have had with Aaron so far.
‘You call that a little?’
“Zera, what haven’t you told me?”
The honk came again, louder than the last, and I jumped on my stand. “Umm, I’ve got to go, Diya. Take care.”
“Don’t you dare end t-!” I ended the call before she got to finish her words and slipped the phone into the red purse I had in my hand. I picked up my long black jacket and raced out of the room and into the living room. I knew Diya would demand the full story once she gets the chance again, but I didn’t have to answer it today.
I opened the house door, and the gorgeous-looking Aaron Hart in black long sleeves and trousers stood in front of me. He looked the same as earlier except for his hair, now neatly arranged in a bun, bringing out his bold facial features.
He beheld me, and a broad smile spread across his handsome face, revealing his dimples. His smile lit me up from the inside out, and I smiled as well.
“Wow, you were dressed to kill tonight,” he said, and his eyes trailed over me, taking each part of my body in at a time, from my head to my toe and then back.
I wore a short red dress that stopped mid-thigh and barely left anything to the imagination. The deep V cut on the dress highlighted my cleavage greatly. My neck and shoulders were exposed, and the diamond necklace made it stand out. I took the time to do my make-up and hair, and now, though it fell on my shoulder, I had made it into a curly wave.
“You like it?”
“Keeping my hands off you tonight would be an almost impossible task.” He groaned, taking a step closer towards me. His cologne, mixed with his manly smell, made his nearness intoxicating, and forbidden thoughts flew through my head.
My cheeks warm up. “You look amazing yourself.”
He rolled his eyes at my compliment. “Just trying to make me feel better,” he said, offering me his hand.
“I am not. You have always looked amazing to me.” I took hold of it, and he pulled me closer to wrap his arms around me.
“Always?” I felt his brow rise. “Even those times when we weren’t on the same terms?” he asked.
I bobbed my head, thankful for the night because my cheeks looked as red as tomatoes from our little harmless exchanges. “Even then, I thought you looked amazing, which made me angrier.”
With Aaron, it was easy to admit my most hidden secrets and those I wanted to keep to myself. I felt free with him, free enough to confess without fear of judgment.
“You’ve always been beautiful to me, from the first day I laid my eyes on you, even now.” He opened the door for me, and I entered. He closed the door and got in as well before driving us away.
We arrived at the Grande restaurant and made our way in. Aaron had already made reservations, and when he saw us, the attendant greeted us and led us to our seats. For the next thirty minutes, we stared at the menu. However, I’d lower the menu once in a while and peek up to stare at Aaron, whose concentration didn’t sway from the menu. I then asked myself how one man could embody so much beauty. Whenever his eyes lifted, mine returned to the menu, which I held onto.
“Have you made your choice of food, or will you have me instead?” Aaron asked, not looking up from his menu but somehow sensing my eyes on him.
“Umm,” I swallowed because I hadn’t made my pick, and I also didn’t think having him would be such a bad idea. “I haven’t,” I muttered.
“Then take your time.” He said that, and I think he enjoyed the attention he got from me and didn’t want it to end.
My gaze narrowed on him. “Can I have you instead?”
“Yes, you can, any time and any place. We just have to get through tonight and reach an agreement,” he answered, his voice still calm.
I didn’t want him to be calm. I wanted him to be as affected as I was. That was the whole point of wearing this killer outfit, which, by the way, was snuffing the life out of me. I wanted him to crave me as much as I craved him. I wanted his eyes on me. Those wide, mesmerising hazel eyes staring into mine like he could see my very soul while he fucks me slowly.
“Fuck!” I cursed under my breath, and my legs clamped together at the impact of the thoughts.
“I can smell you. I can smell your arousal, Zera. Unless you want me to take you on this table while everyone watches, you wouldn’t have such nasty thoughts in your head that are wetting you up,” he said, his eyes staying on mine. His bold assessment caused turmoil within me, and I wanted that mouth of his on me.
My nipples hardened and pushed against the fabric of my clothes. I bit down on my lips, calming my wild thoughts, but a few lingered.
Would it be so bad if he took me here and now while everyone watched?
Oh wow, Zera, you’ve become a woman so sex-desperate that she wouldn’t care about anything, even privacy.
My eyes focused on the menu in my hand, and I picked out the Chinese fried rice and chicken and set the menu down, waiting for the attendant.
“I’m done picking.”
“Good.”
The attendant came, took the menu, and returned with our meals on served plates in no time. We thanked them and ate the food. I enjoyed my Chinese fried rice, and from the look on his face, he seemed to enjoy the macaroni and steak he had.
We ate in silence, and I placed my cutlery on the tray after I finished eating. Aaron did as well, wiping his mouth and picking up the glass of water on the table.
“You wanted us to talk over the date,” I said, reminding him why we came over.
He set the glass down and nodded. “Yes, I wanted that, and it was because I wanted more than just having sex with the mother of my son.”
If he puts it that way, what we’ve done is nothing sexy. I certainly won’t put it that way.
“Then what do you want?”
“You know who I am. And why I’m not like other men. You also know how short my time is. Still, you chose me.”
Okay, I did not like the path this discussion was taking. Whenever someone started their conversation that way, it always led down a road the other didn’t want. I feared what I was about to hear. “Okay…”
He placed his entwined hands on the table. “You’re an intelligent woman, smart and well-articulated, and your bravery pushed me to do this. I am an alpha, and according to creation, a mate is as important as an alpha to his pack. When an alpha comes of age, he finds his mate, the only one meant for his soul whom he would unite with and become as one.”
Okay, this wasn’t as horrible as the options of things I thought he would say, which flew around in my head. “And you think I am your mate?”
“A part of me felt you were my mate when we first met, but you were human, and alphas do not mate with humans. They could have them for a period, but the bond would never come in. However, we united that weekend and every fibre of my being told me you were the one. It made me reconsider the stand I’d taken many years ago. Humans could be mates with our kind if the moon goddess wishes it so. I understand this might be too much for you, and if you don’t feel the same way,” he trailed off, losing the words to say, but I stayed silent, wanting him to go on and finish what he wanted to say. I couldn’t interrupt because I didn’t know what to say either. “I will completely understand.”
I did some research after I returned home. It was to help me further understand the man I had grown weak towards and the man my son will become someday. The more I read, the more complicated it became. I wanted this man more than anything, but I stopped researching him and waited for him to tell me about himself. Now that he had spoken, I knew I needed to do more research. I did not digest as much as I thought I would, and his explanation didn’t help.
“Do I get to take the time to think?” I asked after a while of silence.
He nodded. “Yes, you can have all the time you need.”
End of Part 4