“Where are we going?” Emily wondered once in her mate’s car.
“Why would I want to spoil my surprise for you?” Theodore raised an eyebrow challengingly.
“You’re such a meanie,” she whined much like a petulant child as she hit his arm playfully.
It had been nearly half an hour since they left campus when Theodore handed her something. “Put this on,” he instructed.
She looked at the scarf she was given and was about to tie it around her neck when his chuckle stopped her. She focused on her mate’s face with a pout on her lips.
“Blindfold yourself, dorogaya,” he told her softly.
She let out an “Oh,” in acknowledgment at that. “What are we playing at?”
“Trust me,” he urged her when he stopped the car at a red light.
She looked into his beautiful gray eyes, and then nodded with a smile on. “I trust you with my life.”
After fastening it around her eyes, she felt his hand caress her leg lovingly. She moaned and squirmed slightly despite herself.
“On a scale of 1 to 10, how naughty have you been today, dorogaya?” He asked in his deep mesmerizing voice.
Her core throbbed at the images playing in her mind.
His hand inched higher and her breath stuck in her throat at the way he wrecked her body without trying.
“I asked you a question, dorogaya,” she could almost picture him smirking, enjoying tormenting her.
“I…” what was she to say? “I was really bad, lover,” she made up her mind, wanting to taste his raunchy side more than his loving side at that specific moment in time.
“Indeed you have been,” he confirmed. “You led Romeo to believe he stood a chance with you when you know perfectly well you’re mine, and mine alone.” She opened her mouth to protest only for him to stick his finger in.
She obediently sucked at it.
“I don’t care about the past he speaks of – high school crushes, obsessions and whatnots,” he iced out and she could almost taste the jealousy on her tongue. “I care about the present and our future together. And I’ll be damned if I allow a good-for-nothing sheltered golden boy to get in the way.”
He removed his finger and then traced a wet trail down her jaw and then her neck, making her whimper in need.
His hand sneaked into the neckline of her dress. And then with his thumb and forefinger, he pinched one painfully erect nipple.
She mewled her pleasure and he chuckled darkly.
“Do you even hear yourself, dorogaya?” He taunted and she shook her head negatively. “You sound like such a wanton woman…”
“For you,” she cut in breathlessly. “Only for you.”
“Good girl,” he all but growled.
She couldn’t have felt prouder at the praise.
Within a few more minutes, he stopped altogether and killed the engine.
“Can I…?” Emily asked at that, her hand rising to the blindfold.
“No. You cannot,” he told her matter-of-factly.
She obediently put her hand back down. “So I’m not getting off the car?” She asked hesitantly.
“Yes, you are, dorogaya,” he countered. “Only you won’t be blindfolded for long.”
She let out a strangled “Oh…” and then a timid “You don’t mean that,” followed.
“I do,” he said plainly. “Just trust me.”
“I don’t want to look weird, that’s all,” was her reply.
“You won’t, dorogaya,” he reassured her.
And with that, she heard him get off the car.
Within a few seconds, he was opening her door and helping her out.
“Where are we?” She asked him.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Theodore had left the car in an underground parking space before leading his sweet mate to the elevator. They got in and he pressed on the button that was to lead them to the first floor.
Emily leaned against his frame in the elevator. And he had to squash down the urge to touch her.
He then led her outside of the elevator and into the shop he had come for.
The jewelry maker himself was waiting for them.
“Welcome to my humble shop, Mr. King,” he said gallantly.
Emily stiffened at the voice. And that was when Theodore decided to put her out of her misery.
“You can remove the blindfold, dorogaya,” he whispered, and watched with mild amusement and awe how she shivered at his words.
She did as she was told, her cheeks a deep pink in color. And then, she looked around, and turned to stare at Theodore.
He stubbornly waited for her to speak her mind.
“What are we here for?” She gave in after a few seconds.
“We are here for a promise ring,” he told her softly, a small smile adorning his lips.
“A promise ring?” She echoed after him in a manner that spoke loudly of her confusion.
“Yes,” he nodded. “With this ring you have yet to choose, I vow to spend my life making yours a pleasant one. And I promise you that no matter what happens in the future, I will always choose you.”
It seemed that his words didn’t have the desired effect. Instead of her beaming with joy, jumping in his welcoming arms and kissing him, tears gathered in her eyes.
“Or we can have an engagement ring, if that’s what you desire?” He said urgently as he started to panic. He truly did not know how to deal with tears. “Or better yet…”
She silenced him with a finger on his lips. She shook her head negatively and then told him in a strangled voice, “I want this promise ring… You better not go back on your word, Theo.”
“I would never,” he smiled at her before embracing her in the sweetest hug.
The jewelry maker stood to the side, watching them with a fond expression on his face.
Within a few minutes, Emily had her mind set on a ring in particular. It was beautiful, elegant and yet simple – much like her, Theodore reasoned.
Theodore then handed his black card to the proud owner of the shop who had closed it to welcome them in particular.
Theodore hadn’t known how well – or to the contrary how poorly – his promise ring would be received, and thus he had wanted the intimacy of a private showing and thus basically rented the place for an hour.
If his mate’s contented expression on the ride back to the estate was any indication, he’d say he hadn’t gone wrong.
He partly hoped this promise ring would deter Romeo from further pursuing his mate too.