Page 35 of Little Wing
“Thank you,” he exhaled slowly. “I think that’s it then. That’s the grand opening. Now things will just run. Hopefully people will stopin and take advantage of our services.” He brought his hand up to his head and allowed his fingers to pass through thick strands of his curls. “I can’t believe I had to talk that much. Mateo is a natural at that, but I prefer a smaller crowd.”
My lip twitched, thinking of something cheeky I could throw in, to hasten his descent into a more relaxed state. Though as my lips parted, Silas took my hand in his and motioned behind us.
“Come, let me show you the office. Figure it’ll be a little quieter in there than out here.”
I felt the tension in his touch as he led me up a few steps to the split-level where a brand-new hall was built to accommodate more meeting rooms and his office space that he shared with Mateo. It was barely a few seconds after the door closed before Silas’s body was dangerously close to mine. I didn’t even get a chance to look around the room before I was caged between his arms and his lips were brushing against my cheek.
“That was a fucking rush,” he groaned, the vibration in his voice making me want to squirm. I wondered if he could feel the magnetized pull between us. “Thank you again for coming. You really did keep me grounded up there.”
“I just stood there. I just stood there and listened.”
“Nonsense, you beautiful creature.” As his lips spread, he brought his hands up to my face. His thumb traced idly on my cheek. “You did so much more than that.” As his hands began moving to my waist, my body responded to every single touch. Every gentle caress over my clothed skin felt electric.
“Silas," I gasped.
“I had to fight back against every instinct I had not to rush from that stage to pull you into my arms, Lo.” Silas breathed, his lips pressing softly against mine. The sensation forced my eyes to flutter shut. WhatI wouldn’t give to melt right into him right then and there. I did, of course, have to remember where we were and what was happening just beyond the office door. Guests, investors, and community members were actively mingling while I was doing everything in my power to squeeze my thighs together.
“I-I’m sure it was adrenaline, right?” I asked, despite the feeling being completely mutual.
“No,” he assured me. “I saw just a hint of your freckles from up there and I couldn’t take it. I knew I had to kiss this fucking perfect mouth.” Before he leaned down to press another kiss to my lips, he rubbed his thumb over my lower lip. “You’ve invaded my mind, Lo. Completely.”
“Is… that a bad thing?” I whispered against his thumb, terrified of altering the outcome of whatever was happening between us.
Silas sighed softly and stepped back, allowing me to move away from the door he had me up against. “Not at all.” While I looked around, he stepped back and rubbed the back of his neck gingerly. “I’d just really like to take you out on a proper date. Take you out to dinner, to say thank you for everything.”
A date? I blinked slowly, letting the words register, but my brain was running on overdrive to the point that it had slowed down to a sudden lag. A date? With me? Me and Silas? On a date? I must have looked like I was rebooting, because Silas was smiling sweetly at me while waving slowly in front of my face.
“Lo?”
“I apologize… what did you say?”
Silas laughed again, this time flashing me his pointed canines. “Would you, Lotus Evans, go on a date with me? I would like to take you out to dinner and drinks.”
Okay, I did hear him correctly.
“I… would love to.”
“Lotus!” Reina crooned outside my door. “So, this is seriously happening? You’re finally going on a date with him?” The door creaked. I could tell she was leaning against it.
“Yes, I am,” I responded as I stood in front of my mirror and looked back and forth between two outfits I had to pick from. It was either a simple emerald colored dress with a light jacket, or perhaps a black dress that would hug my waist and flare out gently at the hips. Both would certainly show more skin than I normally dared but tonight felt like a grand gesture that I wanted to make.
After the grand opening of Little Wing, my brain replayed the sight of Silas unable to take his eyes off me every evening since.
Before I laid down to rest.
When I showered.
And most certainly when I woke up. His name always being the last thing to roll off my tongue before succumbing to pleasure.
Uncertainty swirled in my heart when I thought of the ache that longed to pull me out of Fairhaven, but I didn’t want to wait. My brother was nowhere in sight, and I couldn’t find any proof online of the rumors I overheard.
I wanted to be like Silas. I wanted to be brave.
“Okay,” Reina finally responded. “I just wanted to make sure I didn’t die on the way over here or something. Or maybe the drinks Kait made are just so strong that I’m actually blackout drunk right now.”
“Hey!” Kait yelled from the kitchen. “My drinks are just the right amount of strong. But yeah, keep us updated, Lotus! I even brought some crimson for you to toast this momentous occasion with us!” The sounds of ice rattling in a cocktail shaker sounded just beyond the door.
“Exactly—plus, we need to do the final inspection before Silas comes to steal you away for the night!” Reina added.
