“To begin Miss we have the raw oyster on the half shell.” He said and I tried not to throw up in my mouth. Bloody oysters! I gave him a small smile as he placed the oversized plate in front of me before then placing one opposite. I thought it best to wait for Alex and in doing so delaying the slime I would have to put in my mouth. That or I could convince Alex to eat mine. But he always had a habit of making me feel guilty for not trying new things, no matter if it looked like a giant’s snot ball that had been chewed up and spat out on a shell!
Thankfully I wasn’t left alone for long as Alex came back but I frowned up at him when he didn’t retake his seat opposite.
“Let me guess…”
“Catherine, I’m so sorry.” This time I did roll my eyes.
“It’s fine Alex, I know you have to go…you always do.” I added this last part muttering under my breath, no longer caring if he heard me.
“It’s not fine Catherine, I don’t know how this happened but if I don’t go and sort this out then we could lose this client…”
“Alex I understand, you’ve worked so hard on this project.” I said trying once again to be the good girlfriend and not throwing the hissy fit of all hissy fits.
“Yes and it just feels as though in these last few days that someone is working against me. These orders have been coming from the top, from my boss’ bosses, which never happens. But I promise you Catherine, that when we leave tomorrow I will make it up to you.” I smiled at his sincere promise and said,
“I look forward to it.” He gave me a half smile back before leaning down to kiss me on my cheek.
“You are too good to me.” He whispered softly before pulling back.
“Why don’t you enjoy the meal before Frank picks you up.” I tensed hearing this thinking Frank was the last person I wanted coming all this way to pick me up.
“You can’t take me home?” I said feeling the whine in my voice. He at least had the decency to look sheepish.
“I wish I could ma chérie, but I am so close to my office, it would mean taking that time away from sorting out this mess in time to travel tomorrow.” I lowered my head in acceptance making him groan.
“I am sorry, you make me feel so guilty.” I wanted to frown at that. It wasn’t my fault he asked me to get all dressed up and brought me all the way out here only to only be dumped without a ride home.
“It’s fine, I will call Frank.” On hearing this he looked happier and after giving me a quick kiss goodbye he was off and I was surprised I didn’t see him running for the damn exit. I let out a sigh and felt like banging my head on the table. People were starting to look at me and I suppressed the urge to stick my tongue out at them and say ‘What, have you never seen a girl stood up before?!’ But instead I grabbed my glass of water and downed the lot wishing it was a lot stronger and burned on its way down.
I tried to think what I should do now and how embarrassing either choice would be. Do I sit here and eat a meal I wasn’t interested in eating alone or do I ask for the bill and leave? And that’s another thing, what would I end up paying for this fancy meal? I wasn’t sure I groaned out loud until it was confirmed from a voice behind me, making me only groan again,
“That’s not a happy Keira sound.”
“This can’t be happening.” I could actually hear him smile and then I felt it for myself when he leant down and kissed my cheek.
“Keira.” He said my name in that seductive drizzle that he coated his words with when he wanted me to know exactly what he was thinking. It made me shudder and I felt his smile widen on my cheek before pulling away. Then my heart fluttered a wild and unruly beat as he took the seat that was meant to be filled by my boyfriend.
I took a deep breath and said his name, no doubt taking him by surprise by the one I chose…
“Dominic.”
Chapter 14
A Date to Remember
I could not believe Draven was here right now! For starters, how did he know I was going to be at this restaurant? Which was precisely what I asked him…well, in a roundabout way of course.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying not to stare… or drool… or beg! I mean come on! It was so not fair for him to be here right now, looking that damn good he could melt my knickers off with one head nod!
He wore a pair of charcoal shaded jeans that look sculptured to his strong thighs and a crisp white shirt under a dark navy suit jacket. He also had the top two buttons undone allowing me to fantasize about kissing my way up that golden skin of his, which looked even more delicious against the white of his shirt. And then there was the dark stubble that made me want to rub against him like a damn cat! See, totally not fair!
He just raised one eyebrow at my question asking me a silent ‘isn’t it obvious?’ with just one look. However, I didn’t want to assume anything so carried on questioning him.
“Are you here with someone?”
“I am now.” He replied smoothly, giving me a bad boy smirk.
“Draven I don’t think…” I was cut off when Draven raised his hand to get the waiter’s attention. The man actually left another person’s table to come rushing over. Did everyone in this state know the importance of the Dravens?! I almost expected the flustered waiter to bow when he got to our table…oh wait, not ours, more like mine!
“You can take that away now, the lady doesn’t like oysters.” Draven said motioning to my plate.
“And can you have a more private table set up for us.” It wasn’t said as a question but more like a politely given order. The waiter nodded profusely, saying,
“Yes Sir, right away Sir.”
“Draven you can’t just come in here and…” I started to say when the waiter left but Draven cut me off.
“What, ruin your date…? I think you would actually have to have a date stick around for more than five minutes for that to happen.” Okay, so that stung, so much in fact that I picked up my napkin and threw it on the table as I stood, snapping,
“Screw you!” in my anger. He had the audacity to look shocked for a moment before his face got soft and regretful. The waiter came rushing back telling us that our new table was ready.
“It’s alright, he will be eating alone, oh and he loves any dish with cucumbers!” I said turning and giving him a smarmy look over my shoulder. I heard him burst out laughing and even though I would have loved to have basked in the sound, I was far too busy storming out of the restaurant. No surprises when I didn’t get very far.
“Hold up now, Beautiful” He said wrapping an arm around my waist and putting an end to my dramatic escape…damn him!
“Draven,” I warned him but then sucked in a breath when I felt his face come to my neck. His lips hovered over my skin and I squirmed under his hold.
“Easy now.” He said as his hold tightened around me. I couldn’t believe he was doing this in the middle of a restaurant full of people.
“Draven let me go, people are watching us.” I hissed with my head down trying to hide my flaming face.
“Let them. Come and have dinner with me.” He was doing that seductive thing again and it felt like I was drowning under his spell.
“No.” I felt him chuckle at my ear.
“Ah come now…even if I say please?” I shuddered again when he whispered that word ‘please’ along my skin and he knew he had me.
“Fine!” I almost growled the word and once again felt him smiling at my ear.
“Good girl.” He replied kissing me quick on the neck and then letting me go. I was so embarrassed to see that our little exchange had been witnessed by not only half the restaurant but the waiter as well. I bet he thought I was a right floozy coming here with one man and then getting all cuddly with another five minutes after he left. This was what made me whip round and say,
“But only if you apologise for what you said.” He looked taken back a moment before schooling his features and crossing his arms across his chest.
“I am not sorry that the fool left
you for the simple fact that I can now be here in his place…” I was about to interrupt when he quickly carried on,
“…However, I am sorry if his stupidity hurt you and my insensitivity to the fact brought forth those hurt feelings.”
“Brought forth…really Draven it’s like living in a period drama with you.” I said almost giggling.
“Keira.” He said my name with a frown and this time it made me smile, only after throwing up my hands saying,
“Alright, alright, apology accepted.” Then I let our poor confused waiter lead us to a secluded part of the restaurant. One look around at the private space and I was soon nervous once again. Now no one could see us back here and I didn’t think this was a good thing. I sat down and tried not to notice the way Draven folded himself into the seat like he commanded the room. What was it about this man that seemed to suck the energy from any space around him and use it as a weapon to bend all those to his will? I could barely take my eyes away from his body, taking note of his every movement and storing it away like some naughty little secret.
“Should I serve the next course, Sir?” The waiter asked Draven as it was obvious who was in charge at our table.
“The next course?” Draven inquired frowning and I felt my cheeks heat up knowing what was coming next.
“Yes Sir, the gentleman before you pre-ordered the chef’s tasting menu to be served.” He said and as Draven’s eyes grew darker I quickly felt sorry for the poor man as he squirmed uncomfortably under Draven’s obvious displeasure. He then turned his gaze to me and it took all my control not to flinch back he looked so angry.
“Did the lady first see this tasting menu?” He asked without his intense eyes leaving me.
“I don’t believe so Sir, no.”
“Draven, its fine, I…”
“Bring us the menu.” Draven snapped interrupting me and I really didn’t know what the big deal was.
“Yes Sir and should I still serve the wine that was ordered?” At this he raised an eyebrow at me and I quietly shook my head as I still didn’t really care for red wine. The only reason I ever drank it in the first place was that it was Alex’s favourite and he was always trying to get me to detect the hidden flavours in them, which I found was endearing of him…obviously Draven didn’t.
“Which bottle was ordered?”
“The Pinot Noir Copain, Tous Ensemble 2011,Sir” At this Draven scoffed and made a motion with his hand like he was batting away a fly. One look at the waiter’s face and he knew where this was headed. It was blatantly obvious this was some posh version of a macho man’s pissing contest.
“No, definitely not, the lady doesn’t like Red… so you can bring us the wine list as well.”
“Very good, Sir” I frowned at Draven and quickly said,
“Thank you,” to the waiter before he left, to which I received a small smile that I knew meant he was grateful for my little show of kindness.
“You know you could be more polite to the working man, Draven.” I scolded crossing my arms across my chest and momentarily forgetting I had a tight dress on. Well that was until it drew his gaze to my breasts and now instead of angry Draven I got hungry Draven. I instantly lowered my arms making him smirk but he didn’t make eye contact which I was grateful for. Thankfully the waiter returned with the menus, giving me a small but much needed break to slow my pounding heart.
“Do you always let him order for you?” He asked completely ignoring my last comment.
“There is nothing wrong in him wanting me to try new things.” I argued and resisted the urge to pout.
“And these new things include oysters, which I know for a fact you hate and can’t understand why anyone would, considering you think they taste like seawater?” Oh Lord he was so very smug…but just so happened to be very right, the jammy bastard!
“I hadn’t mentioned it.” I said which I knew was a lie because I had in fact mentioned it once.
“It’s nice to know that your lying skills are as fine-tuned as ever.” He said sarcastically and I think my face said it all but he got the verbal lashing anyway.
“We can’t all be experts at it, Draven!” As soon as I said it I wanted to take it back as I watched his face drop and pain replace any other emotion.
“Touché, Keira.” He said and I wanted to bang my head against the table. This night was not turning out how I hoped at all.
“Look, I’m sorry I said that.”
“Why when it’s the truth…I did lie… to protect someone, just as you’re trying to lie to protect someone now.” He said leaning forward, putting his elbows on the table.
“It’s not the same thing.” I said trying to defend myself.
“No, you’re right, it’s not but that is because this person…”
“Alex.”
“Asshole…” He corrected firmly before carrying on his rant,
“…is not worthy of your lies. He orders you food he knows you don’t like, he orders you wine I know he knows you don’t like and then leaves you sat in a restaurant alone when he hasn’t even had chance to warm his seat and then.. pray tell me…how exactly were you going to get home, Keira, because I am pretty sure I didn’t see a blue truck pull up from where I was sat?”
“You’ve been watching us?!” I half whispered, half screeched leaning across the table. He just gave me a look that said his own version of ‘well durr!’
“Raising your eyebrow at me Draven isn’t an answer!”
“Well it’s a good job I was here don’t you think or you would be eating alone now wouldn’t you?” He said calmly and it grated on my last nerve.
“I wouldn’t have stayed you big ox!”
“Big ox?” Okay so as far as insults went I will admit it wasn’t my finest.
“Yeah, big ox!” I said having no choice now but to roll with it.
“Well this big ox is very interested to know how you were planning on getting home this evening?” He said looking mildly amused no doubt at my ridiculous new name for him.
“I would have just called RJ or Frank like last time.” I said sounding smug but then quickly changed that to an ‘oh shit’ face as I saw the angry purple flash in his eyes.
“Like last time?” He asked this in such a way I knew that most of it was controlled by his demon side. I quickly picked up my menu and used it as a barrier to Draven’s dark side.
“Erm…Oh look here comes our waiter, let’s order should we…? Umm I am starved, what looks good…have you been here before… recommend anything?” I jabbered on in the hope of moving on but when our waiter came closer only to be turned away by Draven, I knew it was no use hiding in my menu.
“How many times, Keira?” He growled the question at me and I wanted the chair to swallow me up and walk me out of here like a scene from Beauty and the Beast.
“Draven it is none of your…”
“How many?” Okay so this time it definitely was his demon side and I knew better than to poke at it with my attitude stick.
“Fine! Three times okay, now will you get off my back?” I said reopening my menu with enough force I nearly snapped the spine.
“Three times!? And you put up with that?” Now it was my turn to growl out,
“I have put up with a lot worse before him!” Again it was below the belt and I knew this when I saw his face fall but I just couldn’t seem to help myself. I think if the most obvious fact didn’t exist and I wasn’t still in love with Draven, then I would have just let the past go. But we both knew that wasn’t the case and unfortunately with love and when it is unreturned, well it makes you do stupid shit and lash out in horrible ways. It pushes you to limits you never knew you had and drives you to hurt others in ways that you never knew you were capable of.
“I wish I could deny that statement…I wish it like you wouldn’t believe Keira but I can’t, because you are right.” The way he said this made me feel only pain and I couldn’t have helped my reaction even if I had wanted too. I reached out my hand and grabb
ed tight onto his, looking him straight in the eyes and holding his gaze.
“I am sorry, that was unnecessary and cruel. But Draven, you have to stop this with me and Alex. We both made our choices and now we need to live with them…the only question now is if we can live with them and still be in each other’s lives?” He first looked down at our hands and he turned his slowly. I started to pull back but his other hand flashed out and gripped my wrist, anchoring it in place so he could turn his other hand fully without me fleeing. He then interlaced his fingers with mine and squeezed them before releasing my wrist. It was only when he knew he had a firm hold of me that he finally raised his gaze to mine.
I didn’t know what to make of his expression but there was only one word I could find to describe it and that was intense. The purple flames licked the edges and although this was something I was used to, the burning crimson in the centre wasn’t. It was the first time I had seen the mixed parts of his soul conflicting with his demon side but that was what must have been happening. What other reason was there? But more importantly, why now?
“You are so very pure…it still takes my breath away, little one.” I swallowed hard, trying in vain to get the lump that just formed to drop back to my stomach like a lead gun ball. We just seemed to stare at one another for endless minutes until our poor waiter could be seen hovering around. At this rate we would end up being the only ones left and this poor guy would still be trying to get us to order. I was just about to speak up when my stomach decided to do it for me.
Draven let me go and finally I got his beaming smile back.
“Let’s feed you shall we?” I gave him a shy smile making him laugh. He motioned the waiter over and I heard Draven chuckle. I was just about to ask him what he found funny but it had to wait as the waiter was now at Draven’s side.
“What can I get for you, Sir?”
The Pentagram Child: Part 1 (Afterlife Saga Book 5) Page 17
