Chapter 10

I was going to dinner with Tidun!

I was going on my first date!

Wait, was this a date?

He originally said it was to thank me for getting his briefcase back for him, but what he said to River had my romantic heart spinning a thousand scenarios.

I won't let anything happen to him. He's safe with me.

Who wouldn't swoon after hearing that? At least, that was what I was telling myself, so I didn't feel like a completely lovesick puppy.

Not that I was in love with Tidun or even anything remotely in that category. He was attractive as fuck with that muscular body and charming smile. If gods existed, he would be the god of lust, ‘cause heavens knew I was lusting so hard for this man.

"So what's for dinner?" I asked when we got to his car. I would have offered to drive, but then I'd need to get the keys from Dad and I did not want my parents to know I was going on this maybe-date.

Tidun turned to face me from the driver's seat, then slowly leaned toward me. I could practically hear my heart from how hard it was thumping against my chest. My eyes were wide as his face got closer to mine. He was pale, his skin like porcelain, without a single visible pore, and his lips plump and red, perfect for kissing.

Oh, my god! I was going to have my first kiss!

It was unexpected but totally wanted. I never imagined my first would be with someone literally pulled from my dreams, not that I was complaining.

I closed my eyes, the anticipation of the press of soft skin on mine had me almost shaking with nerves, but it never came. Instead, a sharp click sounded in the car before I felt him pull back. I blinked and opened my eyes to find Tidun watching me with a crooked smile, looking amused.

"Gotta uphold my promise of keeping you safe," he said with a soft chuckle. My face heated. I didn't think I'd blushed more in my entire life than the few times I was in Tidun's presence.

Thankfully, he didn't comment on my actions. I wanted to hide my face inembarrassment. How foolish of me to think he'd want to kiss me, of all people. Nobody had in all of my nineteen years of being alive, so why would this walking sex-on-a-stick want to?

"Hey, what happened? Why do you suddenly look so down?" Tidun twisted his body so he could turn to face me. He looked charmingly beautiful even when his features were half-hidden by the shadow of night. Most of all, he lookedgenuinely concerned now.

Did I tell him how I really felt? I wasn't one to censor what I said—my parents tell me all the time that I didn't have a filter—and it wasn't like I couldembarrass myself even further, so I let my mouth lead the conversation.

"I just feel like an idiot for thinking you were about to kiss me—for even thinking that you'd want to kiss someone like me."

Tidun's brows knitted closer together, and I wondered if maybe letting my mouth loose wasn't the best idea. But then he dropped a bomb on me.

"Don't get me wrong—I do want to kiss you. So badly." He paused and made an obvious move to fix his gaze on my lips. I gulped. His gaze was intense, but it was nice. Much too soon, he was staring back into my eyes as he said, "But I think you're worth more than just a quick kiss in some rental car. When I kiss you, it's going to be with intention, somewhere much more fitting to explore our desires than in the middle of a parking lot."

His eyes were naturally dark, but they were almost molten with desire now. I wanted to scream at him that I didn't care where we kissed, for him to just do it now before I climbed over this console and took what I wanted for myself.

God, I would give anything to get those lips on me.

"However…we should head to our date before I toss all my restraint out the window."

"This is a date?" I squeaked.

"I was hoping for it to be, yes. Unless you didn't want?—"

"No! I would like that. Very much. In fact, I can't think of anything I'd like more right now."

And I'm rambling.

I firmly closed my mouth before I said something even more stupid.

"Good. Then let's get you fed. How does Italian sound?" He smirked, oozing with the confidence of someone who'd probably never been rejected before in his life. Though, anyone would be crazy to reject him. And I wasn't crazy, so I nodded.

The drive to therestaurant went by quickly, with me asking him questions about himself.Like, what he'd tried at our circus and if he'd enjoyed his time there today. He said he didn't stay long for fear of bumping into a clown. We both laughed when I reassured him there were no scary clowns at the circus, and I offered to show him around next time.

I asked if he was from around here, but he said he wasn't and was only here on a business trip. When I asked where he was from, he only replied with a cryptic ‘somewhere very far from here'.

I wanted to probe more about his answer, but he was already parking and coming around to my side to open the passenger door for me and offering me his arm.

Shooting him a thanks, I happily accepted his arm and let him guide me to a high-rise building where the restaurant was on the top floor. It was an upscale place where the patrons wore suits and intricate dinner dresses to dine here.

I feltmassively underdressed in the faded jeans and black tee I'd quickly changed into after finishing my shift. While Tidun wasn't in a full-blown suit, his dark slacks and tight dress shirt didn't look too out of place.

"I don't think I'm dressed for theoccasion. Maybe we should go somewhere else?" I said, gently tugging on his arm.

He paused, his eyes sliding down my body like a seductive caress. "We can leave if you don't want to eat here, but believe me when I say you look amazing in your clothes."

I didn't know if my heart could handle it if he was going to keep dishing out compliments like that.

"Thanks. I think you look pretty handsome yourself," I said, because what else was I supposed to say to that? Tidun smiled, looking pleased at my compliment. "I'm fine with eating here, but are they going to let us in?"

"Don't worry. I'll handle it," he said with a wink, then led me through the glass doors. The hostess greeted us and asked if we had a reservation. I thought we'd be turned away since I didn't think we had one—this dinner had been impromptu, after all—but Tidun pulled out a black card from his wallet and showed it to her.

She briefly looked shocked as she studied the card, but quickly schooled her expression and put on a professional smile. "Welcome, Mr. Aphyse. Please follow me to your private room."

As we followed her, I pulled on Tidun's arm again and motioned for him to lean down. "You knew that was gonna happen from the start, didn't you? What, are you like a VIP here or something?"

His eyes crinkled in a smile. "When you frequent an establishment and are willing to spend big, you'd be surprised what restaurants will do to keep your business. I think you'll like their food. One of our biggest clients is in this city, so I've eaten around, and this place is one of the best in town."

The hostess led us to a room with a single two-person table and a floor-to-ceiling window with the mostmagnificent view of the surrounding area. I hadn't even been paying attention to where Tidun was driving us—probably not smart on my part—but now I realized we were in the heart of the city.

I walked to stand by the pristine window. There wasn't even a single fingerprint on the glass and it was almost a bit scary looking down and feeling like there was nothing stopping me from falling.

"So, what exactly do you do?" I twisted to look at him and asked. I grew up not having to worry about money—Seven paid us more than enough to live comfortably—but this was a whole different tax bracket.

Tidun thought about it for a second, then replied, "I guess you can say my family is in the fragrance industry. We supply premium ingredients that fragrance companies will pay top dollar for. In fact, I was making a delivery the day I met you. I meant it when I said you saved me. I would've been in a lot of trouble if I'd lost that briefcase."

He pulled out a chair and gestured for me to sit. "So tonight, we're celebrating you."

I sat in the offered chair but didn't feel comfortable taking credit for something I didn't do. "I think you're exaggerating my part in all this. I was just in the right place at the right time. If anything, my best friend, Ai, should get all the credit for catching the thief."

He sat in the seat across from me and rested his chin on his hands. "I'll be sure to thank her properly as well."

I made a face. "Are you going to be taking her on a date too?"

I was completely down for Aisha dating—she deserved to find someone to cherish and love her—but the idea of Tidun being the one to date her had my stomach in knots. I wanted Tidun to be mine and only mine.

He laughed and reached out for my hand, loosening the tight fist I hadn't known I'd made. "I hope you don't think the only reason I took you on a date was to repay you. Yes, I'm grateful for your assistance, but that wouldn't warrant me going on a date with someone. I'm here because I want to be. I want to spend time with you."

I knew I barely knew the guy, but I could already feel myself falling for his sweet words. They were everything I'd dreamed of someone declaring to me. And it was much too dangerous.

They say youth is the time to make mistakes, so maybe he could be my mistake because I wanted to believe his words so badly, despite knowing this would probably all end in heartbreak.

I wanted to fall for him.

And all I could do was hope he was there to catch me when I did.