~Date Night~

      Right now I can't see straight
     Intoxicated it's true, when I'm with you
     I'm buzzing and I feel laced
     I'm coming from a different phase
     When I'm with you
    •
   Zayn

   •<>•
Stepping into the Uber, I inhale deeply as I shut the door behind me. Ever since Ethan invited me to spend the night at his place, I've been a bundle of nerves. The uncertainty of what awaits has my stomach tingling with anticipation, and the girls haven't been much help. When I shared my feelings with them, I hoped for reassurance, comfort, or some practical advice. Instead, all I received were endless teases and giggles.

As I lean back in my seat, I check the time on my phone once more before folding my arms over my chest to try and calm my nerves. Honestly, I've never been this nervous about going to someone's place, but there's always something about him that fills my entire body with tingling anticipation.

Each passing minute feels like a blend of torture and excitement. Despite my nerves about tonight, there's a genuine eagerness to see him, to share our first night together, no longer as two strangers forced to spend the night due to the rain, but as... wait, what exactly are we again?

"It's a good night tonight isn't it?" The voice of the Uber driver jolts me from my ceaseless thoughts, causing my eyes to quickly shift to his, which are already looking back at me through the rearview mirror.

"The weather is so beautiful tonight." He clarifies and shifts his eyes back to the road.

"Yes, it is." I smile politely before darting my eyes to the skyscrapers glimmering with bright lights.

"Just like this place." he pauses for a second, "My wife and I just moved here a month ago. From Colorado."

"Ah how nice," I respond without making eye contact. As kind and harmless as he seems, I'm not in the mood for chitchats, my brain is on fire because of the thoughts that have been endlessly reeling in my mind. I hope my brain cells will still be intact throughout the night.

'Try this one; red looks better on you.' Autumn flashed a smile while placing the last lace underwear on my bed. The sight of so many lace undies laid out before me felt surreal; I had doubted the girls would actually follow through with their playful suggestions.

Amidst the teasing and laughter surrounding my upcoming night out, date night, or perhaps a sleepover with Ethan? Whatever this is, Autumn and Key have also been enthusiastically searching for the most flattering undies I can pull off.

Not only had they been busy with being concerned about what I should wear, but they also went as far as helping me get my hair and nails done among other things.

'What?! No!' Key disagreed right away as furrows made a quick appearance on her forehead, 'Go for the black lace, black goes well with ginger hair.'

'So does red,' Autumn's high-pitched yet friendly tone interjected, 'Besides, black is too plain, she'll need something more vibrant, seductive, colorful—something beautiful.'

As if I had no say in what I wanted to wear, I stood in the background like some kind of shadow watching my two best friends squabble over my delicates while I stayed silent and still while holding onto my favorite black and white poker dot undies I was excited about and was planning to wear for the night.

After convincing them to use a coin to decide my fate, they took it and flipped it. When it landed on my palm, I emitted a sigh of defeat as I slumped my shoulders. Quietly, I picked up the red lace undies that Autumn suggested I should wear and reluctantly gave up my poker dot ones while Autumn threw her hands up in a gesture of triumph to celebrate her victory.

Till now, I still don't see why it's so important that I should wear what they picked for me, it's not like I'm going to undress in front of him or have sex anyway.

How am I supposed to feel good and confident if I'm not wearing my favorite undies?

"We're here," says the Uber driver, and I quickly turn my gaze to a familiar scene. Returning to this place floods me with memories of our first night together. Though it was under terrible circumstances, that night holds a special place in my heart and I wouldn't change anything about it.

"Tight security," he huffs, "They won't let me in, so I guess I'll have to drop you off here."

I nod slightly, sling my small bag over my shoulder, and exit the car.

"Have a good night." The driver waves at me with a kind smile before driving away.

Releasing a sharp breath, I approach the security guard. It takes him roughly a minute to let me in after talking to Ethan.

After walking a distance away from the gate, a figure comes into view and it doesn't take me long to figure out who it is as he starts getting closer.

Beautiful eyes that never cease to sparkle and hypnotize me, a vibrant smile that always has me glowing like the moon, and a body that knocks the air out of me. Though he's casually dressed in all black, black sweatpants and a plain black T-shirt that hugs his chest and biceps the right way, he looks scrumptious, I mean very good.

After closing the distance between us, he drags his eyes up and down my body at a leisurely pace, his eyes taking me in like I'm some kind of a delicious meal waiting to be eaten; satisfaction flickers in his twinkling eyes and descends all the way to the left corner of his mouth.

"I've been waiting for you," he says, offering his hand to me, awaiting my response before heading back inside.

Immediately after the elevator door closes, he leans in only to whisper something in my ear —his breath tickling as it brushes against my skin.

Lowering my head, a smile breaks across my face as his words resonate in my ear — imprinting on my mind to play on repeat like a broken record.

'You look beautiful.' These words play in my mind once again and I can't help but smile.

"Everything alright love?" His voice echoes within the confines of the elevator.

"Mmm hmm," I murmur, and he smirks —mischief gleaming in his eyes.

Swallowing hard, I avert my gaze and take a deep breath to calm my racing heart.

Hope I'll make it out of this night with my brain cells still intact.

After getting out of the elevator which felt like hours of torture, constricting my heart bit by bit due to the closeness of his body to mine, we quietly walk hand in hand down the familiar bright lit spotless hallway.

'Don't tell anyone about my place, got it?'

These words ring in my ears, and the memory of me standing in front of this door for the first time floods back in my mind. I thought I'd never see it again.

My nerves are shooting through the roof, making my head spin like a wedge tornado, and making my heart pound harder like a snare drum — nearly leaving me incapacitated.

As if he can see right through me, he closes the door behind him only to approach me and cup my face in his warm gentle hands, "Mallory," he says softly, "It's okay. Everything will be okay," he says just above a whisper and presses a soft, and comforting gentle kiss on my forehead.

"It's okay," he whispers one more time close to my ear and something about the calmness of his voice sends the same effect to my racing heart.

Wrapping his arms around me, the warmth of his embrace radiates to me and I shrink in his arms, absorbing the heat, the calmness, and the comfort it's giving me.

Standing for minutes nestled in each other's embrace with the palm of his hand making lazy, circled and calming motions on my back, the warmth of his breath tickles my ear a little when a few words escape his lips.

"Is this helping?"

Unable to speak, I nod in agreement and pull him closer to my chest though I don't know how much closer we can be.

"Are you feeling better now?"

"Yes," I respond right away. Something about this moment feels intimate, I wouldn't mind spending the entire night like this with him.

                                      •<<<>>>•
Several minutes have passed since my arrival, and we've been on the couch chitchatting. Despite the conversations we've had so far, getting him to open up about certain things has been quite a challenge and I can't help but wonder why he's dismissing these questions.

Though questions are lingering in my mind, wondering why he won't tell me tidbits about his family, or his childhood, I'm content with proceeding at a pace he finds comfortable. After all, not everyone is open to discussing family matters with someone they've only recently connected with; hell I've been with Keyara for years and she's still not open to talking to me about hers so, this is understandable.

Feeling the warmth of his lips on mine, I snake my arms around his waist and secure them in place while he scrambles my brain with gentle, and loving kisses. Having him this close feels so surreal to me even though our lips are folding over each other — savoring the taste of each other as our hearts beat as one.

Right in the middle of our passionate kiss, my stomach grumbles and this prompts him to pull away from the kiss at a leisurely pace; his face is close to mine, and a gentle smile is shaping his lips.

"How about I return to the kitchen and whip up something for you to eat?" he suggests. His lips align with my ear, and before I can process his impending words, he murmurs something just above a whisper. The warm air escaping his lips gently grazes my skin, sending a tingling sensation through my body.

'This can wait,' His words play repeatedly in my mind and I can't help but smile.

As I follow him to the kitchen, my eyes explore the room that's meticulously organized. Returning my gaze to the counters, curiosity sparks as I notice neatly lined-up food ingredients, and the moment he dons his apron, my heart flutters, and a smile graces my face.

"You look good," I compliment him.

"Oh yeah?" A mischievous smile slides on his face as he starts approaching me, "Then I guess I should be wearing this more often," he says and peppers soft kisses on my lips before getting back to what he was doing.

"So where's the other apron?" I question him as I take slow deliberate steps toward him.

"What?" He gazes at me, his expression confused.

"I want to help you, so where's the other apron?"

A soft chuckle escapes his lips almost as if he's in disbelief of what I just said as he folds his arms over his chest, his biceps contracting to the action, "Let me take care of you tonight," he replies, his voice is deep, soft and sultry all at the same time, and something about the look in his eyes makes me question if he's talking about making me dinner or perhaps something else.

As he starts approaching me once again, his footsteps deliberate and torturous, I feel a flame churning in my stomach and nearly burning my insides to ashes. Upon closing the distance, he holds my eyes with his — admiration and mischief swimming inside of them. He then takes my chin between his thumb and index finger, leans in — our lips nearly touching and says something that causes my stomach to spasm.

"Let me do all the work while you relax. I want this night to be special for you."

Though my whole being is shaking like an oscillating multi-tool, I manage to gather the strength to speak while he still has my chin between his thumb and index finger, and his eyes still swimming in mine, "What if I don't want you to do all the work," I say softly and he swallows hard, his Adam's Apple bobbing with the action, "I want to help." Bringing my hand to his that's still holding my chin, I take it in mine and drag him with me to the sink — immediately cutting the sexual tension that started building up between us, "So get me an apron. I'm hungry."

He simply smiles at me, a soft breath escaping his nostrils as he shakes his head briefly as if he's in disbelief at what I just did. He then walks to the drawer to get me an apron before heading to the refrigerator to bring me a drink.

Unfolding the apron, he slips it onto me and ties it while his hot breath sizzles my neck. When he's done securing it in place, he takes a nearly half glass of wine that's been on the counter and takes a sip before bringing it to my mouth.

"Is this part of taking care of me tonight?" I ask with a soft voice, and he simply nods in response — his eyes burning with desire as his gaze on me lingers.

"This is just one of the many things I want to do for you tonight," his voice comes out low and alluring, it's laced with lust I think I've forgotten how to breathe.

Wait how do you breathe again?

Our eyes remain locked as I take a sip. After setting the glass down, he lifts me onto the counter and picks up the glass once more.

After taking a hearty sip of wine, he raises the glass to my lips so I can drink it, then puts it down again and leans in to put his hand on my cheek; our breaths are coming in soft gasps and are filled with desire as he lightly brushes my flushed skin with the pad of his thumb. As he starts leaning in for a kiss, my stomach grumbles again, causing me to feel embarrassed once again.

"Let me see if I can find something for you to eat before the main course," he says, walking to the other side of the kitchen to look for something for me to eat.

"Fruits will do," I say while still seated on the counter.

"What's your favorite fruit?" he asks while scanning his refrigerator.

"Apples, but anything will do. What do you have?"

"Everything," After noticing the surprised look on my face, he adds, "Almost, everything."

"Wow, you must love fruits a lot huh? What's your favorite fruit?"

"I don't have any," he says as he starts walking back to me with a green and a red apple in his hands.

"You don't have a favorite fruit?"

He simply shrugs, proceeds to wash the apples, and says, "No, I love them all. It's weird, I know."

"No, it's not. I've just never heard of it, you know," I chuckle softly.

As he is about to take a knife so he can slice the apples for me, I stop him right away, "You don't have to. It's fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." Clearing my throat, I add, "Also, umm do you have peanut butter?"

"Yes, why?"

"I like to eat my apples with peanut butter." The moment these words leave my mouth, his face morphs into confusion as he looks at me incredulously.

"You what? I've never heard of such a thing. How does it even taste?"

"Well, you're about to find out," I smile.

When he finally brings the peanut butter, I slice my apple and dip it in a small bowl filled with peanut butter and he's standing between my legs while his hands are resting perfectly on my thighs that are barely covered by my dress. He's looking at me with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity at the same time, his eyes following every move I make.

With a bit of hesitation, he finally lets me feed him and the second the sliced apple coated with peanut butter goes into his mouth, he grimaces briefly and I can't help but laugh.

"It tastes funny," he comments.

"That's because it's your first time. Don't worry, you'll love it sooner or later."

He simply nods and washes the taste away with a glass of wine, "I don't know, guess we'll wait and see."

A serene silence settles in, he's still standing between my legs, watching me in admiration as I devour this peanut butter-coated apple happily.

Unable to contain my curiosity, I part my lips to speak. "What?" A chuckle escapes from within me, accompanied by the words.

It takes him more than a second to reply, his burning gaze never leaving me, "You have something on your face."

"What is it?" I ask concerned.

"Peanut butter."

"Oh my gosh, where?" I ask him with a hint of panic as I pat my hand all over my face.

Taking me by surprise, he gently grips my hand and pins it on the counter, "Let me help you get it off." With that said, he starts leaning in. As he gets closer, the beating of my heart heightens, and my stomach starts twitching.

When he's just a breath away, he pauses and asks me something, "May I?"

Swallowing hard, I struggle to get the word out of my mouth but I manage to, thankfully, "Yes." My voice comes out strangled.

Breathe. It's okay.

With that said, he leisurely runs his tongue against my cheek. The sensation is warm, passionate, and so arousing that it ignites the heat churning in my stomach, almost leaving me numb.

"I think it's best if I make something for you to eat, it's getting late," he says suddenly in a hushed voice tinted with desire after what felt like minutes of silence and gazing into each other's eyes.

Agreeing with a nod, he assists me in descending before returning to the cooking. Meanwhile, I help him by cutting up onions, tomatoes, and bell pepper.

                                        AN
What are your thoughts about this chapter and which one was your favorite?

The third chapter (Chapter 25) will be posted later today as soon as I'm done with it, I hope🤞. Anyhoo, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, bye...for now.

                                      ***
Thank you so much for getting this far, much appreciated. Don't forget to vote, comment and share. It'd be nice to hear from you and your honest opinions/thoughts about the story.
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