“I... uh... I just mean...” I choke out, not sure what to say; afraid whatever comes out may push him away.
“I’m just fucking with you.” He grins, acting amused my by panicked state. Asshole. He can act as if he is messing with me, but it’s clear he has trust issues.
Trying to avoid the situation, I reach down and grab one of the little triangular sandwiches and take a bite. It’s the most delicious sandwich I have ever had. It is turkey and cheddar with some kind of sauce; it’s simple, yet mouthwatering.
“This is amazing,” I mumble with a mouth full of food.
He laughs; his laugh so deep and charming it makes me laugh with him. He leans over and wipes extra sauce that has gathered in the corner of my mouth with his index finger. He then places it in his mouth, sucking it clean. My sex clenches wanting those skillful lips on me instead of his finger. The ache in my core starts to throb. I gotta get these thoughts out of my head or I will never survive this date.
He tips his head to the side. “How is a girl like you not taken, or ever been taken for that matter?” he asks, biting into another sandwich.
“Oh, well, it’s not like I didn’t try, or that I never had a boyfriend before. When I was in high school, my boyfriend and I went back to my place to fool around because my mom was supposed to be working late. She ended up walking in on us right before we were getting ready to do the deed. She was great about always catching me right before I did something she didn’t approve of. She dragged him out by his hair; I could hear my mother yelling at him all the way out the front door. He didn’t talk to me anymore after that; I’m not sure if it was the embarrassment of my mother throwing him out into the street naked, or what she said to him, but he wasn’t the only guy that kept his distance after that. I never had a date the rest of high school. As for college, my mom made it clear I was not to go partying, and that’s what college is about, so I didn’t really make friends.” I look up and see humor on his face.
He shakes his head. “Your momma is something else,” he responds, taking a swig of his beer.
“Tell me about it. I don’t think I will be seeing her anymore after today, though.” I feel guilt rise in my throat. I hate that I pushed her away but I feel that if I hadn’t I would never be able to live my own life. I sigh heavily, trying to push my mother out of my head; I want to enjoy our date.
“I heard about it; mothers are a unique breed aren’t they?” I look up at him and see his beautiful blue eyes go dark; I wonder what the deal is with his mother. Where is his father? Just as I’m about to slip the questions through my lips, his phone rings. He looks at the screen and sighs heavily; his whole body becomes stiff and his mood shifts completely. He stands up and answers it.
“You know you’re a dead woman, right?” He looks around us frantically; I look around to see if I can spot what he’s looking at.
“Bitch, if I find you, you’re fucking dead. Do you hear me?” He looks down at the screen and then shoves the phone in his pocket. Whoever it was hung up on him. His jaw is clenched and his blue eyes look black as night. He runs his hands back and forth through his messy top before looking down at me.
“Date’s over. Get up; help me get this shit.” He starts throwing the food in the cooler; his frantic state has me panicking. He grabs my trembling hands as I reach for the blanket.
“Hey, calm down. I’m sorry I’m freaking out; it’s just that it’s not safe here right now. Your safety matters more to me than anything.” He tucks a stray hair behind my ear, waiting for me to respond.
“I understand.”
I understand he cares for my safety, but it sucks our date has to end. I want more of Shadow, and when we are at the club we have to hide and sneak. I hate it. Here we can be as open as we want, and don’t have to worry about someone seeing us.
“Hey, I’ll make it up to you later tonight.” He grabs each one of my ass cheeks with each of his large hands and pulls me forward; he towers over my small frame. Leaning down, he bites my bottom lip hard, making me taste blood. The pain is a welcomed feeling; it reminds me how alive Shadow makes me feel.
“Come on, Firefly,” he teases as he grabs my hand. The name Firefly catches my attention.
“How could you agree on everyone calling me that?” I ask, smacking his arm playfully.
Shadow pulls me close and looks at me intently. “Because, I can tell you have had it rough and still you have this fire in you.“ He caresses my cheek with his rough fingertips. “That night you were dancing in the kitchen and singing... the shit storm that was around you and the way I was treating you... never put that fire out.”
“You have had it rough, too. I can tell.” I say the words before registering them and instantly regret it.