Eleven
Molly
I looked around the fancy restaurant I was sitting in, still surprised because I got to visit such a place. It was still a lot to take in. The whole restaurant screamed money, and the customers wore clothes that were costlier than the monthly rent for my apartment. I’d never thought I would be the one to visit this kind of place—furnished with the most expensive things and materials. The gold crystal chandeliers were really sparkling, making me gape at them in awe, and there was even a live band that played classical music.
I’d also never thought I would be dressed in a really nice, satin dress with my hair straight and full makeup. I had even put contacts in, and the damn things kept making my eyes water. I was in the middle of dinner with Aiden, his Uncle Murray, and his older brother Luke. His eldest brother Zion, couldn’t make it. It sounded like a trip into the city was too much for him. He was happier in the mountains, and I could understand that. I took a sip of my wine and brought my attention back to him. Uncle Murray was talking about something, and I tried to focus on him, but it was difficult since Aiden was sitting next to me, and his nearness was making me tense.
Aiden was wearing an expensive suit that made him even more attractive—if that was possible. His dark brown hair was slicked back and his expensive cologne was stirring everything inside me. From the moment I saw him I just wanted to jump on him and kiss the hell out of him.
I suddenly giggled, and both Aiden and his uncle looked at me like I was weird, which was probably true. Here I was—supposed to enjoy this dinner and give my best to leave a good impression on Aiden’s uncle—but I was acting like I was addicted to sex.
Molly, get a hold of yourself. Aiden put his arm right next to mine on the table, and I felt hot and unable to breathe evenly. He was too near and I just wanted this dinner to end so I could get to kiss him again. I clenched my thighs together and reminded myself again to be a good girl.
“So Molly, tell me what you do for work? Typically Aiden brings around models and call girls. But you’re different, I can see that,” his uncle asked.
“Yes, well, I worked in coding, but with Aiden and I getting more serious I thought it would be good to take some time off.”
“So you’ve asked her then?” Aiden’s uncle countered, his eyes boring into Aiden so hard I thought he might explode.
“Asked me what?”
“Not yet uncle, I’m waiting for the right moment.”
I pretended to be giddy but Aiden and I had already decided we’d go ring shopping tomorrow, and then choose a wedding planner. I was still terrified of telling my family, but we had to get through this dinner first.
Luke rolled his eyes, clearly in on our ruse. It was kind of nice to have another realist at the table. “What type of coding did you do?” He asked as he took another bite of his pasta.
“Security mostly, but I’m a stronger hacker than a coder. You know people say these days it’s better to have a good hacker on payroll than a paid assassin.” I laughed at my joke, but the men didn’t respond. Too dark Molly.
“And your work Aiden? Going well? I haven’t seen you much around the hospital.”
“That’s cause you work in a totally different wing Luke. I haven’t seen Zion either and he works in pediatrics.”
“Yeah but he works nights, nobody sees him.”
“Is there a reason for that?” I asked, still trying to understand the shifter side of these men.
“Zion is…different,” Uncle Murray added.
“Different as in dark and dangerous,” Aiden countered.
“Dangerous? Then why does he work with kids?”
“He works with shifter kids. And he’s not dangerous, just a bit of a recluse. See when shifters don’t mate by a certain age they go a little… mental.” Luke said avoiding my eyes.
“Mental? You mean if we don’t stay together you’ll go nuts?”
“Why wouldn’t we stay together?” Aiden joked with a smile. He squeezed my hand and I took the hint. We were supposed to be head over heels in love. Getting married, focus Molly.
“I just didn’t realize that was an issue. So Murray, I can’t wait to meet your mate.”
Luke spit out his wine. “Murray doesn’t have a mate.”
“But he’s not, I mean you’re not…”
“Crazy? No. But I’m also half shifter. Not pure blooded like these boys. Their father and I had different mothers.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.”
He quickly moved on from the subject. “So Aiden how is work going? That place where you can’t take a moment to see your brothers?”
“Things are fine, though a kid bit me today.”
I laughed. “You didn’t tell me that!”
“Yeah the little bugger had swallowed a penny, I thought it might still be in his mouth. It wasn’t. But my finger was. Lucky me.”
We all laughed. This dinner was going better than anticipated. But I think that had something to do with the heat between Aiden and me. It was undeniable.
Every time he looked at me or smiled, my heart accelerated, and all I could think about were those heated moments we’d shared together. Heated? No, it was more like the best sex of my life—the most amazing, explosive sex and I couldn’t get enough. Now that I knew how good Aiden was in bed, and that made me just more desperate to sleep with him again.
Our hands brushed in one moment, and I stilled, my mouth becoming dry as he slid his hand over mine slowly. He did it so his family wouldn’t notice anything, but this slight touch was enough to make me restless.
This was going to work.