The Girl He Marked

Chapter 18

Work passes painfully slowly, I squirm with excited anticipation as I type away, already mentally choos

ing an outfit for tonight.

I should have asked him where we‘re going. I don‘t know what to wear.

I think about it for a moment and then decide to text him, this is our first date, I‘d like to feel confident in

my outfit. Only a few minutes later, my phone buzzes on the desk, making me smile.

I love fast repliers.

I frown at his reply, saying that I can wear whatever I want, he just wants me. I get that he‘s trying to be

cute, but for me, that‘s a really annoying answer.

I have a few hours to get ready when I finish work and return home, Nate is sat having his breakfast be

fore for his night shift.

‘He asked you on a date?‘ Nate asks, his tone is unimpressed.

‘Isn‘t that a normal thing to do?‘ I reply as I use a make–up wipe to take off my make–up in prepara tion

for tonight.

‘I guess...I still don‘t like him though, he responds, and I don‘t bother to reply, I just go upstairs to my

room.

I take over an hour to do my make–up, I want to look perfect for him. I spend the next half hour

looking through my wardrobe, trying to find something suitable, which is more difficult than it

sounds when I don‘t know where we‘re going.

Eventually, I decide to go with jeans, a nice top and some heeled boots, trying to be smart–casual. I

check myself over in the mirror, glad that I decided to forego straightening my hair and left it curly

instead. I‘m ready early, so I go downstairs and try to distract myself by watching TV.

Almost exactly at seven, the doorbell rings and my stomach responds by clenching tightly with nerves. I

grab my handbag, quickly check myself in the mirror and open the door. Nothing could have prepared

me for the sight I am greeted with. Jayce is stood before me, wearing a tight, maroon shirt that hugs

every muscle on his chest and arms. My mouth goes dry, and I can‘t form words as my eyes drop lower

to his slim waist, pausing on his thick thighs accentuated by his jeans. I can‘t find the words to describe

how in credible he looks.

He‘s left his dark black hair unruly and somehow still styled, its atramentous color contrasts beautiful ly

with his azure irises. Combine that with the stream of tattoos peeking above the collar of his shirt and

under the cuffs of his sleeves, he is completely irresistible.

‘Good evening, he greets me, his voice doing unspeakable things to me.

‘Evening, I force my brain to comply and manage a breathy response, his eyes trail up and down my

body. My skin heats under his gaze and I‘m glad that I wore the tightest jeans I have, they show my

curves off well. Jayce seems to notice.

“You look hot, really hot, he compliments me, I spin around to lock the door so he can‘t see how

pleased I am.

‘Thank you, you look...divine,‘ I reply, mentally cursing myself for sounding like such an idiot.

Divine, really?

We make idle conversation as he drives us off to our unknown destination, it is only when we follow my

route to work that I become curious.

‘Where are we going?‘ I ask, glancing around to see we are on Damien‘s territory.

‘My house,’ he replies, for a moment, I‘m mad that I stressed about what to wear so much, he could

have just told me this earlier.

“You‘re making me dinner?‘ I question, trying to keep the surprise out of my voice.

“Yes, you nervous?‘ He asks and winks at me, I‘m momentarily stunned by this flirtatious side of him

that I‘ve rarely seen.

A little bit yeah, I admit, although I‘m nervous about our date, not his cooking.

My eyes light up as Jayce pulls up in front of a two–story, grey brick house. It‘s completely idyllic, with

large bay windows and a front porch. Before I can step out of the car, Jayce has already opened the

door for me. My mouth drops open in surprise and I quickly shut it before my evident shock offends

him.

‘Thank you,‘ I gush, I love this different side of him.

Jayce leads me inside, to the shiny modern, open plan kitchen at the back of the house,

‘Would you like a drink?‘ He offers, and I eagerly accept a glass of wine to calm my nerves.

‘I hope you don‘t mind; I‘ve just got to finish off prepping our meal, take a look around the house if you

want, he suggests. Curious, I take my glass and wander past the dining room, into the living room. I roll

my eyes at his huge T.V, it really doesn‘t need to be that big, perhaps he‘s compensating for

something.

Taking another sip of courage, I venture upstairs to find his bedroom. I know before I have even flicked

the lights on, that it is his room. His scent envelops me, and my body instinctively reacts by clenching

with lust. I turn the light on and take in the simple, austere room. I feel sorry that his room is so

uninviting, its large area makes the few dark wood items of furniture look very sparse. I don‘t know

what I thought it‘d look like, messy maybe, but this room is bare and meticulously clean.

It needs a woman‘s touch.

Deciding that I‘ve snooped enough, I come back downstairs to the kitchen.

‘Your house is lovely–‘ My words are cut short when my eyes land on Jayce. He is stood behind the

counter, chopping onions, wearing goggles.

He looks up and smiles at me, as if remembering the goggles, he quickly whips them off and shoves

them in his pocket. They have left two adorable pink rings around his eyes from being so tight.

‘Goggles huh?‘ I tease, approaching him and sliding onto one of the chairs.

‘It might damage my reputation if I‘m seen crying,‘ he replies and I laugh, but my face deadpans when I

realize he‘s being completely serious.

‘And you thought goggles were the more masculine option?‘ I ask, trying to contain my laughter.

‘Well not now I‘ve seen your reaction, he huffs, he turns away from me and towards the oven and I

can‘t control my laughter anymore.

‘No, I‘m sorry, you looked very intimidating in your goggles,‘ I laugh, he ignores me, but I don‘t care be

cause that image will stay with me forever.

If only I had taken a photo.

A loud crack of thunder sounds, and we both hear it despite the sizzling of the vegetables in a frying

pan.

‘I didn‘t know there was meant to be thunder tonight, I say absentmindedly, looking at the window in

astonishment as rain pelts down outside.

Lv. 1

‘Yeah, I thought it was just going to rain but I heard that a thunderstorm was approaching earlier, he

replies, and I frown, not loving the idea of heading home in this weather.

‘Hopefully it‘ll blow over whilst we eat,‘ I comment, only now seeing that he has laid the table for us.

‘Speaking of eating, dinner‘s ready, Jayce replies and a few moments later we‘re sat opposite one an

other with a delicious meal in front of us.