The wall clock in my room showed ten thirty. Noah would be here anytime now.
I swept a look at myself in the mirror. I was wearing a cream sweater, navy blue jeans and a nude-colored long blazer over it. I had put on a pair of ankle high dark brown boots with semi-heels. I had managed to braid my hair in a half updo and also applied a little makeup. In all, I was looking nice.
I was excited for today. Last night I had barely caught sleep, tossing and turning on the bed, thinking about our date. Everything still felt so surreal. About a week ago I would've never believed that Noah and I would be going on a date together. He seemed too exquisite. Unattainable.
And here we are now.
The doorbell rang and I grabbed my clutch before speeding downstairs. Mom was already at the door attending my handsome date. Gabriel was there too, trying to tear a wrapper of big chocolate in his tiny hands.
"First say thank you Gab," my mother was scolding Gabriel, who muttered a low thank you. Noah smiled at his antics.
"Hey," I said shyly, walking to them.
Noah looked at me. All the breath sucked out of me with the way his eyes drank me in from head to toe. His gaze was intense, making thousand butterflies flutter in my stomach. I guess I looked more than nice.
He looked breathtaking himself, dressed in expensive leather jacket with black shirt underneath and gray jeans. His dark blond hair were slicked back with some kind of hair product. The man dressed to impress. And I was more than impressed.
He cleared his throat. "Hey," he said as I stood near him.
It was hard to take my eyes off him but I managed to turn to my mother and said, "we're leaving."
She nodded, studying us with her hawk-like eyes. "Don't be late." Her words from last night still loomed in my mind, but I had decided to ignore them, at least for today. In fact, I wanted to ignore everything today, from some stupid Magic Realm to my fight with Gabriel. I just wanted to enjoy the day with Noah without any fears or insecurities.
"Don't worry Mrs. Martin, I'll bring her back on time," Noah assured her before we both stepped out.
Again I found his black Range Rover parked outside our house. "Are you giving up your Ferrari for good?" I asked jokingly as we walked to his car.
"No. I've reserved that car for your brother. I know you don't like sitting in flashy sports car," he replied and grinned teasingly, "it was quite a buzz kill to find my girl doesn't like speed."
"Or she's not fond of being in a road accident," I countered, while internally gushing that he called me his girl. I was also flattered how he was so observant about my likes and dislikes. He was so caring.
"Trust me Martin when I say I won't even let a scratch come to you." His tone was light but he was very serious.
I bit back a smile. Was it wrong that I liked his protectiveness?
We climbed inside the car and put on the seat belts. He pulled out of our driveway and we were on the road.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"Why don't you guess?" Noah gave a lopsided grin.
"Why don't you just tell?" I sang.
He chuckled. "I'm taking you to my place."
"W-what?" My eyes widened. "Why are we going there? Are your parents there? You should've told me before, I would dress better."
"Calm down. I'm not taking you there to meet my parents. They aren't home. I just I thought it's only fair you get to see my house after I saw yours. You should be able to barge in my place anytime too."
"Why can't you just take me on a stereotypical date, like a movie or something?" I commented.
"Don't worry, we'll do that too Martin." He grinned, his one hand reaching out to hold mine. "Today I have something special planned out." I noted a slight edge in his tone.
Special planned out... Were we going to...? Sex?
I looked at Noah, who had his eyes on the road, then at our hands which were clasped together. Yes, I liked Noah. Actually I liked him too much to be considered healthy. But we hadn't even kissed yet. No one made a move. Sometimes we were close, but the moment never happened, mostly because Noah always backed away. I thought he didn't want to take things too fast.
Now having sex with him seemed like a long shot. Not that I was against it, but wasn't it too soon? Like way too sudden. I had never been with a boy. Never been interested to date one until Noah. Adult films and erotic stories, that I gorged on at late nights, were basically my only experience, that was if you even counted them as one. In conclusion, I was an untouched virgin who had zero knowledge about real-life intimacy.
Add on top the insecurities I carried about my body. It was no secret I was 'bigger' than most girls. Baring my imperfections, from my pudgy belly to thick thighs and wide hips, to someone was, mildly put, daunting. It became even more intimidating when I recounted Noah's exes. They were all so beautiful. And I was... fat.
Noah's thumb rubbed the back of my hand soothingly as though he knew unpleasant thoughts had entered my mind. I glanced at him and found his dazzling smile blinding me. He looked at me like he couldn't get enough of me. Perhaps being with him wouldn't be so bad. In fact I couldn't imagine anyone else but him.
In the spur of moment I leaned toward him and kissed his cheek to let him know I was ready for him.
Car swiveled wildly and almost got off the road, but Noah positioned it quickly.
"I'm sorry," I squeaked as he looked at me bewildered.
"Fuck," he cursed, turning his eyes back to the road. He then suddenly burst out laughing. "Damn it Giselle, at least give me a heads up before doing something like that. I almost lost control there."
"It was just a small peck on a cheek," I said, feeling shy.
"It was from you. Any small thing from you is not small for me Martin. I swear, you rile me up like a little school boy." The feeling was mutual. I bet we would combust if we did what I think we were about to.
"Every day we learn something new. Big bad Noah Sylvan can be taken down by a little kiss on his cheek," I teased him.
"Only by you Giselle Martin. Only by you."
Few minutes later we stopped in front of large iron gates. A man in guard's uniform came out of and opened them for us. Noah rolled down his window to thank him before driving inside. A long trail of trees on the sides marked the driveway as we drove along.
A huge mansion stood at the end. Its walls were paved with rustic brown bricks with maroon slanting roofs over them, giving it an antique look. Maybe it was antique, standing here tall for over centuries, and more to come seeing the way it was highly maintained. Windows were in shades of dark blue and doors were wooden. A wide stairway was at the entrance leading to the front door.
Noah circled the driveway before parking the car in a large garage. Many cars were already there, including his Ferrari, and none of it looked like it cost less than hundred thousand dollars.
We slid out of the car and entered through backdoor. I had to remind myself to close my mouth as we walked inside. Interior was completely opposite of the outside with contemporary furnishings and cream colored walls. It felt as though I had stepped inside a modern castle.
Noah held my hand and pulled me upstairs as I gaped at his 'home'. Big paintings, large fish tank in the middle of living room, huge chandelier, a piano at the corner, and old sculptures. Everything screamed wealth and luxury.
Just how much rich is he?
"Are you sure I can just barge into your home without getting arrested?" I tried to joke, even though on the inside I kind of meant it.
Mom's words echoed in my mind, and somehow all this show of wealth started intimidating me instead of impressing.
"No one's going to stop you," Noah said. We reached the end of staircase and started on hallway. "Putting up all my resistances, I couldn't stop you... Now no one else can," he muttered lowly.
He dragged me inside a room. His room. I studied his large personal space with light gray and white walls. A king size bed was attached to the center wall with dark blue sheets spread over it. Right above was a collage of photos of him with his friends and family. Elijah and Silas were in most of them. Dark blinds were pulled over the glass walls at sides. A smart TV was in front of the bed and there was a computer table and office chair at one corner.
"Now shall we start our date?" Noah's hands snaked around my waist and pulled me into him. Pleasant tingles erupted all over me as I was flush against him.
My eyes met his striking emerald greens. My heart sped and heat crawled over my body. Was this it?
*******
You can read two chapters ahead on inkitt. Link is in bio.