Little Dove

Chapter 5

Phoenix POV

This meeting with Mr. Sampson has been going pretty well. To my surprise Jared somehow came prepared with determination to compromise with Mr. Sampson, so I let him take the wheel with the conversation. I know that is what my father would want.

I keep glancing out at the hall where we were waiting for Katie, our waitress, to come back with another round of drinks, that’s when I see my Little Dove.

Our Mate, she’s drunk Jet says in my head. Jet, she is NOT our Mate... but it does appear she has been drinking. I feel this strong need to protect her. Getting up from my seat, I excuse myself to the restroom and follow her at a careful distance. Looks like she is headed towards the bathroom... Just then she turns to her left and I see... rage... That look of rage crosses her face, it almost looks like her eyes glow another color, like gold. She stumbles into the room and starts yelling.

Sounds like this scumbag was her boyfriend... “”Don’t you dare come back to.... MY home, I’m changing locks” What the hell?? this guy was living with her? “Ow, you’re hurting me, Get Off me!!!” I hear her say, Jet starts to rage inside of me, threatening to come out and rip this guys throat out, as I walk faster to where she is. I see her stumble out of the room and trip over her feet, so I quickly reach out to stop her fall. When my hand reaches her waist I feel a jolt run through my arm and into my body. One that I have never experienced in all of my years.

I carry her to an unoccupied private room and hold her in my arms. Her breathing slows and she embraces my hold on her as she sinks into my chest. She smells.... like sweet lavender, and she is so delicate and small my Little Dove. The waitress comes in and hands me a glass of water that I asked for and walks off. She opens her eyes, still clouded with tears and looks up at me with a shocked and surprised look.

Emilys POV

I don't know how long we sat there gazing in each others eyes. It honestly felt like an eternity. My mind is telling me to stay... right here in his large... very large.. no Massive arms, It feels so right. However my brain is telling me to get the hell up and run!!! My body starts functioning again, and I push away from him and stand up, backing up slowly I try to find my words.

"Wh..who.. who are you? Aren't you that tall handsome jerk from the coffee shop?" s**t Emily did you really just say that out loud?? Sober up! "Tall handsome jerk, huh?" He says with a smirk on his face and his deep blue eyes piercing into mine. He stands up and starts slowly walking towards me, while I still manage to carefully walk backwards until my back hits a wall. Dammit wall, you had to be there! I didn't realize this morning really how Tall he really is. He has to be at Least 2 feet taller than me. It hurts my neck to look up at him.

I straighten myself up to appear to be... a little taller He is probably internally laughing at me "Who are you?" I manage to get out in a confident voice. "My name is Phoenix, Phoenix Sterling. My building is across the street from the Morning Rise, So yes... I am the tall handsome jerk, you claim". Now he has the most beautiful smile etched across his face, with a perfect set of white teeth showing. Focus Emily. "Oh.... right, okay.. well that makes sense. Sorry... And thank you for catching me and stuff" ughh I sound like a total moron.

He makes out a deep chuckle and moves a little closer until he is so close, I have to look straight up at him. "You're welcome. But you should really work on choosing your boyfriends better" "Oh he's not my boyfriend.. Nicholas is my fiancé... or.. was" I look down at my feet feeling ashamed. He reaches his hand out and touches my chin, I feel that same strange spark shoot down my back, and it looks like he feels it too, because he flinches. He lifts my chin so that I am looking directly in his eyes and rubs his thumb over my cheek and my bottom lip. I can't breath...

Every inch of my body goes warm and my knees threaten to give out when I feel them wobble, he reaches out to grab onto me before I fall....again. He pulls away as soon as he knows I am stable again, leaving me feeling cold wanting his warm touch again.

"Would you like me to drive you home? My brother is finishing up my meeting, I'm sure he can handle it" He says while placing his hand on my lower back encouraging me to walk towards the door of the private room. I jolt up with the thought of leaving, "Oh crap, oh no.. Sadie.. I came with my friend and totally forgot about her after I ran into.. my ex. I need to go find her!!" I rush out of the room, and feel him following behind me closely.

I search around and find our table empty. s**t! I check my phone and no new messages... Then I look out on the dance floor and see her dancing with a guy and rush over to her. "Sadie!!" "Damn girl where have you been? Have you been crying??" She looks at me worried. "I.... I don't want to talk about it right now". Sadie knows me so well, she knows I will break down if she doesn't let it slide this time. She gives me a nod and a smile. "This is Brandon" She yells over the music and Brandon holds up a fist to fist bump me. I awkwardly fist bump him "Nice to meet you Brandon.. Hey Sadie I'm going to head out, I need to get some sleep, are you good?" "Yeah! You have a ride? I won't let you walk home, it's too far Em"

She looks at me with concern, and I turn around to look at my mystery man, Phoenix who is standing there expressionless watching Sadie and Brandon. I look back at Sadie and she looks totally shocked. "Uh.... What?? Who is that tall very sexy scary man Em??" "It's a long story Sadie, I'll call you tomorrow okay? I'll be fine I promise!" "Okay babe, I Love you. Text me when you get home!"

She hugs me, kisses me on my head and grabs Brandon's hand to head towards the bar.

I turn around and look at Phoenix who is just staring at me with adoring eyes and holds out his arm for me to grab. "Are you sure this is okay? I don't want to take you away from an important meeting." "This is more fun" He says with a warm smile. I take his arm and we head out of crowded Vision, and to the parking deck to the most beautiful black Mercedes I have ever seen. Crap... now I really don't have a car without Nicholas, I push to the back of my mind, on my to do list.

He opens the door for me to get in and walks around to the drivers side. I see him texting on his phone before entering the car. "You know, you shouldn't be drunk roaming around a bar, looking the way you do alone." He looks angry, like he is scolding me. Who is this guy? He doesn't Know me! "Um excuse me for trying to have a good time with my friend. And what do you mean looking the way I do??" I sternly say right back at him crossing my arms on my chest, clearly not realizing it's pushing up my cleavage just a bit.

I see him catch a glance, and he clears his throat. "Sorry, I meant... nothing, never mind. " His face softens and he looks out the windshield gripping the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles turn white. "Can you please type in your address in the gps". After typing in my address we head to my home.. my home that I used to share with my fiancé...my now Ex fiancé.

We drive in complete silence until he pulls up on my driveway. Its dark, I forgot to turn the lights on the outside of my little home, it just looks sad. My mood shifts and I feel alone again, hurt, sick, all at once. It is almost like he can feel my mood shift, because he reaches out and touches my arm, and my body lights up, almost as if it is on fire... but it doesn't hurt. In fact it feels incredible.

"Are you okay? Would you like me to walk you to the door?"