“SHALL WE?”
1142 Words
(Seraphina Parker)
Elian had asked to see me.
I remembered how my face lit up when his text popped up on my phone, the happiness that made my stomach flutter, a small, daring bump of hope rising inside me.
Hope that he wouldn’t be an irresponsible father who wanted nothing to do with his son after all these years.
As I drove toward the location he sent me, my mind ran back to my conversation with Becca the night before.
She had argued vehemently, stating that I had just claims.
When I pressed her for more, she said we needed to meet face-to-face to talk properly.
My fingers tapped lightly on my phone screen as I glanced down at it.
No new message from Becca.
I tucked the thought away.
I had to focus on today, on seeing Elian.
Becca hadn’t lived through that night with me. She hadn’t felt the betrayal, the sting, or the miracle that followed.
She hadn’t met the stranger who captured my heart in the span of a few hours.
His face.
His aura.
Nothing Becca could say would ever erase that.
I tightened my grip around the steering wheel, exhaling heavily as I pulled into the parking lot of a towering shopping mall, Maravilla Complex gleamed boldly across its glass entrance.
It wasn’t a restaurant.
I thought we would sit over a drink and talk.
Confused, I got out of my car after parking properly and dug through my handbag for my phone.
Just as I was about to call him, the screen lit up.
It was Elian calling.
I swiped across the screen to accept the call and then pressed the phone to my ear.
“Come on in, señorita”, his voice came, playful and light.
For a moment, I only listened, a small smile curling at the corner of my lips.
“Are you there? Hello?” he said again, his deep voice almost vibrating against my skin.
I snapped back to attention.
“Yes! I’m here. I parked… properly”, I stammered, feeling foolish.
I wasn’t even making proper sentences.
“We’re upstairs”, Elian said, chuckling. “I’ll come get you.”
The call ended, but I still stood there, staring at my phone, heat creeping up my neck.
How was I already jumbling my words around him?
I shook it off and fixed my hair, trying to smooth it against the soft breeze that teased it out of place.
When I glanced up again, Elian was at the entrance, casually leaning against the glass door like he had all the time in the world.
He looked freshly shaven and maddeningly handsome in a dark grey suit that clung to his athletic frame in all the right ways.
Each step toward him felt like wading through air. Soft, slow, heart-thudding.
Then, before I could say a word, he crossed the distance between us and enveloped me in a hug.
His strong arms locked firmly around me, pulling me into his warm, solid chest.
The scent of his cologne wrapped around me, dark and addictive.
I felt the soft kiss he pressed just below my ear, making me shiver.
His hand trailed from my back down into my palm, sliding his fingers between mine with an easy familiarity that undid me.
I dared to look up at him and my breath caught.
His smile stretched wide, his lashes thick over gleaming, mischievous eyes.
My knees wobbled.
I reached out instinctively, grabbing his hands to steady myself.
Elian laughed, a rich, unrestrained sound that made my chest tighten.
He looked unfairly good, his suit doing nothing to hide the raw male beauty he carried effortlessly.
I think I fall in love with you all over again every time I see you, I thought helplessly.
“Shall we?” he said, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from my forehead.
I nodded, following him into the building with trembling steps, still not recovered from his touch.
…
Inside, the Maravilla Complex was even more breathtaking.
Floor-to-ceiling glass windows bathed the gleaming marble floors in soft natural light.
The air smelled faintly of expensive perfume and fresh flowers.
Rows of designer dresses and polished displays stretched endlessly on both sides.
I walked beside Elian, trying not to gawk at the astronomical price tags on the dresses.
“Ouch!” I yelped, bumping into something solid.
It was Elian, standing right in front of me, a teasing glint in his eyes.
“Careful”, he said, stepping aside to reveal a dress behind him, encased in a shimmering glass wardrobe.
I gasped.
The dress was exquisite.
A deep emerald green silk that shimmered under the lights, its neckline a delicate sweetheart curve and a skirt that flowed like liquid around the waist.
“Try it”, Elian said, grinning, his head turning slightly as if searching for the fitting rooms.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing at his clumsy attempt.
Just then, a poised sales attendant approached, smiling warmly.
“I’ll take her if you don’t mind”, she said, addressing Elian with professional grace.
“Perfect”, he replied smoothly, then shot me a look so flirty it made my toes curl.
Still in a daze, I let the attendant lead me toward the fitting rooms tucked neatly behind one of the designer sections.
…
Changing into the dress was surprisingly quick.
The silk kissed my skin as it slid on, fitting my curves perfectly, almost like it had been sewn just for me.
I loved it instantly.
I smoothed the fabric down, my hands trembling slightly, before following the attendant back toward the main floor.
My heart hammered wildly in my chest as we walked.
When the attendant’s hand slipped away and her footsteps faded behind me, I lifted my head.
And found Elian.
He stood frozen, a glass of champagne hovering mid-air, his lips slightly parted in stunned silence.
The air between us pulsed.
For a moment, it really did feel like time had stopped.
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear shyly, offering him a small smile.
Elian exhaled sharply, then said, in a voice deep and reverent, “You look absolutely stunning”
My cheeks warmed.
“Do I?” I murmured, pretending to adjust the dress.
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he started walking toward me, each step slow, deliberate.
When he reached me, we were so close I could feel the heat radiating off him.
The sales attendant gave a quick, polite “Excuse me” and disappeared, her heels clicking faintly away.
But just as he transferred the glass to his other hand and reached for my face, a sharp, jarring sound tore through the air.
We both flinched, the moment shattering like fragile glass between us.
- Writer
