Page 33 of Forever Mine

“Get dressed, darlin’.”

Kota looked up with a frown. “Why?”

I sighed. I was already freaking out, I wished he just kind of went along. But Kota wouldn’t be Kota if he didn’t ask questions.

“I’m takin’ you out.” I rocked back on my heels, as Dakota finally noticed what I was wearing. His eyes widened and his tongue unconsciously licked his lips.

I had gotten showered and dressed in Beck and Riley’s room so Dakota didn’t notice. But now I stood there in borrowed dress pants and the Henley I never returned after lunch with Kota’s folks. I had my hair slicked back and borrowed some product from Ri, to keep it smooth and from falling in my eyes. I wished I had something other than my Chucks to wear, but oh well, it was good enough.

“Fuck, Jay. You look really hot.”

I smirked. “Thanks, darlin’. I left clothes in the bathroom for you. Can you wear those?”

He raised an eyebrow and climbed off the bed and into my arms. I gladly hugged him back. “Where are we going, baby?”

“It’s a surprise.” Dakota pulled back, shocked. Not that I blamed him. I wasn’t exactly known for my romantic gestures. But desperate times and all that. Ever since we found that letter, Dakota had been…off. He had been quieter and withdrawn and pretty content to just cuddle in my room when he wasn’t working.

Not that I minded that. I loved every single moment with Kota, and much prefer being home with him than out in places with a bunch of strangers. But I didn’t want that if it meant Kota was struggling. I was desperate to do something to help him, and since we had no clue who sent that fuckin’ letter, so I had no one to murder, this was a close second.

Slowly, Dakota’s surprise melted into a smile. “Are you taking me on a date, baby?”

I shrugged feeling a little awkward. “Is that okay?”

Dakota leaned up and pecked my lips. “Of course it’s okay. You know you don’t have to, right?”

“I know. I want to. You deserve to get out and have some fun.”

Dakota bit his lip, thinking. “Yeah, you’re right. We both do. Moping around here isn’t accomplishing anything. Do I have time to shower?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Dakota kissed me again before going into the bathroom to get cleaned up. I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled out my phone.

It had been nearly a week since that letter and rose showed up, and there had been no other sign of anything. With Luca and his guys still dark, Wes had asked a favor of Diego to see if he could see anything. There was CCTV footage of a guy entering the apartment building with a rose, but he had a hood on andthere were no distinguishable features to make out. Wes set up a better security system for Dakota, but honestly there wasn’t anything else to be done. The longer it went without any other incident, the more I started to believe it really was a sick prank.

Still, it got to Dakota more than he let on, and as much as he tried to dismiss it, he was still freaked out. If taking him out and proving I could be a decent boyfriend took away some of his tension, I’d be more than happy to do it.

About twenty minutes later, Kota entered the room wearing the tight gray pants and a sky blue polo that fit snugly around his shoulders and pecs. He had combed through his reddish brown hair and had it falling to the side.

I growled and stalked to him, my fingers immediately fisting the thick hair. “Fuck, sweetheart. You look delicious.” To prove that I licked up his neck.

Dakota laughed and swatted at me. “Stop that. Otherwise we’re never leaving this room, and I really want to see what this date is you got planned.”

Nerves started to get the best of me as I second guessed everything I had planned. Would Dakota like it? Was it too much? Not enough. Fuck. I wasn’t cut out for this romantic bullshit.

Dakota’s thumb across my lip stopped my spiraling thoughts. I lightly sucked on the tip. “Anything we do will be great. As long as we’re together.”

I swallowed and straightened my shoulders. I got this. “Are you ready then?”

Dakota nodded. “Yeah let’s go.”

We left my apartment and headed to the street. Automatically my eyes were on a swivel looking for anything out of the ordinary. Maybe I was the one who suggested we go out, but it didn’t mean I wasn’t gonna be careful. I didn’t see anything.

Kota took my hand. “Are we taking your truck?”

I shook my head. “Actually, nah, it’s only a few blocks walk, and parking is shit in that part of the city.”

Kota smiled softly. “Sounds good.”

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