Page 18 of Becoming His Muse
She smiled at him. “I’d like that.”
Her phone began to vibrate in her purse, and Olani apologized, reaching in to get it. She looked at the screen and saw that Xola was calling. Olani sent her to voicemail before sending her a text message. Xola had a late session, so she hadn’t been able to come along and make sure that Olani was safe, which was fine with her. She didn’t think Elion would do anything to her.
Olani:Hey, I’m fine. We decided to have dinner. I’m dropping a pin of my location.
Xola:Okay, I just wanted to check. Have fun and tell me about it later.
Olani returned her phone to her purse before giving Elion her full attention again. “I’m sorry, it was my cousin.”
“You don’t need to apologize,” he informed her. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, she was just checking in.”
They talked for the next fifteen minutes until their food came. As they ate, Olani asked him if he’d decided on the next theme for his exhibit since he was getting over his creative block. Elion told her that he didn’t have a clue, and usually, he just subconsciously ended up creating pieces that went well together. She knew it took great talent for something like that to happen.
He asked her how work was going, and Olani told him that she’d just contracted with a new business opening up, that she had a meeting with another next week, and that she was hoping it went well.
When they finished eating, their server brought their bill along with two complimentary mints. She took one while Elion took the other, picking up the bill along with it. Olani opened her mouth to protest, but he stopped her.
“I asked you out, remember?”
“Fine, but I’m paying next time,” she responded, placing the soft mint in her mouth.
Their server returned a few minutes later, taking the bill and Elion’s card. Olani made a mental note to come back to the restaurant. It was her first time there, and the food and service were both amazing.
“So, it’s your turn to choose what we do next time,” she stated as they waited for the server to return.
“I’ll have to think of something as exciting as zip lining. Though, you may not have to be in my lap while doing it,” he teased with a smirk.
She shook her head with a smile. He knew that she hadn’t been scared on the last line. It seemed that he wasn’t going to let her live it down, and he enjoyed teasing her about it.
When their server returned, Elion signed the ticket, and Olani left some money on the table for a tip.
As they exited the restaurant, he took her hand and opened the door for her, leading the way to their cars. When she unlocked her door, he opened it for her, and she turned to him.
“I had fun. Thank you for helping me through my nervousness.”
“Anytime,” Elion responded, running his knuckles down her cheek.
She leaned into it momentarily. “I guess I’ll see you next time.”
She turned to get into her car, but he cupped the side of her face, and before she could take a breath, his lips were on hers. Their lips moved slowly, in sync, and after a moment, he slipped his tongue into her mouth, and his free hand went to her waist.
Olani’s arms went around his neck, and she pushed up on her tiptoes, deeper into the kiss. His hand on her cheek went to the back of her neck, and she followed him in the kiss, allowing him to control the tempo. With the way he was kissing her, she was sure she’d be breathless when they pulled apart.
His hand on her waist tightened, and he pulled her body flush against his. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been kissed like this. With so much deliberation, so much want and passion, and yet she got the feeling he was holding back, restraining himself.
When they pulled apart, Elion rested his forehead against hers. Olani’s chest rose and fell as her hands slipped from overhis shoulders and down his chest, feeling the muscles strain against the T-shirt he wore.
He pecked her on the lips before releasing her. “I’ll see you next week,” he told her. It wasn’t a question; honestly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to wait until next week. However, she had to respect his time as well. So, she nodded.
She slipped into her car, and he closed the door when she was situated and stepped back. She started the car, and he watched her pull out before going around and getting into his car.
As she headed out of the parking lot, Olani ran her tongue over her lips, remembering what Elion’s felt like against them, and she wanted to know how he’d kiss her if he didn’t hold back.
9
Olani gave herself a final once-over in the mirror. She was going out with Elion again, and they were going wine tasting. She had been wine tasting a few times, but not at the vineyard they were going to and not at night. She hadn’t heard of the vineyard that was just half an hour outside of the city, but upon research, she discovered it did exist.
