Chapter 83: It’s a Date
- RAYA -
How I fell asleep so quickly, I have no idea. But one moment there were stars cascading behind my eyes and down my body and then the next I was cradled in Dex’s arms and covered with a blanket and more comfortable than I can ever remember being.
This isn’t just physical—that’s obvious. I’ve had physical. The dreams started out physical, too. But this is so much more—there’s not even a proper way to describe it. It’s spiritual. It surpasses what I can understand with my body alone.
Just lying against Dex creates a satisfying hum of completion all the way to my toes. And all night we stayed that way—tucked together, his body curled behind mine.
Moira Rose wakes me, meowing loudly for food while soft morning light streams in through the windows. Birds are making pleasant noises outside, and it occurs to me that I slept through the whole night without a single dream. And then it also occurs to me that Dex must have gone to sleep with a huge hard on, and I feel awful and spoiled and greedy. But also divinely content at the same time.
Dex begins to stir, and there is a distinct moment when he becomes fully awake. He growls softly and kisses my head before removing his arm from under the pillow, and I turn to face him with a small grimace of discomfort that vanishes the moment his eyes are on me.
"Are you okay?" His eyebrows pinch, and he reaches to smooth my hair.
"Yes," I nod, fighting a grin. "Thank you."
He chuckles softly at the shared rule breaking and kisses me, and I quickly pull away with a small sound of objection. "Morning breath," I mumble against my hand, which is now shielding my lips from his.
He growls again and kisses all over my face before trying to nuzzle and kiss my neck, and I end up wiggling to defend myself when it tickles. Finally withdrawing to prop his head against an arm, he smiles with those intensely deep eyes that are smiling, too.
"Did you sleep well?" He asks, playing with a strand of my hair.
"Yes. I didn’t have any dreams that I remember, but it feels like they were there, and they were happy dreams. What about you?"
"Same." His smile changes to one that’s thoughtful, and I wonder how many expressions Dex Mobius has. I want to learn them all. I could just watch his face all day, honestly, entranced in every smile he is capable of and every way his emotions come through.
"I’m sorry about last night," I grimace and cover my face.
"Why are you sorry?" He chuckles and pulls my hand away. "Don’t be sorry. Was it okay?"
"Was it... y-yeah," I giggle, embarrassed now. "It was more than okay. It was so much more. I just didn’t, you know, I didn’t return the favor and..."
Dex chuckles and scrubs a hand over his face. "No, no, no. Don’t feel guilty about that. It was not a quid quo pro situation."
"But..."
"Seriously," he shakes his head. "I’m just... so grateful you’re here. And I have a very important question to ask you."
"Oh." My eyebrows shoot up as I internally prepare myself for something serious. "What is it?"
"Will you have dinner with me again tonight?" His smile grows again as he reaches up to play with another strand of my hair, and I feel my smile doing the same.
"Of course. I would love to."
"Okay." He kisses me again—just a peck before he lingers against my lips and whispers, "It’s a date then."
When he gets up from bed, I watch him go to the closet and find clothes while I remain in the dreamy fog of this bliss he has created. And when Dex winks at me again before going into the bathroom—just like he did the morning before—I groan softly and bury my head in the pillow. This is all too good. How have I possibly come to deserve this man?
While he’s showering, I feed Moira and then leave to use the bathroom downstairs so I can get ready, too. I need to get in the mindset of Liz arriving. If I can establish a relationship with her and help work on the marketing for her company, I can start to prove myself to Dex and everyone else at work. And with everything Dex has done for me, I would really love to be able to pay him back in that way if it could be beneficial for Mobius Media in the long run.
After putting on makeup for the first time in over a week, I almost don’t even recognize myself and end up giggling at my reflection. It’s kind of crazy how dolled up we get to look more attractive or more professional or more acceptable to others. This whole time I’ve been hanging out with Dex, I haven’t felt like part of me is missing when I don’t have makeup on. I probably should have thought about it more, but the way he looks at me, the way he touches me... it makes me feel like I’m enough without it. And this has all been while I’m raggedy and patched up from the accident.
Ugh! I’m smiling at myself in the mirror like an idiot, completely zoned out and daydreaming. How am I going to be able to think of anything else today but him?
"There you are," Dex says when he comes downstairs and sees me standing in the bathroom. "You could have gotten ready up there. Just come in the bathroom next time."
"It probably would have been steamy." I wrinkle my nose.
"Oh, I know it would have been," he smirks and kisses my cheek. "Should I stay home again today? I can call in with a stomach bug."
"No," I chuckle. "You need to go. Don’t give Lawson ammunition. But I will see you tonight."
"Okay. Text me when you’re done with Liz and let me know how things went."
"I will."
We both stare at each other appreciatively for several moments—our smiles mirror images of one another. And then he pushes off of the doorframe and retreats a few steps while maintaining eye contact with me.
"See you later, Raya."
"See you later, Dex."
