His answer surprises me. “I’ll have the driver bring you a dress. He’ll get you at eight. I look forward to seeing you tonight, Mallorie.”
Before I can say anything else, he hangs up, leaving me speechless. For some reason, his rudeness here doesn’t bother me nearly as much as it would from anyone else. Instead, I can’t help but wonder what’s to come, my heart racing and excitement buzzing through me.
How does he know my size for the dress? I bet Cerise is behind this too, somehow. Regardless, I need to shower and get ready, since it’s already five o’clock. I don’t plan on sleeping with him on the first date, I really shouldn’t, but just in case, I want to be fresh and smooth.
The car slows to a stop in front of a massive building that has to be one of the biggest apartment buildings I’ve ever seen. It’s definitely way more expensive than I could ever afford, but I’m not surprised Emris would live here. Hopefully the size of the building isn’t compensating for anything.
I’m also not surprised with the dress Emris picked out for me tonight. Dark red, tight, and low-cut. It’s so stereotypical for a vampire that it’s almost comical. It fits me like a glove, and I won’t lie about loving it. To make it even better, it’s from Cerise’s label. He’s not only giving me a gift, but supporting my best friend’s business.
The driver opens the door for me and I slip out of the car, fixing my dress before I walk toward the building. As I get closer, I can see Emris waiting outside, wearing black dress pants and a charcoal-gray dress shirt, a few of the buttons at the top undone. Still dressed up, but with a relaxed feel. It fits him well, and it’s giving me a glimpse of his chiseled chest. He looks like he was carved by the gods.
“You look absolutely gorgeous.” Emris grins, his eyes sweeping over me.
My cheeks feel a bit warm, but I try to play it cool, simply responding with, “Well, you have good taste.”
“You,” he clarifies, extending a hand out to me, “make that dress what it is.”
My heart skips a beat. He really isn’t cocky or a jerk. Maybe I was wrong on my first judgement of him. I hope I was, because I’m starting to like him—and I rarely like anyone. There’s just something about him that I’m drawn to.
I slip my hand in his and let him lead me inside. Instantly, my breath is taken away, the high ceilings and marble floors making me feel very out of place. It is pristine and unlike anywhere I have ever been in New Bria. Actually, unlike any place I’ve been at all.
As we enter an elevator, I narrow my eyes at him. “So, where are we going?”
“You will see.” Grinning, he hits the button for the top floor.
I shoot him a side-eye and tease, “I hope you didn’t have me get all dressed up just to bring me back to your apartment.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Emris mock-gasps, shooting me a wink as he continues on. “Though, if you’d like to come in after our date, you’re more than welcome to.”
Wait, wearen’tgoing to his apartment? Where on earth are we going then? If this is someone else’s apartment building, then this is the weirdest first date I’ve ever been on. Maybe he’s worried I’m only after his money, so he doesn’t want me to see his apartment right away. Not that this place isn’t flashy as it is.
He leads me out of the elevator and down the hall, taking us to a large set of glass double doors, revealing the evening sky before us. He holds the door open for me, and I can’t hide my joy at the view.
“This is amazing,” I say, shooting him a smile over my shoulder.
There’s a small patio with lights and chairs, but beyond that is an incredible view of the cityscape. New Bria looks beautiful from up here, all of its little issues fading away. Emris clears his throat behind me, and I fight with myself to pry my eyes from the view.
“I’m glad you like the view, but this isn’t the surprise,” Emris says, extending a hand out to me again.
As I slip my hand in his and let him continue to lead me, I take one last longing glance backward at the view. I would’vebeen content to sit and admire the scenery, have some drinks, and get to know him. Oh well, I guess.
We continue up a flight of stairs, a brief cool breeze tickling my skin as we reach the top platform. The air in my lungs leaves me, this new view even more breathtaking than the last. At the highest point of this building, nothing around it comes close. We can see everything, the entire city.
In the center of the rooftop, surrounded by warmly lit hanging lights, is a table for two. A white tablecloth covers it, already set with plates and utensils. A single rose sits in a vase in the middle. It’s literally my dream date.
“A beautiful view for my beautiful view,” Emris flirts, pulling my chair out for me.
This time, I don’t try to fight off the heat rising in my cheeks. “You say that to all the girls?” I tease.
“No one compares to you.” He takes his seat across from me. “The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I was seeing Aphrodite in her human form.”
My heartbeat travels lower at his words, pulsing between my legs. His answer is smart, avoiding my question by using flattery, but he says it so genuinely, like he really means it.
I narrow my eyes at him, trying to figure out his endgame. “Are you just trying to get laid?”
“Well gorgeous, if you’re offering, I definitely won’t decline, but I am interested in much more than that with you,” he purrs, leaning forward on his one hand as he stares at me intently. “You completely captivate me, in every sense of the word. When your eyes meet mine, I am captured in your gaze, and I never want to escape.”
Unable to suppress the way his words make me feel, my cheeks flame. He really feels this way about me after only meeting me twice? I know vampires have heightened emotions,but I never expected them to be this extreme. The thing is, I think I’m starting to feel the same way.
