The last two weeks have been, dare I say, quiet?
Rina took on a last-minute custom piece for some restaurant in Rosedale, so she’s been tucked away in her lair for much of that time. After what happened in her workshop the last time I was there, we both decided it was best to give her space to actually work and not be distracted.
What that time apart has done, though, is give me time to throw myself into therapy and really think about what I want moving forward with Rina.
Two weeks ago, everything changed. I could feel the physical shift between us, and it wasn’t just the sex. We wordlessly decided we wanted more than friendship.
That’s not to say that we’re jumping right in to where we were before I fucked things up. God knows I wouldn’t expect that, but we’re both wanting to make the effort to try.
That’s why, today, I’m asking her on a date. A proper one.
We’ve never actually been on a proper date. Everything we did was in secret, and I want a way to show this time would be different. This time, I will shout to the world that Rina Hutton—Steel—is finally mine.
Hopefully.
Maybe this is too much for her but it’s worth the attempt, at the very least.
I’m currently sitting in my office, mulling over how to ask her out while sipping coffee. The gossip committee has been strangely quiet of late, and I’m not expecting that to last for too much longer. Audrey has the day off, and the silence has allowed me to think about a lot of things.
I had my second injection a couple of days ago, and my scan is scheduled in two days and we’ll be able to really see if things are helping. I’m scared but hopeful. My back has been feeling light years better, so hopefully, that means things are progressing how they should.
It still makes me nervous, but I’m trying not to stress until I get definitive answers from the scan.
“Knock, knock.” I look up, confused by the voice I’m hearing.
“Hey,” I say softly as my eyes confirm it is indeed the woman I’m in love with.
“Long time, no see. Thought I’d stop by and check on you.” She gives me a cheeky grin, and I love that she took the initiative. She’s never been shy, per se, but this grown-up, assertive Rina has my heart pounding and my dick hardening.
“How sweet of you, Marina.” The use of her full name always pisses her off a little, and that fire in her eyes gets me hot every single time. That probably says more about me than it does her, but I’ll own it.
Her eyes narrow on mine, and I chuckle at the exact reaction I was hoping to get.
“Anyway, it’s shockingly quiet in here. What are you up to?” she asks.
“Oh, you know, the usual. Trying to avoid Alice and Mabel, drinking some coffee, relaxing,” I say casually.
“Sounds boring as fuck” —she shoots me a look I can’t decipher— “and I’m jealous.” It’s then that I really look at her. Dark circles under her eyes let me know she’s been working too hard. They make me want to take care of her, scold her for working too hard, and find a way to carry some of her load all at once.
“How’s the table coming along?” I ask instead of saying what I really want to. Something like,Come home with me. Let’s snuggle and binge-watch TV so you can sleep without judgement or stressing about what job is next.
“Done. Thank God. I finished it about” —she pulls her phone out to check the time— “Twenty minutes ago.”
And her first stop was here.
I want to analyze that more, but I’m not sure she really wants to scrutinize it. I need to remember to take things slow.
“What’s on your agenda the rest of the day?” Do I sound nonchalant? God, I hope so.
“I … have no idea,” she says, sounding lost, and I decide it’s the perfect time to move forward with my plan.
“Would you, maybe, want to go out to lunch? Together?” Jesus, I sound so unsure of myself, and I hate it. I hate that I’ve put myself in this position with her, but gaining back her trust is more important than feeling uncomfortable.
Her head tilts in question. “Like a date?”
“Exactly like a date.”
I let the concept seep into her brain. I wonder if she’s coming to the same realization I had about never actually going on a date before.
