It's been three days since my dinner with Thomas, now I sit braiding Tali's hair as she brushes her teeth.

She stares at me as my fingers separate the sections of her hair, twisting them expertly.

"What?" I ask and sign best I can with her hair in my hands.

"Beautiful," she signs, "you're beautiful."

I smile at her as I put the ties in her hair.

"You are, too," I sign and say.

She giggles and rinses out her mouth before putting the tooth brush up.

"Ready for school?" I sign as we walk into the small living room.

She nods happily.

"I'm walking Tali to school now, mother," I say softly as she stares off into space. She only nods as I help Tali put on her coat and shrug on the one she and I share. "I'll be back this afternoon."

I take Tali's lunch from the counter and the grocery basket from the table and we leave, walking to Tali's specialized school. She can't go to the same school as the other kids given her situation, so she goes to one where the teachers can help her one on one, teaching her to read and write.

Tali tugs on my sleeve and I look down at her.

"Is mother okay?" She asks.

"Mother is fine," I reply, "she's just upset about something."

"What is she upset about?"

"Don't worry about it," I give her a small smile.

We make it to her school where she gives me a tight hug after I give her her lunch. Then she happily runs off into the building with all the other kids.

"Hello, Darling."

I nearly scream as I jump out of my skin while turning around.

Thomas stands grinning ear to ear.

"I'm sorry, Love," he chuckles, "I didn't mean to frighten you."

"It's alright," I breathe as I keep my gaze down, "I just wasn't expecting you."

I finger goes under my chin to lift my head.

"That's better," he gives me a sweet smile that nearly makes me melt.

I remember mother's orders.

"I need to go," I pull away from his touch, "I have things I need to do today."

I walk past him, his hand cathing mine.

"Might I accompany you?" He asks, not letting go of my hand.

"No it's alright," I force a smile, "I can manage."

But I do want you to come with me.

"I didn't ask if you could manage," he says with a small smirk, "I asked if I might accompany you."

"I–," oh he's smooth, "alright, I guess it couldn't hurt to have someone to talk to."

He smiles widely as he laces his fingers with mine and we start to walk. My gaze stays turned down as my cheeks glow red.

A nobleman is holding my hand.
A handsome, sweet nobleman is holding my hand.

A small smile creeps onto my face at the thought.

Mother would kill me.

I look up at him.

But what mother doesn't know won't hurt her.

We walk to the market where venders and entertainers shout to get people's attention.

I go to the small bakery, the small bell ringing as the door open.

"Hey, Lilith," the girl behind the counter, Margo, greets me, "and hello handsome man holding her hand."

She grins at me and gives me an excited look that says we need to talk later.

I roll my eyes as she holds out the bag that has what I normally get in it.

"Thanks," I set down the money needed to pay and go to leave, Tom only releasing my hand to allow me to pay and place the item into my basket.

We walk past a street performing group who play a song with a bit of an up beat rhythm and a sexy undertone. Thomas suddenly pulls me to him with a mischievous grin and begins to dance with me.

I giggle as we dance until he pulls me very close. Our chests touch as we sway and my hand goes from his bicep to his shoulder then around his neck.

We dance until the song ends and the small crowd of people I hadn't noticed watching starts to applaud.

I go red again with a sheepish giggle before Thomas raises my head and puts a small kiss on my forehead.

The small action sends butterflies dancing in my stomach.

We go back on our way, again Thomas laces his fingers in mine.

"You know, Darling," Thomas says suddenly, "if you keep smiling at the ground instead of up at me, I might get a bit jealous."

I look up at him and find him smiling down sweetly at me.

"And why would you be jealous?" I grin back at him.

"Because I love your smile," he squeezes my hand just a bit.

I blush and look away with a smile on my face before looking back at him.

"Well I guess I better let you see it more often since you love it so much."

He chuckles and brings my hand to his lips, placing a small kiss there.

"Where to next, Love?" He says lowly as he slowly lowers out hands. His voice is almost seductive and it send and odd feeling through my body.

"To the deli," my voice comes out softer than I wanted it to and I'm surprised he heard me at all.

I clear my throat and look away blushing like crazy as I begin to pull him along.

"This way," I continue down the street, Thomas in tow as me make it to the deli.

We go in and I pick out the same meat we get every week.

"Thirty four," the man says gruffly.

"What?" I ask in shock, "but it's always been twenty seven."

"Yeah well now it's thirty four," he leans on the counter.

"But I'm not going to have enough for the other groceries. How am I supposed to feel Tali and Mother?"

"Not my problem," he says, wiping his disgusting face on his apron, "it's still thirty four."

"Why don't we come to a better agreement," Thomas interjects.

"What's a nobleman like you doin' with a skank like her anyway?" The man looks at Thomas now, "what's a nobleman even doing in the market? Don't you have slaves that do that for you so you don't have to dirty up your precious shoes?"

"You dare speak of her like that?" I can feel the anger seething off of him. He doesn't even seem to be affected by the insults directed towards him, only the name I was called.

"Thomas, it's fine," I squeeze his hand before letting go and putting the money on the counter, "let's just go."

I take the meat, putting it in the basket beside the bread, and pull Thomas out of the shop behind me.

"Does everyone treat you like that?" Thomas asks pulling me to a stop in one of the alleys.

"It's fine, Thomas," I sigh as I go to try and walk again, only for him to stop me yet again.

"It's not fine," he cups my cheek and makes me look at him, sympathy swimming in his beautiful blue eyes, "they shouldn't be treating you like this."

"Thomas," I say gently, placing my hand into of his, "I'm used to it."

"But you shouldn't be."

His eyes dart down for a split second before returning to my eyes.

There's the breath of a second before his lips are on mine, softly, gently, lovingly. My lips move in sync with his, loving the feeling of his cold lips against my warm once.

The basket is remover from my hand and set on one of the crates beside us, before I am lifted to sit along side it. This brings me in perfect level with him as he pulls me against his body and my legs go around his waist.

"You should be worshipped," his lips move to my throat as my fingers tangle into his hair, "put upon a pedestal like the Goddess you are."

I gasp as he nips at my collar bone, sending a new sensation throughout my body.

"Thomas," I breath, "we have numbers."

"And I don't care," he says against my throat, "I want you and only you."

I shudder at the feeling of his hands going up my outer thighs, curving around my backside to pull me closer to him.

The shout of nearby venders brings me back to the real world.

"T-Thomas," I panic, "we can't do this here."

He groans but pulls away, but not before connecting our lips again.

"Come with me to the Noblemen's gala," he says suddenly, staring into my eyes intensely.

"I can't go to a gala like that."

"You can with me," he insists, "just say yes."

"But I have nothing to wear."

"I'll handle that," he kisses me again, "please, Darling."

I chew on my lip, thinking.

"Ask me again tomorrow," I finally say. Now that insures that it's definitely not a 'no' and that I'll get to see him again tomorrow.

He grins, seeming to know what I'm doing as well.

"Then I will ask you again tomorrow," he pecks my lips again, "should be continue with your shopping?"

I nod and get down from the crate, taking Thomas's hand to help steady myself. He takes the basket as well, refusing to let me carry it no matter my protest.

We get to the vender that sells spices and I get what I need, but before I can pay, Thomas has already done so.

"You didn't need to do that," I hold his arm.

"No," he grins at me, "but I wanted to."

I roll my eyes and he chuckles as I lay my head on his shoulder.

"What would you like to eat, Love?"

I look at the clock in the center of the square and realize it's almost noon.

"There's a small diner just around the corner," I say, pointing in the direction we need to go to get there.

"Alright," he smiles, "to the diner it is then."