Aunt Mary wasn’t at all bothered, to put it mildly. She sat down at the head of the table and brightly looked around.

“Is everything alright?” Alan was the only brave one to venture those words out of his mouth. The consequence of those words had a marvelous effect on the rest of the group, all heads swung towards Aunt Mary who simply smiled and nodded.

“Eat first, talk later,” she quipped.

Layna shared a look with Emily and they groaned.

“Any problems?” Mary asked raising one haughty brow.

“No, Aunt Mary, no problem at all, the food is delicious,” Layna chimed.

Emily picked up the pasta dish took a healthy bite, “Truly delicious,” which was a fact and that was one thing that served as an incentive for all of them to be ethereally present.

Mia smothered a smile but did not risk a glance at her sisters. But she did look at Thomas and catching his eyes, nodded. Thomas would do just fine.

Thomas couldn’t help but enjoy his time there. He might have been reluctant to actually agree to barge in on the outing but ah…if it were always this enjoyable, he looked at Layna, who sat next to her; he was up for it; anytime, any day.

Putting a morsel of food in his mouth, he titled his head to look at his current object of fascination.

Layna felt his stare, she couldn’t tell how or why, but it was as if her instincts were at play. She could feel the heat of his gaze on her.

She tried to take the nonchalance route; after all, she had not yet analyzed the scorching kiss and would love to sit back, with her head preferable on a soft pillow before giving ‘it’ her undivided attention; that privilege it definitely deserved.

She raised her eyebrows in a questioning glance, when he just gave her a rakish smile; she felt her heart beat a little faster.

Damn! For men like him it should be illegal to smile, if necessary at least medical aid should be provided nearby.

Layna wanted to take a deep breath but that would further entail her accepting that she had been affected by his nearness which though true, she wasn’t just affected but deeply affected, wouldn’t hone well with his arrogance and really, she didn’t want to add fuel to his already growing ego.

She could very well play it cool.

Replying to a silly question put forward by Emily, she shook her head and turned her attention firmly back to her food only to be jostled about.

Was that his feet on hers?

What was he trying to do? You couldn’t just cope up a feel that way.

Was it even a sane thing to say?

When his feet touched hers again in a mild caress that nearly shook her out of her very seat, she jerked and looked at him. He smiled wolfishly and winked.

What overconfidence? She had to give it to the man. So, he thought he was the only one who could affect her. Well, it was time to prove him wrong.

She slipped her slippers off her feet and when she was sure he was in between answering a question posed by….lady luck was truly shining on her, Aunt Mary; she touched his feet with hers entwining her little toe with his. Layna was granted with the hardening of his jaw though to her utter displeasure there was no flutter in his speech.

Not to be put down, she changed her tactic. She kicked him under the table. Yet Thomas turned smiled at her and pretended to ignore her.

“Can you please pass the sauce?” Emily asked Layna.

Layna nodded, “Sure,” the bottle nearly slipped from her fingers as she felt Thomas reach under the table and grab hold of her foot, pulling it onto his lap.

She was mortified, how did the tables turn upon her. She glanced at him and saw a small smile tugging his lips. Layna elbowed him in a futile attempt to get him to relinquish his grip on her feet. The obnoxious man continued eating. Fine, if he could ignore it so could she.

Damn well could!

She took one sip of her juice, blatantly ignoring the feel of his hand on her feet. Just then he began to slowly play with her toes and she choked. Sensations that she had been trying to keep at bay flared readily inside her.

Emily frowned as she looked at her, “If I didn’t know any better I would say, you look completely flustered.”

“Who?...me?” Layna rolled her eyes and jerked her feet out of Thomas’s grasp to no avail.

Emily shrugged, dismissing her, went back to her banter with Alan. Layna heaved a sigh of utmost relief.

After few minutes she decided to try again, “Thomas,” Layna whispered.

“Yes, Layna?” Thomas asked in a sure, egotistical voice.

Layna narrowed her eyes at him, “Can you please give it back?” To put emphasis on her said request, she jabbed a piece of cherry with her fork.

“Give what back?” He asked this time turning around, giving her his complete attention. Well, this was what she needed. She could see Aunt Mary looking at them.

“My foot? What else?” She whisper screamed in exasperation.

Thomas gave her a bemused smile, shook his head and went back to eating.

“Excuse me?” Layna looked mortally offended.

Thomas stopped, sighed and stared right into her eyes, making her feel giddy,” It is no longer in my captive, Layna.”

The way her name rolled off his tongue, gosh, could make a woman feel light-hearted. Wait a minute! What? Not in his captive and she tested, picked up her foot from his lap and realized, he had renounced his control over it.

She had been outdone. And didn’t like it one bit. She wanted to swear loudly, caught his stare and as she resisted the urge to poke out her tongue at him, he winked turning her mind into mush.

“So?” Aunt Mary clapped her hands getting the attention of all sundry.

“So?” Alan imitated her as he sprawled back into his chair.

Aunt Mary simply turned towards him and gave him an uncharacteristically sweet smile that made Layna and Mia exchange concerned glances.

“I am worried?” Layna muttered under her breath to no one particular.

Thomas blessed her with a quirky odd grin, “Is that a rhetorical question?”

Before she could reply, Aunt Mary’s voice thundered and shocked them in to maintain pin drop silence, “This always works.” She bobbed her head in extreme satisfaction.

“Well, I wouldn’t call ‘terror’ tactics impressive,” Thomas drawled as Layna’s head swung towards him. Okay, she didn’t know he had in him to take on Aunt Mary. That was remarkable.  Astonishing to be exact!

Alan snickered.

“You diplomats don’t value these as much as you should, hun. “ Mary sent her son back a look totally stubborn,” Would you like me to add, Alan?”

Alan shook his head in the negative as he and Thomas raised their hands up in surrender.

“Now, that is settled,” Aunt Mary took a deep breath,” Seeing as you all have the next weekend off. I suggest that we go all together make good use of my cottage tucked up neatly in the wilderness of Sherwood county.”

As she sat down, she was met with expected incensed ‘no’s, can’t go’s’. She looked around and motioned to Thomas who quickly stood up and walked up to her.

She stood regally, befitting of a queen, held out a hand for Thomas to formally escort her out to the house.

Layna quipped,” You used the word ‘suggest’, you can’t leave without hearing us out.”

Aunt Mary stopped, turned and smiled, “Did I say I ‘suggest?”

“Yes,” everyone spoke together in a chorus including a whisper from Thomas.

Aunt Mary gave Thomas a glare before addressing her brood,” Knowing me well, you should know, suggestion in reality means an order. I will see you all Friday evening at five. Have a good week.”

And walked off to the house with Thomas in tow.

………….

By the time they were ready to leave, the evening had started shifting around them, engrossing them within its coolness, with the thrust of nightfall just within reach.

Thomas and Layna walked together, having fallen back from the rest of the group. It was nice to be with someone, with whom you could gel at that very infinite level which was difficult to comprehend, but was truly a wish infested in everybody’s heart.

Layna knew she might not be romantically inclined but with Thomas she had at last found that companion, one whose company she could cherish and enjoy. Who could match her intellectually without having her to bow out in the battle of wits. It was challenging and refreshing. Something she would surely look forward to.

“Aunt Mary is a darling schemer,” Thomas shook his head as he guided Layna towards the narrow well-lighted pathway.

" Tell me about it,”Layna huffed,” she so knew we wouldn’t have a choice. She plays her cards really well.”

 He blew out a quick breath. "But it’s so difficult not to love her, isn’t it?"

 She gave a quick laugh, a laugh he recognized as genuine from the humor that lit her eyes. It did something very special to her beauty, “So, why is it that I don’t see you scheming with your cousins?” he waved his hand to where her cousins were engrossed in a very heated debate, trying to find ways to convince Aunt Mary to give up on her plan.

“Well, I consider myself of above average intellect and I know they’re simply wasting time.”

 "Truly" He smiled. "No chance at all, is it?"

 She met his gaze levelly. "None."

 "Hmmm."

 "Why did you have obligations this weekend?"

 "Maybe." He took her hand, linking fingers firmly taking her by complete surprise. His palm was warm and hard as he kept his eyes fixed on hers. She could feel, cool against her hand, she realized she enjoyed his touch more than she should have.

“Either you have an obligation or you don’t, “she found the words with difficulty, like her pulse, a bit unsteady.

“I have to say I agree,” he replied being obscure again.

“May I have my hand back?” Layna asked feeling a like a little school girl. She couldn’t blush. It wouldn’t be right.

Thomas sensed her embarrassment as he readily replied, “No, I am not willing to give it back yet.”

“Really what is this odd fascination with my foot and hand?” she asked in a purr, she had no idea why he affected her senses in such a manner.

Thomas drew her close to him, their chest nearly touching each other, he leaned towards her and she felt his warm, delicious breath on her lips caressing her almost in a deep embrace.

What was this mysterious thing that she was feeling? This wasn’t right, or was it? Should she give in to temptation? But then what?

“Layna?” His voice came in a husky whisper, she felt it course through her, lightening in her the very need to be touched.

“Thomas,” she whispered back.

He looked at her as if urging to steal his words.

“Thomas, I…I,” she sighed.

Without pausing, mindful of her interfering cousins, he dragged her towards the nook of the house, sheltering her from their intrusive gazes.

He drew her close to him, against the wall till she was boxed between him and the wall.

She put a hand on his chest, letting her fingers linger on the buttons of his shirt. He stood closer to her, tucking her flying hair behind her ear.

She didn’t want to wait; Layna leaned forward and in a courageous move licked his lips with her tongue, eliciting a loud moan out of him.

And suddenly, his lips were on hers, moulding them both together.

……………

Up from the window, Aunt Mary glanced at the kissing couple, nodded her head and muttered a single word, “Interesting!”

 ***********************************************

Hi, my lovely people.

It feels hot….scorching hot. Haha *Fans self* Hope you’re relishing reading and loving the book as much I am enjoying writing it.

What would I give to have a real, dreamy Thomas in my mundane, dull life? *clutches heart*

Please Santa, if you’re listening; firstly, I have been a very good girl (If you discount some truly unmentionable but totally forgivable actions) *puts a shiny halo on my head*, secondly, just give ‘him’ to me and oh yeah, and make him totally drool worthy. Thirdly, repeat second point with a touch of intense broodiness..please, please!*sighs and waits for an answer*

I love you! I look forward to your amazing comments as always.

Warmest Regards,

HIndia150