He pulled me towards him. Towering over me even when seated.

"Didn't you feel me last night?" He questioned his eyes glittering; the amber flecks in them sparkling like golden flames.

I pressed my hand to his chest. God, he was massive.

I couldn't speak. His hand intertwined with mine, and his other arm slid around my waist, pulling me closer to him.

My eyes widened. I stared up at him. I felt lost and found all in the same breath. 

His eyes bore into me, seeming to see into my soul. Time stood still at that moment. His touch made heat flood through me.

"Please don't be afraid," He whispered, dipping his head down to my upturned face.

I shook my head. I wasn't afraid. My hands gripped the front of his shirt pulling him closer.

He smiled. "You aren't afraid of me."

I shook my head again, trying to find my voice. "No," I managed to wheeze. My cheeks flushed.

His face was inches from mine. "Good," he whispered, his breath tickling my cheek.

'Please,' I thought, unable to find the words.

He smiled, his lips brushed against mine and I knew that he heard me. His lips were on me.

"I told you that you would find me," he murmured, his mouth moving against mine making my heart feel as if it were in my throat and as if electrical shocks were zipping through my body.

My eyes fluttered as he captured my mouth completely, tightening his hold on my waist, pressing me against him. I could feel the warmth of him through his button-up shirt. My heart fluttered as he lightly nipped my bottom lip.

An involuntary moan escaped me and he gave off a deep chuckle. His chest rumbled against me.

"Nova," he said, pulling away slightly.

I groaned in protest as my eyes flew open. I looked down at the nonexistent space between us. This was all so unreal.

I was practically in his lap. My face flushed.

"I can't hold the bar for much longer," Berith told me, still holding me firmly in his grip. His hand caressed my back in feather-light circles.

Hold the bar? What was he...

"What?" I mumbled, trying to clear my head. 

He lifted his chin, motioning to our surroundings. I looked around in shock. 

I had completely forgotten where we were, but luckily he had not.

The entire bar and everyone in it were frozen. A gasp left my lips as I surveyed the scene.

"How..." I started to say, looking up at him, but his lips crashed into mine stealing any words I might have been about to utter.

I didn't care where we were; At that moment I didn't care if they all saw us.

"Nova," he whispered while kissing me. "We have to stop."

I shuddered against him letting my head fall. I gulped in the air trying to calm myself. I didn't want to stop. I wanted him to touch me like this always.

"It's okay, my love," he said gently, lifting my chin his touch eliciting fire coursing through my body; his words caressing every part of me. "We have to get back into place so I can release them."

His grip loosened on my waist and I slid reluctantly back into my seat. Longing for his touch again. 

I busied myself with pouring another drink as he smoothed out his shirt.

"Are you ready?" he questioned, his eyes holding mine.

I nodded meekly glancing around to take in our surroundings; amazed at what I was seeing.

My hands shaking, I brought the glass to my lips letting the fiery liquid steady my nerves. However, there was no stilling my beating heart.

"So, Nova, would you join me for dinner tonight," Berith asked, his tone friendly. As if I hadn't just been in his lap, with his mouth on mine. "At my home tonight?"

My eyes widened at the thought. Alone with him. Just the two of us. In his home.

"Yes, I would love to," I replied, shocked at the sound of my voice. Calm, unwavering.

'Good Girl.' I heard an echo in my mind making me jump. His voice. Delicious and warm.

Lila appeared at the table at that moment laughing as she took her seat.

"So, everything is okay here I presume?" She questioned filling her now empty glass, a smirk playing on her beautiful face.

"Of course, it is," Berith told her grinning, "Nova has agreed to join me for dinner tonight. I will send the carriage at seven o'clock if that's okay with you."

Lila raised her eyebrow, looking at me questioningly.

I felt myself blush as my thoughts still lingered on what we had just been doing moments before.

"Yes, seven is fine with me," I answered, giving him a shy smile.

He stood from the table, setting his glass down as he did so. "Well, if you ladies will excuse me; I must be going," his deep voice felt like a caress of his hand, running along my naked flesh, "Thank you for the drink. It was nice seeing both of you. " He walked around the table stopping in front of me.

"And I look forward to seeing you in a few hours Nova," His voice was full of unspoken promises as he lightly brushed my cheek, "You ladies have a good afternoon."

With that, he turned and disappeared through the crowded bar.

I released the breath that I hadn't known I was holding.

"Well...." Lila said.

"Well, what?" I questioned, sipping at my drink, trying not to smile.

She laughed, her voice carrying through the noisy bar like tinkling bells.

"It seems we need to head home," she replied polishing off her drink, "we need to get you ready for your dinner date."

My dinner date.... I blinked my eyes widening. I had never been on any kind of date before, alone with a man. Alone with HIM.

My heart beat in my chest as I breathed deeply trying to steady my nerves.

Lila stood motioning for me to finish my drink, a wry smile plastered on her face as she watched me with an intent knowing gaze.

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

Lila stood in the middle of my room holding out a dress in front of her.

"What about this one?" She asked.

"Lila, I've never been on a date before," I confessed, walking to her and pushing the dress aside, "and this is.... well, he's not just a regular date.... I...."

How much could I tell her? Should I tell her anything? What if this was beyond even her scope of reasoning? It was definitely beyond mine. I didn't understand it, yet I knew I wanted this.

I wanted him.

My heart began to flutter as I closed my eyes, sticking in my throat. I knew I was being ridiculous, but this was all so new to me; I didn't know how I should feel about any of it.

I felt Lila's hand on my shoulder making me jump.

"Nova. You are going to be okay. I know you are nervous, but I have known Berith for a long time. He won't do anything untoward. You are perfectly safe with him. Now, come. Let us get you ready. The carriage will be here soon."

I sighed, turning to her, smiling at her for her kindness. "May we have a drink? I just need a moment to gather my composure."

She smiled, laying the dress on my bed, "Of course. I will be back in a moment."

Once she had taken her to leave, I sat on the edge of my bed, closing my eyes; welcoming the almost immediate darkness as it surrounded me.

"Nova," I heard his voice, his worried eyes peering down at me through the strange link, "What is wrong?"

I could see him! Well, this was new and it made me wonder just what else he was capable of that I did not yet know...

I immediately felt calm, breathing deeply. "I---- I was just feeling a bit nervous," I admitted with a whisper.

Feeling him smile at me, more of his visage began to appear. I felt the link draw us closer.

"There is no need to be nervous, my love. Are you almost ready?"

I felt him, his warmth surround me and I sank into him, "Yes, I will be ready soon."

"Good girl," he murmured, "now go get ready. You will be with me again soon enough."

I felt his lips brush my neck and the rink was broken. I was sitting in my room, once again, feeling much calmer than I had just a moment ago.

"Nova," Lila called out, entering with two glasses in her hands, "have you chosen a dress yet?"

I smiled sheepishly at her, "I should be getting a new wardrobe. I am afraid Delia was not exactly......"

Lila handed me a glass as my sentence trailed off.

"Do you have something more—" I shrugged?

Lila smiled, her eyes sparkling, "Follow me. I think I have just the thing."

I stood staring at my reflection in the mirror that Lila had in her dressing room. A large beautiful wooden floor-to-ceiling handcrafted mirror. I almost didn't know what to look at. My reflection in the piece or the mirror itself.

The dress we had picked that she let me borrow was gorgeous; perfect for tonight. As soon as she pulled the dress from her collection I knew that it was the one.

"You know, I had picked this dress, knowing that I wouldn't be the one wearing it," Lila said as she walked behind me, smiling at me in the mirror.

I smoothed my hand down the silky A-Line skirt. Taking in the dress once more I turned, pulling my friend into me, hugging her.

She filled the room with her laugh. Pulling away she led me to her vanity. "Now, we just need to add a few minor details and you will be ready for your dinner."

It was as if the dress had been made for me and once Lila completed the 'minor details', I barely recognized the girl staring back at me from the mirror.

I looked like a woman.

The A-line dress kissed the floor, swirling with my every movement. Lila insisted on adding a beautiful silver necklace that sat in the hollow of my throat. As well as a jeweled comb pinning one side of my long flowing curls away from my face; the final touch for the off-the-shoulder gown, was a lovely embellished hooded cape, in which to keep me warm on the way, she said.

"Here," Lila said handing me a small jar with some dark gel-looking substance inside, "put a tiny bit on your lips. It is a tinted gloss for your lips."

I followed her instructions, watching as if by magic, as the gloss added an almost translucent deep rose shine to my lips. She also added rosy color to my cheeks and brushed a dark liquid, that once dried on my lashes made my eyes pop. I was in awe of all of it.

"You have never worn any of this makeup have you?" She questioned me as I studied my appearance in the mirror.

I laughed glancing at her with a smirk. "Yes, once. I found something in the market, took it back to Delia's, and decided to try it. It did not go over well at all. It was a sin, after all. Ten lashes for the wickedness that is makeup."

I said bitterly.

A look passed over Lila very quickly as she walked up behind me, turning to face her slowly. "I have a few more things you must wear tonight."

She walked to her jewelry box, rummaging through its contents, pulling out a ring that matched the comb and necklace, and a silver cuff bracelet that looked like the thin silver armor that fairytale knights wore under their suits in the books I had managed to read.

"Lila," I breathed as she handed the simple silver-red jeweled ring to me, "I couldn't possibly."

She blew out a small breath, "You can, and you must. When he sees you tonight he will be enchanted by you, Nova, " she paused as she wrapped the cuff around my wrist, " but then again after what happened at the bar, I feel that you already have."

I felt heat rush to my face, my mouth falling open as I stared at her.

She couldn't possibly have seen what happened, could she?

Lila laughed, "Oh my dear, don't look so shocked. I have protected myself from certain magics. That particular power of Berith's is one of them. Now don't look at me like that. I couldn't interrupt that moment."

"How---" I sputtered, "I mean—"

"we will talk in detail, I promise," She said as she pulled my hair from under the cape, allowing it to cascade down my back in soft waves, "as soon as you get home from your dinner."

"Thank you, Lila, " I choked out, "I just don't understand why you are doing all of this for me. Taking me in; giving me your clothes that look like they have been made for me, befriending me from the start."

She clutched my hands in her, her eyes misting over as she looked at me. "You remind me, well, of me. I wish I had someone to help me then, as I am helping you. We are family Nova. Perhaps, not by blood, but by magic, and sisterhood." She laughed, shaking her head. "Now I promise we will talk when you get back, but tonight," she said pulling me from the room, leading me down the stairway, "tonight you go and have an enchanting evening with him."

At that moment the bell sounded at the front door; Franklin appearing to answer it, glanced at us as he did. He stopped his eyes going wide as he saw me. I smiled shyly as Lila laughed, motioning him to get the door.

"One more thing, "Lila said as I turned to her. She handed me a small clutch, showing me the contents before snapping it shut. The makeup that she had used on me, "If you need to touch up while you are there, everything you need is in here."

Lila nodded to Franklin, and I felt the cool night air enter the home as he opened the door.

"I am here to escort Miss. Nova to her engagement of dinner," a gentleman called out.

Lila smiled at me encouragingly, "Go and have a wonderful time, Nova. Give Berith my best will you?"

She nudged me towards the door and I followed the man to the awaiting black carriage, glancing back at the house as I stepped up into the warm space. Pulling the curtain back from the small window I waved to Lila and Franklin as the carriage pulled us away from the house that I now called home and the people that I now called my family.