Kelvin would not stop looking at her. It made Leila's palms itch and the hairs on her arms stood. She almost missed a step under his gaze. He was beside her in a blink, a hand on her lower back. Leila jerked at the current that zipped through her at the skin contact. He arched a brow and she managed a smile.
The floor-length gown had an open back, each time Kelvin's fingers brushed her skin, she felt that current.
"I'm ready," she said while staring at her feet. Her toenails were painted a deep red colour. With her heels, she could look into his eyes without straining her neck but she didn't. She might lost the little control she had on her nerves.
Kelvin held out a curved elbow to her. "Shall we?"
Tucking her hand into the crook of his elbow, she nodded. "We shall."
They got out of the apartment in silence, Kelvin held the door of the car open for her, waited until she was seated before he joined her. He gave the driver a location that was unfamiliar to Leila and the car started.
The air crackled with unspoken words, Leila traced the sequins on the neckline of her gown. Bored out of her mind, she began counting the streetlights they passed. It amazed her how they could go quickly from this talkative-shy couple to an awkward first date.
"You look beautiful, Leila."
She was on the fifteenth streetlight.
"You too," she replied without thinking.
"I look beautiful too?"
The window became too interesting but a touch on her arm and she finally looked at Kelvin. "No. Handsome." He grinned, putting his perfect teeth on display. "You look handsome." The most handsome man she knew. "You are a very handsome man, Kev.
Kelvin smiled at her like it was his first time hearing the compliment. When he placed a hand on her leg, she kept mute but leaned into him, accepting the comfort he offered. Her head relaxed on his shoulder, and his calm breath lured her into a brief, blissful nap.
Her eyes flew open when the car stopped. Kelvin was smiling at her. They went out together, this time, like a real couple in love with both of them smiling at each other.
A lady walked up to them. She said so many things at once as she guided them to a table. The place was empty. Leila was convinced it wasn't a coincidence. Every time they had lunch at Pacific, it was always empty. What she didn't know for sure was if he owned that restaurant or this one. Her former search on him showed he had many properties to his name.
They were seated and alone when Leila asked, "Is Tech Valley the only company you have?"
Kelvin shifted closer to her, his body heat seeped into her and she wrapped an arm around herself. The seats were so soft she sank into them with a content sigh.
The place was better than Pacific. The decorations, trimmings on the table and walls gave away the amount that must have been spent on this place. All the places Kelvin took her were always beautiful and expensive. She sucked in a breath when he touched her knee. He was so touchy tonight, she didn't know yet if she liked it or loved it. His touches were relaxing, not at all like... No, she wouldn't think of that man.
"I have a few." Liar. He had more than a few. He had a lot. He was the US most eligible bachelor on more than one occasion and it had more to do with his wealth than his looks. The looks were an added bonus. Kelvin retracted the flower from her ear and took a whiff of it. Leila flushed when he returned it to its original spot. "I dabble into real estate occasionally."
"Nice." The table grew silent when their meal arrived. She waited until the ladies were gone before saying, "Do you donate to charity?" His brow shot up and she took a small breath. "I mean, it's a good cause to donate to. Orphanages. Charities. Adoption centres. Homes for teen mothers. It's really great. They could do with the extra help."
Leila knew she was rambling but she couldn't get herself to stop. With Kelvin's wealth, he could change the world if he tried without feeling much of the loss.
"Leila-"
"The world would be so much better if people were kinder," she whispered. There was another moment of silence. Kelvin's hand dropped from her leg and the faint realisation she must have turned him off by her words made her say, "I'm sorry. I ramble sometimes."
"I like it when you ramble." Her lips puckered. "You are always quiet around me." That was not the case. He was the quiet one. He intimidated her. Even now, he was looking at her like she was a prized gem he wouldn't dare misplace. "I want to get to know you better, Leila. Try to be a normal couple, you know?"
Leila didn't know how normal couples should be but she offered him a smile. "I'll try." His smile made her throw another question at him. "Do you have siblings?"
"Yes. Stubborn ones." His tone was lighter, the lightest it had ever been since they met. "Two of them. Both girls." He took a sip of the complementary wine and poured some for her. She nursed her glass without drinking. She already learned from poker evening. "I am the only son. What about you, any siblings?"
Leila's smile fell. "No. Only child."
Sadness touched her eyes, they shared a look and she silently pleaded with him to drop the topic. She accepted the meal Kelvin dished out to her, their fingers brushed and she blushed. As always, the talk of family made her sad and she took a swig from her glass to lessen the ache that came with the reminder.
"I donate to charity," Kelvin said. She paused. Then her heart jumped. She loved giving. Anyone who gave was her friend. "Every year, Amara picks five charities and we donate to them. I have a favourite orphanage we donate to quarterly but I try to shuffle between the charities." Kelvin bit into his steak with an elegance that left Leila in awe. She nibbled on a small piece of steak to keep her mouth busy. "Maybe this year, you can select any five you like and we will donate to them."
Kelvin's smooth voice washed over her, she took another sip to chase the nerves. "Outside the US?"
A note of interest darkened Kelvin's gaze but he didn't ask what she knew he wanted to ask and she didn't volunteer an answer to him. Maybe in the future when they had gotten better at being a couple, she would lay her soul and secrets bare for him to judge.
"Your choice, Leila." His cutlery moved on his plate, dicing the steak into smaller bits. Leila swallowed hard when he held the fork to her lips. He smiled at her discomfort. "Say ah. Do it for your husband." She did and he fed her a piece of his steak. "That wasn't so hard, was it? Loosen up, Mrs McKenna."
That was what she tried to do all that many years ago and it landed her nowhere. They continued their new routine, he fed her from his plate until the steak finished.
Dessert came, she tried to refuse but he wasn't having it. If she had learned one thing about her husband, she knew arguing with him was pointless so she calmed down. Plus, the wine was starting to take effect. She wanted to just relax and be taken care of.
Kelvin scooped the chocolate tart and she opened her mouth for him to spoon-feed her. He chuckled when she shuddered and she flashed him her tart stained teeth.
"Do you like it?" he asked, getting ready to offer her another spoon. Leila nodded. The chocolate tart was too sweet, the kind of sugary that would have you high and excited in a short time. She wanted that. "Say ah."
"Ah," she said with a laugh. Kelvin's eyes crinkled as her mouth closed around the spoon. She took it from him, scooped some and held it to his mouth. "Say ah."
Kelvin's mouth opened, he made a throaty sound and gave her a thumbs up. He liked it too. The meal finished soon enough with both of them taking turns to feed each other.
When Kelvin pushed the plates aside, she was bloated. "Do you want another?"
"No. Thanks, Kev."
Without the food, that awkwardness swiftly returned. Kelvin nudged her, she peered at him from her lashes.
"You have something here." He touched one corner of his lip, she mimicked him but he shook his head. "There, not there." Leila tried again, she brushed her lips with the back of her hand but he said, "No. Wait."
Her breath slammed into her throat when his thumb brushed her lips, he held the finger up to show her the chocolate coating his fingertip. His eyes latched onto hers, she shivered when he inserted the finger into his mouth and licked it clean. It was hot. And it made her hot. Leila wanted to raise her hand to fan herself because the temperature seemed to have dropped but her hands weighed a ton. Her breathing grew shallower as Kelvin's face inched closer to hers.
Oh, goodness. It was happening.
His hand slid to the back of her neck. "Leila," he breathed out her name. Her lips parted in a silent moan and her eyes centred on his lips. "My Leila."
"Kev... I need..."
The complete statement never left her lips because her husband stole the rest of her words with his lips.