The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway

Chapter 18 

Work passes painfully slowly, I squirm with excited anticipation as I type away, already mentally choos ing an outfit for tonight. 

I should have asked him where we‘re going. I don‘t know what to wear. 

I think about it for a moment and then decide to text him, this is our first date, I‘d like to feel confident in my outfit. Only a few minutes later, my phone buzzes on the desk, making me smile. 

I love fast repliers. 

I frown at his reply, saying that I can wear whatever I want, he just wants me. I get that he‘s trying to be cute, but for me, that‘s a really annoying answer. 

I have a few hours to get ready when I finish work and return home, Nate is sat having his breakfast be fore for his night shift. 

‘He asked you on a date?‘ Nate asks, his tone is unimpressed. 

‘Isn‘t that a normal thing to do?‘ I reply as I use a make–up wipe to take off my make–up in prepara tion for tonight. 

‘I guess...I still don‘t like him though, he responds, and I don‘t bother to reply, I just go upstairs to my room. 

• I take over an hour to do my make–up, I want to look perfect for him. I spend the next half hour looking through my wardrobe, trying to find something suitable, which is more difficult than it sounds when I don‘t know where we‘re going. 

Eventually, I decide to go with jeans, a nice top and some heeled boots, trying to be smart–casual. I check myself over in the mirror, glad that I decided to forego straightening my hair and left it curly instead. I‘m ready early, so I go downstairs and try to distract myself by watching TV. 

Almost exactly at seven, the doorbell rings and my stomach responds by clenching tightly with nerves. I grab my handbag, quickly check myself in the mirror and open the door. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight I am greeted with. Jayce is stood before me, wearing a tight, maroon shirt that hugs every muscle on his chest and arms. My mouth goes dry, and I can‘t form words as my eyes drop lower to his slim waist, pausing on his thick thighs accentuated by his jeans. I can‘t find the words to describe how in credible he looks. 

unruly and somehow still styled, its atramentous color contrasts beautiful ly with his azure irises. Combine that with the stream of tattoos peeking above the collar of his shirt and

his voice doing unspeakable things to

trail up and down my body. My skin heats under his gaze and I‘m glad that I wore the tightest jeans I have, they show my

to lock the door so

mentally cursing myself for sounding like such an

Divine, really? 

conversation as he drives us off to our

to work that

we going?‘ I ask, glancing around to

stressed about what to wear so much,

me dinner?‘ I question, trying to keep the surprise out of my voice.

nervous?‘ He asks and winks at me, I‘m momentarily stunned by this flirtatious side

yeah, I admit, although I‘m nervous about our

and a front porch. Before I can step out of the car, Jayce has already opened the door for me. My mouth drops open in surprise and

gush, I love this different side

shiny modern, open plan kitchen

eagerly accept a glass of wine to calm

off prepping our meal, take a look around the house if you want, he suggests. Curious, I take my glass and wander past the dining room, into the living room. I roll my eyes at his huge T.V, it really doesn‘t need to be that big, perhaps

the lights on, that it is his room. His scent envelops me, and my body instinctively reacts by clenching with lust. I turn the light on and take in the simple, austere room. I feel sorry that his room is so uninviting, its large area makes the few dark wood items of furniture look very sparse. I don‘t know what I thought it‘d look like, messy maybe, but

needs a woman‘s touch.

enough, I come back

are cut short when my eyes land on Jayce. He is stood behind the counter,