Page 28 of Little Wing (Shades of Fairhaven #1)

A fter all the speeches from Mateo, Silas, and other featured speakers, I watched the crowd disperse.

Some took brochures while others went off into private rooms to meet with counselors—really putting Little Wing and its resources to use.

I figured Silas would still be busy, so I turned around to go back to where I last saw Reina and Kait.

There was no expectation for them to still be around seeing as it was getting late, but before I knew it, Reina was rushing to me.

“Oh my gods!” she squealed and gripped me by the wrists.

“Is she okay?” I laughed nervously, looking to Kait for answers before glancing down to Reina. “Reina? Are you alright?”

“Did you SEE the way he was eye-fucking you?!”

“W-what?” I stammered. I could only hope that Silas was still preoccupied with guests to overhear my friends questions.

“He was clearly nervous. You heard him, he needed someone to focus on to keep him calm. You may think he’s very charismatic, but public speaking certainly spooks him a bit.

” I knew I was just digging myself a deeper hole.

“I mean…” Kait rubbed her forehead. “That was a pretty intimate stare. I had to unbutton my collar a bit.” Sure enough, the two top buttons on her shirt were undone .

“You too?” I covered my face, feeling incredibly grateful not to be turning many shades of red.

Kait held up her hands in truce once I brought my hands down to flatten out any wrinkles on my dress. She gave Reina’s purse strap a quick tug, getting her attention.

“Right,” Reina smirked. “As much fun as it is giving you crap, we do have to head out now. Kait has work in a bit and I have a date!”

“Oh?” I eyed them both suspiciously.

“Yup! A cute vampire girl. But you know what, I’ll just give you details about it tomorrow at work, unless you call in because you’re too tired from your own hot vampire sex.”

Even as I swatted at Reina playfully, I felt so lucky to have friends like them.

Not only were they helping support a business in Fairhaven, but they were also taking the time to come with me.

They could have left hours ago or not shown up at all.

While they had plans, I chose to remain at Little Wing, watching more people leave or connect with volunteers.

Guests whispered excitedly among each other.

Perhaps they were coming to realize that they would be safe.

That they would have a shot at a normal life despite no longer being human.

The thought crept up often—would my life be different had a place like Little Wing existed?

Would Luca have help that would keep him from laying an ill hand on me?

Before I could venture even deeper into the thought, I felt a calloused hand gently brush against my arm. Silas was back beside me looking exhausted, but relieved.

“Hey, you.” I cocked my head to the side and watched his body begin to relax. I had no doubt that maintaining that confident grin had to be exhausting. “You did great up there.”

“Thank you,” he exhaled slowly. “I think that’s it then.

That’s the grand opening. Now things will just run.

Hopefully people will stop in and take advantage of our services.

” He brought his hand up to his head and allowed his fingers to pass through thick strands of his curls.

“I can’t believe I had to talk that much.

Mateo is a natural at that, but I prefer a smaller crowd. ”

My lip twitched, thinking of something cheeky I could throw in, to hasten his descent into a more relaxed state. Though as my lips parted, Silas took my hand in his and motioned behind us.

“Come, let me show you the office. Figure it’ll be a little quieter in there than out here.”

I felt the tension in his touch as he led me up a few steps to the split-level where a brand-new hall was built to accommodate more meeting rooms and his office space that he shared with Mateo.

It was barely a few seconds after the door closed before Silas’s body was dangerously close to mine.

I didn’t even get a chance to look around the room before I was caged between his arms and his lips were brushing against my cheek.

“That was a fucking rush,” he groaned, the vibration in his voice making me want to squirm. I wondered if he could feel the magnetized pull between us. “Thank you again for coming. You really did keep me grounded up there.”

“I just stood there. I just stood there and listened.”

“Nonsense, you beautiful creature.” As his lips spread, he brought his hands up to my face. His thumb traced idly on my cheek. “You did so much more than that.” As his hands began moving to my waist, my body responded to every single touch. Every gentle caress over my clothed skin felt electric.

“Silas," I gasped.

“I had to fight back against every instinct I had not to rush from that stage to pull you into my arms, Lo.” Silas breathed, his lips pressing softly against mine.

The sensation forced my eyes to flutter shut.

What I wouldn’t give to melt right into him right then and there.

I did, of course, have to remember where we were and what was happening just beyond the office door.

Guests, investors, and community members were actively mingling while I was doing everything in my power to squeeze my thighs together.

“I-I’m sure it was adrenaline, right?” I asked, despite the feeling being completely mutual.

“No,” he assured me. “I saw just a hint of your freckles from up there and I couldn’t take it. I knew I had to kiss this fucking perfect mouth.” Before he leaned down to press another kiss to my lips, he rubbed his thumb over my lower lip. “You’ve invaded my mind, Lo. Completely.”

“Is… that a bad thing?” I whispered against his thumb, terrified of altering the outcome of whatever was happening between us.

Silas sighed softly and stepped back, allowing me to move away from the door he had me up against. “Not at all.” While I looked around, he stepped back and rubbed the back of his neck gingerly.

“I’d just really like to take you out on a proper date.

Take you out to dinner, to say thank you for everything. ”

A date? I blinked slowly, letting the words register, but my brain was running on overdrive to the point that it had slowed down to a sudden lag.

A date? With me? Me and Silas? On a date?

I must have looked like I was rebooting, because Silas was smiling sweetly at me while waving slowly in front of my face.

“Lo?”

“I apologize… what did you say?”

Silas laughed again, this time flashing me his pointed canines. “Would you, Lotus Evans, go on a date with me? I would like to take you out to dinner and drinks.”

Okay, I did hear him correctly.

“I… would love to.”