Chapter 12: The Kiss

Lucian's POV

Malea had asked for a day off on the worst possible day. Fridays were the busiest. I ran a frustrated hand through my hair and blew out a breath of air.

"Tanya. Get Malea on the phone for me." I said through the intercom. It was 8 pm and I desperately needed someone to run some errands; preferably Malea.

"Yes, sir." Tanya dialed her number and connected it with my phone.

"Hello?" She said after a while, breathless.

I swallowed. "I need you here tonight." I said, my voice harsh in a way I hadn't intended.

"I'm sorry but I asked for a day off and you granted it." She refused.

"I didn't ask for a replay of my actions. I asked you to get your ass here now." I exclaimed with such force, I surprised even myself. What was getting into me?

"I'm sorry again, Mr. King, but I have plans tonight," Malea said, her voice taking on an aftertaste of disdain.

I let out a breath of air and ran my hand down my face. "What are your plans that keep you from doing your job?"

Malea hesitated. "I have a date with someone and he's expecting me soon." My heart stopped. Something deep inside me began to heat up, making me blind with emotion. Jealously? Malea wasn't anything to me but an employee. I forced myself to remember this.

Without thinking I blurted out something that I regretted. "Who is it?" My voice was under a whisper.

"Is that really important, Mr. King?" She said after a while. She seemed to want this conversation over as much as I wanted it to continue. I needed a distraction and Malea was a worthy distraction.

"I asked a question, Malea. And I expect to get answers." I demanded. Why I wanted to know? I wasn't sure.

But what I did know was that I didn't like the fact that she was out with another man.

A long silence passed. "Levi Ficara." Levi Ficara? The man that I knew on a personal level. The man I merged my company with. What did he want with Malea? Wasn't he last with Myra?

"Levi." I said in more of a statement than a question.

"Yes, sir. Anything else you would like to know before I hang up? My shoe size? My bra color? What I'm wearing?" She asked, sarcasm dripping off her words. But her words seemed oddly suggestive at the same time or maybe I'm reading too much into it. What was she wearing? I found myself wanting to know.

"No, Malea. There's nothing more I need from you." I said sourly. "Have fun."

***

Levi's POV

I cleared my throat and shifted uncomfortably before getting the courage to press the bell. After 30 seconds, the door unlocked and Malea opened it fully.

She was dressed in a striped blue and white T-shirt dress, a red flannel wrapped around her waist and white and black adidas shoes on. She'd pulled on a maroon beanie over her wavy black hair.

"You're actually wearing jeans for once!" Malea exclaimed, a hand hovering over her dark plum colored lips.

I shrugged nervously and reached back to rub the back of my neck . She looked so good, the dark lipstick giving her an edge I'd never seen before. "Yeah. Why wear a suit when we're just watching a movie?"

"You seem like the type of man who'd wear a suit anywhere." She said before locking the front door.

I laughed and ushered her to my black Porsche. After opening the passenger's side for her and getting in after her, I began driving. After 5 minutes, Malea spoke up.

"Oh, Levi. I think you missed the exit to the theater." She said, reaching over to point at the missed exit.

I glanced over at her and took a turn at a different exit. "That's not the theater we're going to." I floored the accelerator.

"Levi. Where are you taking me?" She asked again, panic clear on her tone. Wait, did she think I was—

Oh God, no.

"Malea. I'm not kidnapping you." I burst out into laughter.

Her face blanched in relief. "Then where are we going? I thought we were going to the theater?"

I turned into my estate after a couple of minutes and turned off the car.

"You brought me to your house?" She asked incredulously.

"Yup." I climbed out of the car. When she didn't come out, I bent down and peered into the car to look at her. "You coming?"

Malea nodded once and hopped out, closing the door behind her. "This place is huge." She muttered as we walked towards the French doors.

When the door opened, all there was to see was pitch blackness. "Close your eyes."

Malea raised an eyebrow in question but said nothing before she closed her eyes. "No peeking!" I said before I grasped her warm hands and guided her through the mansion.

Once I'd reached the destination, I let go of her hands and flipped on the light switch. "Open your eyes."

Malea gasped. My theater room was big enough to fit at least 100 guests and the large projecter screen at the front made for the sharpest and best view of any movie. Pillows and folded blankets were out on one of the recliners, a popcorn machine at the corner and a soft drink machine standing alongside the popcorn machine. A stand with assortments of candies and sweets completed the homemade movie theater.

"Levi. This–this is too much!" She looked over at me, shock clear on her face. Slowly, she reached over and took my hand in hers. "Thank you so much. I can already tell that tonight's going to be perfect!"

I grinned and lead her to the very back, grabbing blankets and pillows on the way. Once she was seated, I began to ask what snacks she would like.

"I'm practically married to sour patch kids and butter popcorn makes me want to throw up. So I think sour patch kids and caramel popcorn would be the safety option."

Once I'd finished retrieving what she wanted, I took the seat next to her and handed her the amenities. With a grateful grin, Malea asked me what movie options were available.

"We could watch something scary or something else you'd like to watch. I have it all."

Malea contemplated this for a while. "Okay fine. Let's watch the movie that'll most likely give me a heart attack. You only live once, right?"

"Scary is what we'll watch then." I motioned for one of the maids to run the movie and it began with a chilling darkness. After it began, the maid, Gerta scurried away. She always told me about how much she abhorred scary movies. It's funny when I see other people's perspectives on things I love.

Just 10 minutes into the movie, I glanced over at Malea. Goosebumps had risen on her arms and she shivered absently. Silently, I unfolded a blanket and tucked it around her. "Thanks." She smiled. Timidly, she reached over and took my hand in hers.

Soon enough, by the climax of the movie, Malea was practically in my lap, cowering from the horror on the screen. She had her eyes covered, her head tucked in the crook of my neck.

"Levi. I just realized something." She whispered softly later on.

"What?" I whispered against her buttery soft hair. She smelled of raspberries and honey. Weird combination but it smelt great.

"I hate horror movies. I have no idea why I agreed to this. I'm going to be haunted for the rest of eternity." She whispered, her hot breath piquing my interest away from the movie and to the fact that she was sitting on my lap.

"It's not that scary. And besides, horror movies are so good. The thrill that comes from a horror movie is even better than a rollercoaster." I argued playfully, absently running my hand through her hair.

"Hmm.." She hummed, her breath slowed. She was asleep. I leaned my head against hers and wrapped the blanket tighter around both of us.

Soon enough, the movie finished. Malea was still asleep. "Dolce. Wake up. The movie's finished." She moaned once and pulled away from my neck. She rubbed her eyes and when she took notice of her surroundings, she jumped off my lap.

She muttered a string of swears under her breath. "Sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep!" She shook her head. "This was supposed to be a date."

I ushered her down the stairs of the highest level in the theater and ushered her to the kitchen. "That's fine."

"No it's not. During a date, you talk. And get to know the other person. I'm such a screw up, I've never even been on an actual date before!" Malea blurted, her skin reddening as she spoke. Malea overall seemed like a confident person and with her looks it's a wonder why she didn't currently have a boyfriend.

I opened the concealed fridge door and brought out two bottles of water. Malea took one from me gratefully and took a long sip. "The movie probably would've been good if I wasn't such a scaredy cat." She offered with a shrug.

"Probably wasn't the best pick for a first date." I slowly stepped forward until I was looking down on her, her body pressed against the island counter. I leaned down and brought my lips to her ear. "But don't worry. Our next date will be the best one you've ever had."

Slowly, I caught her earlobe in between my lips and caused her to let out a satisfied sigh. I trailed my hands behind her waist and pulled her as close as possible. Then I brushed my lips against hers softly, and pulled away slightly, leaving her breathing in such a way that left me wanting more.

Malea exhaled as a shiver ran through her body. "Stop teasing me, Levi and kiss me." I did just as she asked, slamming my lips down on hers with such force, she almost didn't have enough time to react.

Malea wrapped her hands around my neck and pulled me closer. The heat kindling between us was enough for me to lift Malea up onto the island counter, her legs now on either side of my hips.

I brought my hand up to the straps of her dress and began to lower it. Malea froze. As if she'd been in a trance, Malea hopped off the island and pulled her strap back up.

"I'm sorry. Did I do soemthing wrong?" I asked while she picked up her handbag.

She shook her head, her swollen lips a sign of just how indulgent the kiss was. "Honestly that was the best kiss I could've ever imagined. But I think maybe it was a little too early. Maybe if we could take things slower?" Her eyes had a blissful glint to them.

I nodded dumbly, my elation growing with every second. "Yeah, yeah. Of course." I grabbed my keys and followed her out to the car.

Once back on the road, I glanced over at Malea who had been staring forward at the road.

"So where are you from?" I asked.

Malea turned to look at me and smiled. "Born and raised in California but moved out here when I was out of college. I always had this passion for acting and tried out for all the plays I could possibly do at once. Acting was my escape from the real world and it allowed me to embody a different person. My parents weren't the best off either and soon enough my dad left me and my siblings."

I glanced over at her. "I'm sorry." I realized then just how little I knew about her and how much we had in common.

She shrugged. "Don't be. I'm the one that's sorry for him. He lost a lot when he abandoned us and he'll have to live with that." I reached over and took her hand in mine. "Enough about me. What about you?"

"Actually I was born in Italy and lived there for a little while before joining my grandfather in America. Soon enough he died and the company name was passed on to my mother. My deadbeat father left after I was born and a couple of years after I inherited the company, my mother remarried." I glanced over at Malea. She leaned slightly to me, listening intently, "Richard, the man she married, is only after her money. And my mother is too blinded by love to see that."

Malea sighed and looked out the window. "We're all a little broken whether we realize it or not."

My breath hitched. "I guess so."