For dinner with Shannon I never think much about my outfit.
I throw on something comfortable after a long day at the office and I am ready to go.
We go to the same place where we have the same hidden booth reserved. Nothing fancy, just a corner restaurant in my neighborhood owned by an old, Mexican couple, serving their delicious home-made dishes. There we can just chill and catch up in peace without any curious eyes on us.
This time it was different.
It was almost seven; Shannon is going to be here any minute, but I was still standing in front of my mirror in underwear, holding three different dresses in front of me one by one, biting my lip.
Jared is joining us, and I felt the urge to show him what he missed out on.
Yes, he is the one I can thank for making me feel confident enough to change up my style. To stop hiding my body. If Jared Leto, tells you, you look amazing even in a bikini, then there is no one else that can make you think otherwise.
He gave me just enough confidence to start building on that and it was easier day by day, realizing that the only person judging me was my own self.
When the doorbell rang, I picked up my bag, ready to go.
I decided on a light black dress. It was tight until the waist, from where it had an extra lace layer covering the material, falling just above my knees. I gave the look a twist by choosing black converse with it. I left my hair out, had some mascara on and a light lip gloss.
I took a deep breath and walked out the door.
"I mean... are we still going to Mama's diner?" Shannon asked as he had his eyes on me when I sat into the car. "She is going to have a heart attack... alongside with his husband," he grinned.
I sent him a shy smile as I shrugged.
"Yeah, I just... felt like having a dress on, today," I mumbled looking down to my... slightly exposed chest, as the V neck went all the way down to the start of my rib cage what made my breasts look bigger and well... basically the star of my outfit.
Okay... I might have started to regret my outfit choice.
"Anything to do with the fact that my brother is joining us?" he sent me a knowing smile and I felt my cheeks start to burn.
I did not talk about Jared and me to Shannon.
I knew Jared was telling him everything and probably more and I did not want to make Shannon feel like he is between two chairs by me telling him my feelings as well.
No matter how curious I was about what Jared might have said about me and his feelings... if he has any, but no way I will make Shannon spill on his brother.
I couldn't answer, and probably Shannon sensed how uncomfortable I am, because he didn't continue on, instead he turned towards me, his hands resting in his lap.
"Look, as much as I don't want to be a part of this, like I managed to stay out until now, I feel like there is something I need to talk to you about," he said, total seriousness on his face and I sighed looking at him uninterested.
The last thing I wanted was for him to start lecturing me. He liked to do that a lot and this is exactly how he starts those monologues.
"For the last month I've been back and meeting up with you, I saw you glow. I saw you coming out of your shell, controlling your own life; finally, what I wanted to see for so long. You know I am on Jared's side in most things always. But you are like a sister to me and the last thing I want to see is that you fall back to the old routine of placing Jared above you. You are not his assistant anymore, Avery and whatever feelings you have towards him, don't let them control you."
I nodded looking back at Shannon.
"I know Shannon. I won't let that happen again."
"Really?" He asked and I frowned and nodded uncertain.
"How many times he called you while he was away?"
"Well... none, but I changed my number..."
"A week ago, yes," he cut me off. "And now he is back, and you are planning his party.
"I offered my help as a friend," I stated firm.
"Alright... it's your call," he stated as he turned back to the wheel and started the car.
"I just don't want you placing his needs above yours. He has enough people jumping around him," he started to drive but he peered at me, "I don't want to sell him out, but changing your phone number and not letting him know totally freaked him out," a smile appeared on Shannon's face.
"Really?"
"Yeah, he even told me how cold you were with him at your work."
"Cold?" I asked surprised because I felt the opposite, I felt like burning every time he would come near me.
"I guess he is just realizing you have your own life now. Don't let him pull you back."
We smiled at each other and I looked out of the windshield feeling proud.
I won't let him pull me back.
It was only a 5-minute drive and we parked in front of the small restaurant at the end of the street.
Opening the front door, Liliana, the owner already hurried to us.
"Oh, my sweeties, it is nice to see you again," she smiled, "your table is ready, as always, and there is a third person waiting, he said he is with you," then she looked at me and her eyes widened. "Aren't you cold in that little dress, Avery?"
"I'm fine, Liliana," I chuckled.
"Yeah, my brother is joining us today," Shannon said.
"Come, sweeties," she smiled.
We walked with her to the back of the restaurant. It was a small cozy place, with warm colors, only a couple tables in the front and 5 booths at the back.
We always get the last one by the window so when we sit in, the back of the couch hides us from the rest of the restaurant.
Jared was already sitting there, with his phone in his hand, and when he saw us he stood up with a light smile.
His hair was the same; sleek, combed back. He wore velvety black shirt, buttoned up only half-way, leaving his chest free to stare at. He also had the sleeves rolled up and the bottom of his shirt neatly tucked into his black jeans.
"Was there some message about a dress code I missed?" laughed Shannon on our similar styles.
"Yeah, called fashion," Jared smiled smugly as he hugged Shannon who hugged him back with a laugh.
Then he turned to me having a look on me from head to toe and a light smile was seen on his face as he stepped closer.
Feeling his fingers push into the flash on my waist, he pulled me into a hug, slowly leading his palms onto my back under my hair and then down again to my waist.
"You look breathtaking," he whispered into my ear, his warm breath tickling my neck what caused me goosebumps all over my body.
He slowly stepped away, the end of his fingers brushing my waist as he let me go, looking at my chest and smirked.
I looked down for a second just to see how easy it is to notice my hard nipples, as the lace bra and the silk dress doesn't help hiding it.
I pressed my lips looking back at Jared whose eyes were sparkling and I swear he had a slight blush on his face as he motioned me to sit in.
I forced a smile as I slid into the booth until the head.
Shannon was sitting on the left while Jared sit onto the right side, each of us having their own space at the big table.
After ordering our drinks and food; what was a huge struggle for Jared as he basically had to come up with his own vegan dish, we eased into talking.
"If we are quiet enough, we can hear the chefs cursing me right now," Jared pulled his neck in.
"We are just going to tip good enough today," laughed Shannon, sipping from his beer.
"You could have been a "chegan" now," I smiled.
"Nah, I have worked way too hard on myself the last month to just give up now," he said leaning back.
"Yeah, I saw your Instagram; you were doing yoga and climbing, running and what not," I said, and he frowned surprised.
"You have an Instagram?"
"Yeah," I chuckled, "now that I have a life what I am actually allowed to share."
"Show me," he grinned.
"Well, alright, but it's nothing... special," I shrugged and showed it to him.
I had like 5 pictures on, one with friends and the others are just some random shit, had like 80 followers.
"Good start, see you're making friends," he gave the phone back to me.
"Yeah..." I smiled.
"And she is killing the job as well," grinned Shannon.
"I don't doubt that," Jared smiled at me.
The dinner went very easy. It was all fun and smile, talking about random stuffs, not so much about anything work related or serious.
I could feel Jared's eyes on me the whole night, studying my every move, but I barely dared to look at him. This outfit definitely was worth purchasing, although maybe a bit too revealing than I expected it to be.
"Let me drive you home," asked Jared as the three of us walked out of the restaurant. Their cars just a few meters from each other's.
"Well..." I said peeking to Jared then to Shannon.
"It's alright, Shannon brought you here I get to take you home," he winked opening the door for me and Shannon smiled.
"I don't mind," I shrugged.
"Sounds just fair. I'll see you guys around, latest the party," Shannon smiled, hugging us then made his way to the car.
"Bye," I waved then sat into Jared's car.
He set next to me with a smile then started to drive.
"Just let me know when you have time for a meeting. Maybe on the weekend," he said looking at me as he parked in front of my building.
"I will," I nodded. "But I think the weekend will be fine," I said running my fingers through my hair, pushing it back on my head and looked at Jared just to see him staring at me the same way he did most of the time in the restaurant.
His gaze wandered down to my cleavage as a lock of hair fell forward between my breasts.
"I... thanks for the... ride," I said, and his eyes met mine.
"Yeah... not a problem," he smiled lightly then turned his head to look forward and seemed like he was ready to leave as his hands were grabbing the wheel firm.
"Well... okay..." I mumbled and got out of the car.
Then before he could leave, I turned back and knocked on the window.
He rolled it down and looked up to me curiously.
I leaned down with my arm on the window, letting my hair fall onto one side as I tiled my head.
His eyes stuck on my upper body again as I leaned more in.
"You look breathtaking too," I said with a light smile then straightened back up and turned around on my heals, leaving him proud.
I got him. I knew I did.
I closed my door behind me and let out a sigh as I put down my bag and picked out my phone and wallet.
I put them onto the shelf in the hallway and leaned down to take off my shoes, then walked to the mirror to put my hair up in a bun.
I was on my way to the bathroom when I heard knocking on the door and stopped looking towards it.
I walked back and opened the door jut to see Jared standing there, his chest raising fast under his silky shirt.
"Yeah?" I asked uncertain.
"You left something," he said stepping in, closing the door behind him.
"What?" I asked looking at his hands then up to him questioningly.
"Me," he breathed closing the distance between us by grabbing the hair on the back of my head and pulling me in so suddenly, I fell forward, smacked to his chest as he kissed me wild.
As I was so shocked it was so easy for his tongue to slide through my parted lips, and I didn't need long to recover and kiss him back.
His breathing through his nose was loud and heavy as he brought his palms down onto my back and pulled me even closer to him, my hard nipples pressing against his chest, made him moan into the kiss and I squeezed his firm upper arms in response to his hungry touches.
His hand then quickly find its way to my right breast and cupped it into his palm, massaging it and I let out a whine.
He broke the kiss just to look at my chest then back up to me.
"I want you... I want you so bad," he breathed then swallowed hard pushing his forehead to mine. "The last...two months I haven't... been with anyone I wanted... I just wanted to show my respect I... don't..."
"Stop talking..." I breathed putting my finger onto his lips looking at them slightly parting under my touch.
I took the moment to bring my other hand up to his face; I slid my fingers across his lips, through his jawlines, up his cheeks, then back down to his neck and his chest where I rested my palms looking back up into his eyes.
He was looking at me so gently, letting me take my time.
I looked back down to his chest caressing it in circles, I bit my lips.
"You bite those lips once more, and I am going to drag you to bed," he groaned looking down at me.
I lifted my gaze up to him and bit my lips with a cheeky smile.
"That's it, Avery, you playin' with fucking fire," he breathed and picked me up onto his shoulder and I chuckled but my voice died out quickly as I realized what is just about to happen.
I felt my heart start to beat fast in my chest and I breathed deep.
When Jared stepped into my bedroom, he threw me onto the bed looking at me with a look I have never seen before.
I sat up and leaned to the headboard of my bed, pulling one of my leg up, watching him innocently as he keeps looking at me with those dark eyes full of lust as his chest rising and falling deeply.
I bit on my finger as I watched him starting to unbutton his shirt, not taking his eyes off me.
He threw the shirt down and knelt up onto the bed climbing above me and kissed me gently then knelt up again between my legs.
"Hmm..." he laid his palms onto my knees and he started to stroke my thighs up and down and I breathed slightly sitting more up to reach his arms and stroke them through.
I saw him half naked so many times, but I never dared to even think one day I will have the chance to touch.
I stroked him through his chest, down his firm belly and back up on his back pulling him closer, making him lean more onto my thighs with his hands.
He grabbed my thighs firmer, his thumbs stroking my inner thighs so close to my core, still he stayed still letting me discover his muscles on his back while he breathed into my neck heavily.
The sound of his breathing in my ear and the familiar light smell of his perfume, the feeling of his hands on my thighs sent shivers down my whole body.
"You are fucking sexy," he moaned kissing into my neck down until my collarbone which he bit onto gently and I whined lifting my head up.
He looked back up to me kissing me tenderly.
His tongue was like silk against mine, caressing it, while he carefully moved his left palm under my back and pulled me to lay under him.
His right arm was still on my inner thigh massaging it softly what felt like heaven in hell.
"This is your last chance to back out, Avery. One more touch and there's no turning back," his voice soft, his breath leaving my neck as he looked at me, hand stopping in motion on my thigh.
His eyes were locked in mine, a stray lock of his hair falling forward onto his forehead.
I breathed deep, trying to think straight but it was so hard with his strong hand an inch away from my burning center.