Fourteen- Herpes?

Chloe never once thought she would have so many opportunities to step outside once she stepped into the abode of the NAG brothers, but there she was, neglecting an expensive gown to put on a much more comfortable pair of jean trousers and denim shirt coupled with a very convenient pair of block heels.

And... there she was, trying to remind herself not to get carried away with the date, her senses had to be up and working throughout.

Chloe wished, she really wished that would be the case. Nathaniel's voice had begun to find its way into her head at night before sleep comes for her. The way he used the word 'craving' the other night made something stir in her.

Immediately, she shook her head. Once again, she needed to be focused.

In no time, she found her way downstairs which was as silent as an abandoned church, Chloe wondered if no one else was at home but her. Indeed, Nathaniel had sent a message for her from where he was, but then at that time, Lucille was still working and Amir was getting dressed and Gabriel was looking like a house-husband.

Chloe scolded herself. She was thinking too much. She should be making her way outside. And, she did. And outside was surprisingly dark. Checking her phone to see that it was just a few minutes after eight, Chloe wondered if she was becoming too engrossed with her fake work.

"Oh stop with all these wondering and fidgeting. Keep yourself together girl," she scolded herself again as she was beginning to find her mind wandering a bit irritating.

A few more steps and she was out at the end of the walkway, waiting for Nathaniel's car to arrive.

True to his words, his car drove right beside her just before ten minutes after eight, Chloe appreciated his punctuality within her mind.

Rolling down the window on the passenger side to reveal a short frown on his face, Nathaniel immediately said, "Why? Didn't you like the dress I sent you?"

"Err... actually, it was nice, but it's not comfortable at all."

"Oh, I see."

"But I wore the shoes you sent though."

He pushed open the door for her. "I am sure they complement your gorgeous legs quite well."

She fully entered the car, shut the door, and tilted her legs a bit before saying, "You can just be a judge of that now."

He leaned in and observed. "Your legs are pretty. Long and pretty. I want to run my hands through them before..." His eyes went up to catch the uneasiness in hers. "We will be late for our date."

Chloe managed a smile. "Yes, yes, we will." Then she gave a nervous chuckle as she recalled his earlier assessment of her legs. There was just that thing all over again. That stir.

"How did today go?"

She jumped out of her almost disarrayed thoughts. "Uh... it was actually good. There was nothing much to do, so I rested a lot."

"Good. You know, I have been thinking..." The air fell silent for a second. "Nah, never mind."

"Uh... okay. So, where are we going to for this date?"

"Are you curious?"

"Uh...I guess so."

He glanced her way. "So you are curious."

"Uh... I guess so."

"You guess a lot." She managed another smile. Her body might be stirring because of his intense words here and there, but her mind was beginning to find his company boring which was bad of her. They had not even gotten to the venue for the date. "You also think a lot."

"Uh?"

"And you zone out a lot."

"I. ..I ... it just happens."

He took a right turn. "Thinking is good. It helps you sort out a lot of issues."

"You must have a lot of issues."

The side of his mouth went up in a smirk. "Darling, we all have issues. We all have a lot of issues."

"I guess you are right."

He gave a light snicker at her statement. "How about this, ask me a question about my life and I will get the opportunity to do the same."

"Really?"

"Hurry before I change my mind."

She adjusted in her seat. "Uh... do you ever think your brothers can betray you?"

"Of course." Nathaniel did not even take a second to ponder on the question. "We are all humans regardless of whatever ties we have in between us . And humans are capable of anything, so of course."

"Oh. But, if it happens-"

"Time for my question." Chloe sucked her lower lip in as she watched his face as her ears waited for his question." Would you resign from your job if I asked you to be my girlfriend?"

"Uh?"

"I don't like repeating myself, Chloe."

She scratched the back of her loose hair as she found an appropriate response. "I won't resign. It is my only source of income."

"I see." He nod. "Well, we are here." The car came to a stop and without a warning, Nathaniel tore his eyes off the road and trained them on Chloe's. His body had leaned closer, his side chest was almost connecting to hers. "We should go inside," he whispered onto her lips and Chloe found her whole body freezing.

She wanted to nod her head, but she could just stare at the beauty of his face like a fool.

Like someone fully aware of what he was doing, Nathaniel gave a light chuckle as he retreated and got off the car. He helped Chloe who was still in a trance out of the car.

His hands went to her waist and she came back to life. "Let's go enjoy this evening." Chloe was surprised she found it easy to walk, she was too distracted. His gentle but firm hold made her wonder what his palm would feel like against her bare skin.

Chloe immediately groaned. She was doing it again. The one thing she wasn't supposed to do.

Nathaniel walked the both of them through the quiet, well-lighted pathway and into an even more quiet room where there was nothing but a table and two chairs awaiting occupancy. The orange lights that welcomed them were also doing a great job of making the place look like a setting from a romance movie.

"There is no one else here?" Chloe never really fancied the idea of dates in a restaurant. But, at that moment, it didn't seem so bad since people were not there.

Nathaniel replied from behind her and into her ear, "No one but the chef, you and I."

"That sounds good."

"Well, let's go in, the night is ours." Chloe took back her earlier thought of him being boring.

After they had taken their seat, the Chef appeared and welcomed them with a fine-looking bottle of champagne. "Did you rent this place?" Chloe asked as she took her eyes off the silk tablecloth.

"Sort of." He was watching her like he were a scientist and she was an interesting specimen.

"Sort of?"

"Amir had it built in honour of his pa-" He cleared his throat. "His pa... his par-"

"His parents? " Chloe wondered what his deal was with the word.

"Yes, that word. Do you have them?"

'Them what? Herpes?' She wanted to ask, but she knew she couldn't.

"No. I do not have them."

"I guess we have that in common." Chloe smiled. "So..."

"There you are." It was the built man that found her suspicious. "There is some kind of trouble at the clubhouse," he said as he rushed to their table.

"What is wrong?"

"It is Amir."

"What happened?"

"Well, he..." His eyes glanced towards Chloe who was waiting for him to talk .

"Say what you have to say, she is with us."

The man nods,adjusted his suit, and said, "Amir has just been accused of rape..."

"What?" Nathaniel got up abruptly.

"... again." Chloe's dropped jaw.