[Music Background: Eric Clapton – Layla]
Under the dim lights they lay low…
„Do you know what I wish for right now?" he asked earlier. She had no idea.
Marie-Rose had no idea how they ended up in the pub either. She couldn't fathom how she had never seen them before, considering they claimed to be frequent customers.
In order to enter the pub, they had to pass by the guard stationed at the front doors. Although her boss had conveniently left just moments before the boys arrived, escaping the scrutinizing eyes of the guard, who she knew was placed there by Daniel's men to monitor her activities, seemed like an impossible task.
The old looking man, donning a counterfeit army uniform, seemed lost in a mental reverie, imagining himself as a valiant soldier. He strode arrogantly, puffing out his chest as if he were worthy of commendation. His stocky frame appeared almost overstuffed, brimming with an air of pride, while his simian face matched the facade he had chosen to adopt.
Inside the pub, it was just the three of them - her, Jayden, and his best friend, who had recently returned to the country after serving in the foreign legion as a mercenary. The car they had driven from here to their native town and back belonged to him. He was the one designated by Jayden to work with Marie-Rose on his project, and he was supposed to help her track down the stalker.
"Oh no, she's fallen for that contractor" she remembered Barbara's inadequacy. In their perspective, the contractor was Jayden's friend.
The man had the appearance of a gem, if not for the rugged aspect of a Swiss watch. Why on Earth did Jayden have to have such a handsome, dark-haired green-eyed best friend? Now everyone would suspect they were the two male characters from her novel that had incited the anger of the unknown intruder.
Moreover, did he have to be her new colleague at work? Her co-workers, except her team, already hated her, considering it a privilege to work with such a man.
As their conversation progressed, Marie-Rose's suspicions about Cedric grew stronger. She perceived that Jayden had an ulterior motive, using Cedric as a facade. It appeared as if he desired to be in Cedric's position.
A couple of inches taller than Jayden, Cedric had a muscular physique that was more pronounced than Jayden's athletic build.
She loved Jayden's slender physique, with his chest muscles subtly defined beneath his t-shirts and shirts. Nowadays, he primarily handled back-office tasks, and as a result, his abdominal muscles weren't as sharply defined as those of his chiseled friend.
Cedric was undeniably the man with wealth, as every aspect of his life distinctly reflected this reality. He had amassed his fortune through his service in the foreign elite troops, an opportunity that enabled him to break free from the cycle of poverty.
Despite the differences, they were both intelligent, with Cedric being exceptionally so, second only to Jayden, who rightfully held the position as the head of the project. What set Jayden apart was his exceptional intellect; he was notably sharp-witted.
The reason Jayden allowed him to work alongside Marie-Rose was their proximity; living in the same town, Cedric served as a substitute for Jayden within the area.
However, Marie-Rose sensed something amiss in Jayden's intentions. Knowing they were contracted to the town hall's services, she understood that a romantic involvement with him was out of the question. She suspected that Cedric was more of a smokescreen, closer to her than Jayden would prefer. It was evident now that Jayden longed to be in Cedric's position.
At least, that was the conclusion she had reached during their morning conversation. The time spent together on their return to Constance further solidified this conclusion. Marie-Rose couldn't help but smile at the memory, while the boys chattered loudly, regaling tales of firearms, sounding just like the soldiers that they were.
Dressed casually, both of them eschewed any pretense of being extraordinary individuals. This was in stark contrast to the guard, who harbored an infatuation with pretending to be something he was not, adhering to a plan he was tasked with. Cedric and Jayden were genuine in sharing their experiences on the battlefields, finding solace in unburdening their souls from the weight of their responsibilities. True war stories.
As she silently savored the evening in their company, Marie-Rose relished a fine drink, tilting her head back and downing it in one swift motion. Jayden noticed her reticence, observing that she was more engrossed in listening than actively participating in the conversation. Her occasional smiles revealed her amusement at some of their tales.
He drew closer, encircling her waist with his arms, and asked, "What's wrong, babe? Are you feeling okay?" His eyes held the same spark that flickered beneath the dim lights. This was her second shot in quick succession, but her high tolerance for strong spirits kept her as composed as one could be with the approach of morning light. Jayden, too, articulated his words with engineering precision.
"Nothing, really. I'm just enjoying listening to the both of you," she admitted sincerely, seeing no reason to deceive him. She found pleasure in their company, even without being the center of their attention. After all, she was accustomed to being a loner.
Seizing the opportunity of the brief lull in their conversation, his friend motioned to the bartender, ordering the most expensive scotch available, showcasing his status as a prominent client. With this, they had now ordered their third round of luxurious drinks, elevating their status to that of esteemed guests within the establishment. The owner, acknowledging their patronage, personally attended to their needs, ensuring that their experience at the pub would be unforgettable.
Jayden's next action left a lasting impression. As they downed their shots in unison, he pulled her close, both facing Cedric. From that point onward, he appeared more attentive to her. Briefly turning to the bartender, he then re-engaged in the small conversation between her and Cedric.
Marie-Rose, intrigued by their diverse experiences, fired question after question, thoroughly entertained by their stories. Jayden found her inquisitive nature endearing, her genuine demeanor irresistibly charming.
He quietly voiced his admiring remark, 'She's so sweet, cheeks flushed from the drinks,' as he subtly revealed his anticipation. When the opportune moment finally arrived, he politely excused himself and Marie-Rose from Cedric, gently turning her to face him before asking:
"May I have this dance, babe?" Amused by the affectionate nickname he used, she responded playfully:
"Yes, of course, baby." She found it somewhat challenging to reciprocate the endearing term, not because she didn't feel the same way, but because he was still somewhat of a stranger to her.
Despite his efforts to get to know her better, she still needed more time. It was strange, considering that others often connected with strangers instantly, without any second thoughts or regrets. Furthermore, they didn't seem to regret it later, so what was wrong with her?
The background music featured Eric Clapton's "Layla," a song he particularly enjoyed. Until now, he had never truly paid attention to the lyrics, but the chorus was nothing short of mesmerizing, bringing him immense joy. At times, he even attempted to replicate it, considering he had the vocal capacity to do so.
He had selected the song for the part where the lyrics mentioned being on one's knees. Perhaps it was premature to make such an assessment, but this woman, whom he struggled to see as older, let alone treat as one, had managed to do exactly that. She had brought him to his knees without even asking.
Marie-Rose herself was entranced by the moment, feeling the intensity of her affection for him. As Jayden sang that refrain, locking eyes with her, a secret chord deep within Marie-Rose's heart was struck.
'You're so dope, Jayden.' she murmured, feeling lovesick. Love had irrevocably struck her the moment they first met, but now her infatuation had intensified to another level. 'Here I am, losing my heart.'
She kept these thoughts to herself, allowing herself to trust him more, but aware that there was still room for further growth in their trust.
Meanwhile, Jayden found himself increasingly intoxicated by the emotions swirling in his chest for an equal measure of time. He experienced the love hormone in a more pronounced, masculine manner, yet he resolved to relish every step in his journey of love. From the moment they fell in love at first sight, winning her heart had become his steadfast commitment.
A particular verse in the song's lyrics amused her: "When your old man, he let you down." It brought a wry smile to her lips, as it reminded her of Alexandre.
'No, I didn't leave Alexandre because he was old,' she reflected. In fact, he was younger than her.
She didn't leave Alexandre because he had a big belly, since he was a gym addict he owned a six-pack ab. Neither his weight nor his physique were unappealing. She didn't leave him because of their age difference, contrary to the reasons people often assumed, even though they didn't know him personally.
She found solace in the fact that she left Alexandre because their relationship was stagnating. They lacked shared visions and aspirations.
'I left Alexandre, but not because of Jayden, or for Jayden,' she assured herself. Jayden had simply come into her life at the right moment, coinciding with her firm decision to definitively separate from Alexandre. Jayden seemed to have appeared precisely at that time. He was the right man in the right place at the right time. No one else had come close to matching this since her breakup with Alexandre.
On the other hand, Jayden found it less amusing; it suddenly dawned on him the weight of the phrase's significance. His heart felt burdened with guilt, yet he couldn't muster the courage to have an open conversation with her. He postponed the talk, recognizing that his senses were too intoxicated to risk spoiling the magic of the moment.
He felt a surge of happiness, having successfully pursued Marie-Rose and realizing that her feelings mirrored his own. Furthermore, he interpreted each of her small gestures of surrender as an implicit 'yes' to the question that lingered on his lips.
Jayden whispered sweet nothings in her ear, mustering the strength to confess, "I can't wait to taste your lips." He skipped the more direct question, failing to ask if she wanted to be with him, instead only envisioning them together.
His lips hovered close to her earlobes as he expressed his desire, sending shivers down her skin. Shivering, she giggled in response, retreating slightly, "Not here, it's too crowded." She yearned to savor their kiss in private, away from prying eyes.
"Certainly, you know my desires now."
She did, evident from the warmth radiating from him.
"Are you sober, Jayden?" she inquired, checking on his state. Her question sounded somewhat irritated, yet it was her way of setting boundaries when she felt uncomfortable. Despite this, she desired much the same, so she refrained from being too harsh with him.
As they finished the dance, thankfully without Jayden kneeling down or saying something stupid like 'I love you,' Cedric had already ordered more fine drinks, including a handcrafted draught beer and a rare rum.
"Hey lovebirds, watch how we're going to celebrate your mating!" Jayden had confided in him about his relationship with Marie-Rose.
Marie-Rose declined the offer, refusing to mix beer with spirits and feeling slightly offended by the term 'mating' that he had used. They were not lycans or werewolves, and the term carried negative connotations to her ears. While she was a witch, they were merely humans with slightly enhanced perceptions gained through training. Her own abilities were the result of the same exercises, yet magic was different from superpowers.
Jayden made the decision to keep his distance from Marie-Rose for the remainder of the evening, realizing that he was in danger of losing his composure. Knowing that he would be staying at Cedric's place, and relieved that Cedric had not found a companion for the night, he chose to drown himself in alcohol to endure the long, solitary night ahead. It would be the perfect end to the tumult of emotions raging within him.
Nevertheless, he had previously conveyed to Cedric his deep respect for Marie-Rose, acknowledging that she held a special place in his life, and emphasizing his intention to honor her boundaries. He vowed to wait until she was ready to yield to him willingly, provided that the wait was not excessive and remained reasonable.
However, he was aware of many other women who were more than eager to share his bed, particularly a few persistent ones.
Marie-Rose had enough to handle, and he needed to be cautious about who spotted them together. He couldn't afford to have a flock of groupies adding to the growing number of stalkers.
He sincerely pondered whether, after he had disclosed everything to Marie-Rose, the next steps would unfold organically, aligning with his desires. Ultimately, it would be up to Marie-Rose to decide.
Speaking of wolves, he noticed a familiar figure entering the pub. He gestured subtly with his head towards Cedric, whose expression shifted as he caught sight of the newcomers.
Unbeknownst to Jayden that night, the peculiar encounter with these individuals stemmed from the events that had transpired earlier. The passing of time only compounded the situation, leading to a culmination that ultimately escalated this evening. The person Jayden had seen was none other than Marie-Rose's boss.
Cedric quickly requested the bill, instructing the couple to wait for him outside, as he settled the tab. They were his guests, hence the VIP treatment.
"I wonder if it's merely a coincidence," Jayden whispered to Cedric's ear, careful not to let Marie-Rose overhear.