t w e n t y - f i v e

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Head & Heart - Joel Corry, MNEK

After driving for a while we finally pull up to a small quiet main street in a town I don't know, Cillian gets out of the car before jogging over to my side, I sit patiently as I remember his words from earlier 'that's my job', and who would I be ...

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After driving for a while we finally pull up to a small quiet main street in a town I don't know, Cillian gets out of the car before jogging over to my side, I sit patiently as I remember his words from earlier 'that's my job', and who would I be to deny him his job?

Opening my door he holds his hand out for me to take, I place my hand in his and get out as he closes the car door behind me, "You hungry?" He asks intertwining our fingers together as his thumb gently runs over my thumb, every touch of his sents tidal waves of excitement through me.

 " A little" I admit, I'm actually starving, I was too nervous to eat breakfast this morning, I had convinced myself that if I ate I was going to throw it up, he seemed happy with my answer as he guided me into the closest café.

There are only elderly people here enjoying their food and drinks together, I can't help but smile at them, I've always loved watching the elderly couples, having spent most of their lives together I'd wonder how long they had been together? How young were they when they got married? What was the secret to their success?

Cillian guides me to where he wants to go, sitting us down in a booth next to a window that overlooks the ocean, I'm in awe, I've only seen the ocean on the TV in the shop windows, being in front of it in real life almost seems fake, from the sounds of the waves crashing against the shoreline, the subtle smell of salt in the air, the warm sun shining down, it's perfection, maybe one day, I could swim in the ocean like I've always dreamed of doing.

"Like the view?" Cillian asks, I turn away from the view to answer him "It's absolutely stunning, isn't it?" I ask turning to look back over the bright blue water, I swear I heard him say "Yes you are" But I couldn't be certain.

A middle-aged woman took our orders, I only got something light to eat, a grilled ham and cheese and an iced coffee, and Cillian got an English breakfast and a hot coffee.

We chatted over the food about facts about each other. I told him that I didn't grow up with my Papa or brothers, but didn't explain it further. He told me that his family still lives in Ireland but visits them every holiday. He's only got his mother, nan, aunt, nephew and best friend over there, and that his father abandoned them when he was born.

My heart broke for him, but he didn't seem to mind at all, that, or he's very good at hiding emotions.

We even played 21 questions, his favourite colour is red, he used to play soccer or as he called it football, he started boxing when he was 12, his favourite animal is a turtle, his explanation of that is that they have the best life, eating fish and swimming all day. He also told me he loves to swim, whether it's the ocean, lakes, or pools.

I told him my favourite colour is green, that I had never played a sport before, but I enjoy painting and drawing. I also told him that my favourite animals are birds, when he asked why I explained that they are one of the only animals that mate for life, and that they are also very smart, and beautiful of course, and that I have never swam before or been to the beach, after he heard that he almost choked on his coffee.

His reply was "I'll have to change that".

I learnt that he has travelled a lot throughout his career, Greece, Italy, turkey, you name it he has most likely been there, he couldn't believe that I had never travelled out of the US let alone only been to three states.

Once we had finished eating and drinking I tried to pay for my half, Niki had lent me some money. Cillian tapped his plastic card and shook his head "I asked you on a date, I pay" He said somewhat sternly, not a stern voice that would make me afraid, no, a stern voice that could make me do absolutely anything he had asked of me.

We walk hand in hand as we enter various shops, some opp shops just looking at what they had on display before going into a second-hand book shop, I had never heard of such a thing but Cillian explained that they were a pretty big thing.

I was in awe at the number of books they had around, but the small voice in my head reminded me that I can't read for shit, the smile on my face must have dropped ever so slightly as Cillian squeezed my hand to get my attention, "What's wrong Angel?" He questions looking over my face intently.

"Nothing, it's stupid" I reply with a light laugh, hoping he would drop it, but he doesn't "Nothing you think or say is stupid, so what is it Willow?", God the way he says my name makes me want to part my legs like the fucking red sea.

"I um- I have trouble reading" I admit, fuck, I haven't even admitted that to my family, he must think I'm so stupid right now. I look away from him and try to keep walking but he doesn't let go of my hand, instead, he pulls me back into his embrace, his arms engulf me and I feel... safe.

"I'm not good at it either, otherwise I'd teach you" He hums, I lift my head to look at him to see he's already looking down at me, "I never went to school" I speak without thinking, shut up Willow, shut up, shut up, shut up.

"Shit, neither did I" He laughs, god that laugh is amazing to my ears. "You didn't?" I ask still looking up at him, I can't tear my eyes off of him, "I was supposed to, but never went" He smiles before kissing my temple softly and letting me go, I hold back a pout due to the loss of his warmth and smell of his cologne.

"Go ahead and pick out whatever looks good to you, we will figure out the reading part later," he says as he puts his hand on my lower back, my fingers trace over the spines of the book as we slowly walk around the shop, I pick out three books eventually, before turning to him, I catch him staring at me but he doesn't look away when I catch him which causes my cheeks to burn, I've never blushed so much in my life I'm scared my face will be permanently red after today.

"Where do I pay?" I ask looking around him, he only raises an eyebrow at me "What did I say before Angel?" He asks leaning down so that we're face to face, god he's so close I can smell the mint gum he has in his mouth, "T-that you're paying today" I mumble in response, god now I'm stuttering like a dickhead.

He leans in, ever close, placing a gentle kiss on my nose before responding in a soft and smooth voice, "Good girl".

Oh fuck, oh my fuck, if my panties weren't drenched already they're fucking soaked now.

How on earth can two little words have such an effect on me?

I can't even look at the poor woman at the register as she speaks to Cillian, those two damn words keep replaying in my head, I've never been so turned on in my life just by someone fucking talking to me. 

This man will be the death of me, I just know it.


words: 1329

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