It All Started With A Payback

Twenty-four

"How's my future wife doing this lovely evening?  I missed you." Louie told her as if they had been apart for a long time when in fact it had only been an hour since he left her side.  She tried to remove the frown from her forehead as she lifted her face to receive his kiss.

She had been waiting for him in a corner table while he was preparing the payroll of the employees in the office at the back of the restobar.  He wanted to finish it that night so they would not need to go there anymore the next day since they were going to look for venues for their wedding.

She was actually having a good time listening to the band playing until she read the reply to a message she sent to Mark a couple of days ago. 

Louie was still smiling at her as though everything in the world was in its proper place and order. He made it so much easier for her to push the negative thoughts aside as she gazed at the handsome man who had captivated her heart since the first time he had held her hand.

Great, except that my bestfriend thinks Im self-destructive for agreeing to marry you. "You, are cheesier than a molded cheese!" She replied instead, returning his smile.  

He laughed, "And you, are as hard and as rare as a diamond." He took her hand and pressed it to his lips his eyes sparkling with mirth.

She pulled her hand away and slapped his face playfully, "Who the hell are you and what have you done with my boyfriend?" She pretended to scan the room, "He used to be this hot runningback who was overflowing with testosterone," she added.

He hooked his hand behind her neck and gently pulled her toward him until their lips were inches apart, "Fiancé," he corrected.  

"Oh, he is still hot." He moved closer, as if she wasn't suddenly warm enough.  "He may not be a hotshot runningback anymore, but he would have had you on your back, writhing and moaning in pleasure had you been somewhere private."

Tori's pupils dilated in response to his proximity, his words and the huskiness in his voice.  Well, somebody's privates is definitely writhing, Tori thought in dismay. The corner of his lips turned up, obviously pleased with how he had affected her.

"Touché." Just as he thought he had made a point,  she closed the remaining distance and kissed him, much to his surprise. She slipped her tongue between his lips, grazing his tongue teasingly and then she pulled away suddenly, not giving him an opportunity to respond.

He chuckled as he shook his head, "There's just no way you're going to let me win in anything at all, is there?"

She merely quirked an eyebrow and nonchalantly took a sip from her drink while raising her wrist to look at her watch as if their entire conversation bored her.

He leaned back against his chair as he shook his head again in smiling disbelief.  They watched the band in silence.

"Do you want to leave now?" He asked after a while, even though his head was bobbing up and down in time with the lively beat of the song the band was playing.  

After their light banter, no matter how much she enjoyed the live music earlier,  Mark's message pierced her thoughts, unbidden.  It dampened her mood significantly, she actually wanted to go home and snuggle in Louie's arms for comfort.  He looked so relaxed and seemed to be enjoying that particular set that she couldn't bring herself to drag him away.

"It's okay, we could stay and listen some more if you want to." She said giving him a brief smile to let him know it was completely fine with her if they stayed.

He peered at her closely, "Nah," he took her hand and slowly stood up and helped her, pulling her chair back as she got up.  "I'd rather spend a quiet evening with you." He pulled her against his side and kissed the top of her head.  She looked up at him, "Are you sure?", she asked hesitantly even as she was taking her bag from the chair she vacated.

Louie stared back at her as if studying her, he caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger and placed a tender kiss on her lips.  "Yeah, I'm sure."