Chapter 10 A DAY WITH HIM

Finally, it was 5:30 PM, and I'd been pacing around my room all day, staring at my closet like it held the answer to the question I have been pondering over.

"What do I even wear to my first time sex-experience... with this mystery guy who had sworn to sleep with me? A man I barely knew" I sighed, sitting on the bed and grabbing a pillow to scream into.

"Is this even right?" I kept asking myself. "Surrogacy or not... did I do the right thing by saying yes?" I shook my head for the tenth time that hour. My stomach was doing backflips. My heart? Racing as well..

Then came the knock...

My heart leaped. I jumped up like the bed was on fire.

"Coming, please!" I called out.

I opened the door and there he was...Andrew. Nick's quiet but always-composed driver. In his hands were a bunch of luxury shopping bags.

"Good evening, ma'am," he said, expressionless. "Mr. Nick asked me to bring these to you and pick you up by 6:00 PM."

"Oh-uhh-okay. Please, come in." I stepped aside, still confused.

He came in, placed the bags gently on the couch, and gave me a quick glance.

"He picked them himself. You should check them out. He said... specifically... you should wear the red one," Andrew said, almost like he was reading from a script.

"The red one?" I blinked. "Okay... thank you."

Andrew gave a small nod and walked out quietly, shutting the door behind him.

I dragged the bags to my room and dumped them on my bed like it was Christmas morning. Slowly, I opened the first one and almost passed out.

Designer brands. Silk, perfumes, heels and lingerie.

"Is this... all for me?" I whispered to myself, picking up a black box with red ribbons.

Inside was the red dress. Long, flowy and backless. Just like a woman about to do something wild for the first time in her life.

Then came the matching lingerie...lace, smooth, and seductive.

"Wow..." I breathed out.

"This man is serious..."

I looked at the cheap dress I had earlier picked for the night and scoffed. "Girl, throw that in the trash."

I jumped into the bathroom and gave myself the longest, dreamiest bath I'd had in months. The soap smelled like roses, and the lotion? Oh God... like heaven on my skin.

The lingerie fit like it was custom made for me. And the red dress? When I looked in the mirror, I didn't recognize myself. I felt... pretty, sexy and scared at same time. But mostly beautiful...

"How did he get my size so perfectly though?" I frowned. "Is he a wizard or something?"

Before I could finish thinking, my phone alarm beeped. 5:58 PM. My heart skipped again.

"Ahh! I'm gonna be late!" I panicked, quickly grabbing my purse and stepping into the killer heels he'd bought.

Honk Honk.

Andrew was in the car already, waiting...

I rushed out, locking the door behind me, my palms already sweaty.

The drive was quiet as usual. Andrew didn't say much, and I didn't either. I kept fiddling with the straps of my purse like it would calm my nerves.

We arrived at a beautiful, high-end hotel. The lights outside sparkled... and I instantly fell in love with the place.

Andrew opened the door for me, and I stepped out like a nervous celebrity on a red carpet.

As I walked in, I saw him, Mr. Nick. Seated already. Dressed in a wine-colored tux. Calm, yet intense. His eyes found me, and he stood up instantly.

"Wow..." he whispered, smiling. "You look so gorgeous, Haven."

I blushed and smiled. "Thanks... how do you do?"

He chuckled, "How do you do too?"

He walked over, pulled out the chair for me like a perfect gentleman, and handed me the menu. But honestly, I couldn't even read a single word. My hands were trembling.

At some point, I realized the room was empty...just us.

"You booked the entire place?" I asked, surprised.

He nodded. "I wanted some privacy. I want tonight to be about you."

In my head I was like

"Isn't that too much for a surrogate?"...

His words sent a warm, shaky feeling through my body.

The waiter came in and took our orders quickly.

I went with something simple; chicken Alfredo. Nick, of course, ordered something I couldn't pronounce.

"So..." he started, folding his arms and leaning closer. "Are you nervous?"

I nearly choked on my water. "Me? No"..

"Are you sure?"... he repeated..

"Okay... maybe a little," I admitted.

He smiled. "You don't have to be.. That's why I had to do all this to calm your nerves. And hoping you don't see me as a bad person with bad intentions for you.."

"Why me, Nick?" I asked quietly. "Why not just go with the procedure? Why... sleep with me?"

He exhaled. "Because you deserve to have your first time be special. Not on a hospital bed with tubes and cold gloves. But with someone just like me... who wouldn't want you to go through all of that.."

I looked down, my eyes stinging. "I don't even know how to kiss properly..."

He leaned closer. "Then I'll teach you.. you don't have to worry about that.."

We finished our food and talked for another hour about life, fears, love, sex and what tomorrow might look like.

I laughed more than I thought I would. Nick was charming. Gentle. Funny. Not the rude guy I met that day in the restaurant...

When we got back into the car, the silence was comfortable this time. And suddenly I felt a hand on my laps...caressing me until I was pulled into a kiss. Long enough to wet my pants and soft enough to make me fall in love with Nick.

My heart still raced, but not from fear anymore. Maybe anticipation?

At exactly 9: 00pm. We were back at the mansion, Nick opened the door for me. He didn't say anything. Just extended his hand.

I hesitated for a second, then slipped my fingers into his.

He smiled softly. "Let's go inside, Haven."

As we walked into the house, the door closing behind us, my mind went blank. Was I really ready?