P. Stormcrow

I suppose I’m going to be eye candy?

Luna giggled inwardly at the thought and tugged at her cardigan. Her nerves were frayed as her mind spun out half-formed scenes of embarrassing herself or Jacob with the wrong word said to the wrong person. What if she accidentally called him Sir in front of the ones that didn’t know? What if—

“Luna.” Jacob dropped one hand to cover hers. “It’ll be okay. You’re good.”

“I know,” she murmured, still staring at their hands. 

“Tell me what’s on your mind,” Jacob spoke again without taking his eyes off the road.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. His uncanny ability to read her still surprised her after all these months. “I was just wondering what to say to your coworkers if they ask…”

“How about the truth?”

Before Luna could exclaim in shock, Jacob chuckled. “I meant the truth as much as the vanillas can accept. We can say we met at a club or a mutual friend’s party.”

“I can say we’re dating?”

“Exactly.” Jacob withdrew his hand and kept driving but he nodded once. “It’s a balance, to stay truthful to what actually happened but to coach it in a way that is acceptable to people we are not comfortable with revealing our lifestyle.” He paused as he slowed the car and pulled into a parking lot. 

Luna startled to see them pulling up to a bar/restaurant and for a moment, her own work party crossed her mind. “I thought you said to dress casual.” She plucked at her black tights. At least Jacob had also worn jeans but he did put on a collared shirt.

Jacob parked the car and turned to face her fully. “I did.” Her fidgeting must have drawn his attention though for he took her hand in his once more. “Have I ever steered you wrong?”

She cast a glance out toward the window. “No, no you haven’t.”

“The crew’s a casual bunch.” He gave her hand a squeeze before letting go and tucking a finger under her chin to tilt her face toward him. “Luna, if you are uncomfortable with this, you need to tell me. I can drive you back home. There won’t be any consequences.”

He was always careful this way and it filled her heart with something big, beyond the simple gratitude for his concern and thoughtfulness. Something she didn’t want to put a name to. Luna leaned forward and placed a light kiss on his lips as the knots in her stomach unwound. “I’m fine. Let’s go to the party.”

Jacob placed a hand on her hair and grinned. “Sounds good to me.”

They left the car, hand in hand with Jacob leading. Usually, he guided her with a hand on the small of her back but today was different on many levels. As they entered, the hostess beamed at the. “Party for FastTrack Shipping?”

Jacob nodded and she led them to a hall to the left and up the stairs into a wide-open space. Groups of three or four spread across the floor. Laughter and soft murmurs of conversation filled the air. A row of tables butted up against the windows, filled with hors d’oeuvres and desserts.

Her hand tightened around Jacob’s without a thought and Luna startled to realize she did so only when he squeezed her hand back. But before he could utter any more words of reassurance, someone called out his name and waved.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

She cast a last longing glance at the table of food but followed Jacob regardless.

“Jacob, you made it.”

Luna turned her attention to the man standing before them. Short but stout, the man seemed unbent by time despite the liberal dusting of grey in his shaggy brown hair. He held a large rough hand and Jacob took it with a firm shake.

“Good to see you, boss,” Jacob replied.

Boss. Right. Luna recalled Jacob explaining the organizational structure of his company.

“This is Luna.”

Jacob’s boss extended the same hand to her and when Luna took it, he shook it gently as he spoke. “Please, call me Miles.”

“Miles. Pleased to meet you,” Luna murmured. 

“Hey Jacob, I’ve got a major favour to ask. The big bosses invited a few clients and it would really help if you go talk to them. Let them see the guy running the floor.” Miles rubbed the back of his head 

Jacob’s face darkened and Luna recognized that temper underneath his expression. It came out infrequently and never with her. His grip tightened around her hand.

“Fifteen minutes. I promise just fifteen minutes and you’re done for the rest of the night.”

Luna could see it in his eyes, could see he was about to say no but she smiled up at him. “Just fifteen minutes, right?” Just then, her stomach growled and she flushed in embarrassment but neither men commented. Maybe they didn’t hear over the din of the party. If only she could be so lucky.

“Fine,” Jacob half growled then sighed and turned to face her in full. “It’s going to be boring work talk and I know you haven’t eaten yet. Why don’t you go get some good and I’ll come to find you when I’m done.”

Shit, he did hear. But she appreciated his subtle way of showing it nonetheless. “Okay.”

He leaned across to kiss her on her forehead then left.  Luna watched him cross the room to another group of men in suits. 

“You know, in all the years I’ve known him, I think this is the first time Jacob brought anyone to the party.”

Luna startled and flushed deep as she met Miles’ eyes again. But there was no mockery in the kind smile, only full of curiosity. “We’ve been…ah… dating for a few months.”

As if picking up on her awkwardness, Miles jerked his head toward the table of food. “Let’s go grab some plates before it gets too busy. These guys do not hold back on free food.”

Luna let out a soft laugh and nodded. They made their way to the table with Miles keeping up the small talk. They discussed work; he told him about how busy it could get on the floor. She told him about what she did and he mentioned that his wife was in the same industry. Luna’s heart raced at the mention but she managed to calm herself. If Jacob trusted him, then so could she.

They lapsed into silence after they piled food on their plate and started eating. But even as they dug into their food, standing side by side at one of the small rounded chest-height tables, Luna continued to sneak peeks at Miles, wondering how he thought of her. Did he judge her the same way Dylan did? Can’t think that way. Not everyone’s him. Luna shook her head clear.

“You’re doing okay?” Miles asked with a gentle voice.

About to answer that she was fine, Luna stopped herself and took a steadying breath to steel her nerves instead. She needed to know. “So you know that Jacob and I…” Okay, maybe she wasn’t as brave as she thought.

“That you two are in the lifestyle?” Miles finished for her, keeping his tone soft. “Yes, I know.”

A flush crept from her neck up to her cheeks and Luna tugged at her collar. “Do you find it awkward?” 

Miles shook his head. “To me, it’s not so different than if Jacob told me he was gay or you like to eat cake—” he gestured to the piece of Yule log hanging on Luna’s fork— “or—well you know what I mean. It’s not my thing but love and let lives right? Jacob is a good guy and a good worker and that’s really all that matters to me.”

Luna let out a subtle breath of relief and smiled at Miles.

“Besides—” the man rubbed the back of his head— “the wife likes reading that kind of stuff. She makes me ask Jacob whether something is real from time to time.” 

His sheepish grin was enough for Luna to let out a small laugh. But just as she was about to reply, Jacob returned, muttering under his breath. “That took way too much time.” With that, he reached out for Luna and pulled her into a tight hug. “Better,” he murmured in her ear.

Luna registered a chuckle from Miles behind her but was too engrossed in his scent, in the warmth of Jacob’s arms, and in the sense of security and peace that descended on her. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply as she hugged him back.

“Well, thanks for doing that,” Mile said at least and Jacob released her from his embrace only to keep a proprietary arm over her shoulders, not quite letting go.

“You’re welcome. They asked for you though.” Luna could hear the smugness in his voice.

“Shit,” Miles swore and sighed, looking down at his now been empty dish. “Well, I better get going then. You two enjoy.”

“Thanks, Miles,” Luna called out and with a nod of acknowledgement, Miles left.

Jacob spun her around and tucked a finger under her chin to lift her face up. “Everything okay, sweetheart?”

A slow grin spread across her face as she straightened with more confidence. “Yeah, everything is great.”

Jacob’s eyes danced with amusement and pride as he gazed down at her and he moved his hand to stroke her hair lightly. “Good.”

The rest of the party went by in a blur. Jacob introduced her to more of his co-workers. Drinks flowed freely, voices grew louder and the crowd grew rowdier. By the time they left, the good humour from the path remained with them as they returned to Jacob’s car. And by the time they returned back to her place, they were both still laughing as they recalled particular events or conversations at the party.

Jacob pulled the car up to a spot along her street and they walked back to her apartment together with hand in the crook of his arm until she had to retrieve her keys from her purse and let them in. He followed and they kept to small talk until they stepped into her unit.

“Hey, Luna.” Jacob pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “You did good.”

Luna rose on her feet and gave him a light peck on the corner of his lips. “What do I get for it?” A small giggle slipped from her. Maybe she was a little tipsy though she had been careful to not drink as much.

“Well, tomorrow is Sunday, right?” Jacob smirked and cupped her face. 

“Mmhmm.”

“Stand still.”

Surprised, Luna held still as Jacob dropped down to one knee and unzipped her heeled boot. As he placed pressure on her foot, she lifted it for him and watched as he slipped the boot off her. And when he switched to doing the same, she bit her lower lip and shivered. 

“Tonight, I’ll take care of you and tomorrow morning I’ll make breakfast,” he answered at last as he cocked his head backwards.

It was the best reward ever.