Ava downed her drink, politely refusing new ones from every waiter not Oliver. If her friends noticed, they didn't say anything. They carried on conversation, voices dropping low when mentioning gossip before pitching up at jokes.
Oliver came by, a fresh tray in hand, to greet them once more.
"Drinks, ladies?" A few switched out their glasses, including Ava.
"Thank you." At her words, several of her friends quickly turned to say their thanks, raising their glasses in his direction.
Oliver froze in surprise but quickly recovered with a smile before taking his leave.
A few minutes later, he was making his way back to the kitchen when Ava cut off his path, an empty drink in hand. Her eyes were gleaming with mischief as her glass dangled in her light grasp.
"I'll take that, ma'am." Oliver took the glass, concerned with the way her cheeks were practically cherries.
"Thank you. Bring me back a new one, would you?" She raised a brow at his frown, amusement light in her gaze.
"Ava, slow down." Oliver kept his words low, but at the sight of another employee coming their way, he rose his voice to a normal level, "yes, ma'am, the bathroom is just passed the doors behind me. It'll be to your left."
"Ah, thank you." Without missing a beat, lest he get in trouble like before, she played with her pendant that fell to her breasts as she slipped a smile onto her face.
His face heated up at her alluring movements. It didn't help her dress had a split that exposed one leg and her dress had v-neck that dipped low into her cleavage. Its light cream color and floral pattern was merely a coy cover considering her risqué behavior.
He was right. She needed to slow it down a bit more, after all, she was here in support of her friend. Granted, that didn't mean she couldn't have a bit of fun.
Ava headed past him to the bathroom, her maxi dress bellowing. Upon returning, they were called into another room where snacks had been set up on long tables and round tables were available for sitting during the awards.
Each seat had a typical wine glass along with silverware for some of the pies and cakes lined on the tables. Her buzz still going, she piled her plate with crackers and cheese, plus a few brownies before finding a seat toward the back.
Her friend, Emma, had been invited to accept an academic-scientific award for the project she had been working so hard on for the past two years at the local college campus. A little buzzed herself, partially to her excitement and partially to the alcohol, she walked up in a sweater dress that modestly covered her to her knees.
Ava couldn't help but smile at the obvious nervousness Emma tried so hard to hide while up on stage. She gave her the biggest, encouraging grin she could manage and hoped she would see it passed the bright stage lights.
"Wine?" She turned to look to her right, seeing a bottle with its label displayed for her. Looking up, she couldn't help but soften her gaze at the sight of familiar, gorgeous eyes.
Placing a hand over her glass, she replied politely, "no, thank you."
Oliver began to move back when she reached out to lightly touch his arm and almost too quickly, he was fully back to her side. His head bent down low so that she could whisper in his ear.
What he didn't know was that when he bent his head low for her, his warm breath washed over her neck and shoulder, sending an uncontrollable shiver through her. She bit her lip as excitement coursed through her. He hadn't been this close to her for the whole evening.
"A Sprite will be enough for me, but for my friend Emma up there, could you bring a cosmo?" Her hand rested on his bicep, squeezing it gently under her fingertips, and she had no shame letting her lips tease the shell of his ear.
Oliver froze under her touch, that usual red rushing to his cheeks, much to his mortification. And her utter delight. Warm and divine, her presence made his embarrassment somewhat bearable, especially when he saw the glint in her eyes. She enjoyed winning in their exchanges and he happily would let her.
"Certainly, ma'am." He took an obvious gulp and politely retreated.
Ava held her laughter at his daze, returning to listen to the end of her friend's speech. No one at her table paid any mind to the exchange. They were too focused on Emma.
Soon after Emma retook her seat by Ava, Oliver returned with the drinks.
"A Sprite for you, ma'am." He set the glass before her and turned his attention to her friend. "And a cosmo for Emma." He straightened, not giving Ava a chance to fluster him, before heading back to his job.
"Did you order this for me?" Emma grabbed her drink in delight, taking a sip and closing her eyes to savor the flavor.
"Well, congratulations is certainly in order." Ava held up her drink to cheer with the rest of the ladies.
The night was far from over, however. Ava had plenty of chances to catch his eye across the room, winking occasionally to see him sputter in his stride. He catered to her table several more times during the ceremony, both looking eager and hesitant to be near her again. Each time, she did her best to bring a blush to his cheeks with the most simple of touches.
She didn't always succeed in that and to her, that meant he was beginning to become more comfortable with her. Though, he would be right in his worry about her luring him in to never let go. He gave her a special kind of buzz.
When the ceremony came to an end and Oliver was nowhere to be seen, Ava excused herself to use the restroom, hoping to catch him bustling somewhere else in the building. She spotted him cornered outside by a frail-looking woman with stringy black hair wrapped tightly in a bun on top of her head and a similar outfit to his. He looked uncomfortable and she looked pissed.
"Excuse me?" Ava swung her hands around to her back, hiding her white knuckles from view.
Was he in trouble because of her? Again?
"Yes, ma'am?" Oliver quite literally jumped to attention, his nervous gaze never meeting her eyes.
"Would you mind escorting me to the restroom?" She looked between the two, mainly waiting for the woman to object.
She didn't, but bowed her head to Ava and walked back to one of the doors leading out.
Oliver quietly motioned for her to follow and they walked in silence to the hallway.
Did I get you in trouble, again?" She stopped, hand on the door.
"No, ma'am." He refused to look at her.
Ava reached out, peering around him to make sure nobody was joining them, and smoothed down the front of his shirt.
"If you're sure." Her words held a doubtful tone to them.
I'm sure, Ava." This time his gaze snapped down to meet hers and a smile haunted the very edges of his lips. Then, his gaze trailed down her body. "You look amazing."
"Thank you." She kissed his cheek, smiling at how tense he became. "Why was she mad?"
Oliver sighed, realizing Ava wouldn't drop the subject.
"I messed up, that's all." Before she could reply, he stepped away, "I have to go. Have a good evening."
Ava didn't get the chance to say anything else. He was already walking away, those long legs easily carrying him back to the main event. She wanted to stomp her foot at his avoidance.
"Everything okay?" Emma frowned as Ava returned, obviously frustrated.
"Yeah... Just men." Her friend laughed, clinking her almost empty glass to her own.
"What do you expect?"
Ava didn't know. Well, she did know. She expected fun nights like this ending with him out of those stupid clothes and in something comfy as they sat at her breakfast bar talking until sunrise. It was only eight, but she'd be willing to stay up again. Or maybe cozy together on the couch. Or the bed...
Alone in her cab, Ava texted Oliver, impatiently waiting for his reply. He was still working most likely.
Hey I'm still working but I'll be off in the next hour or so
Will you come over?
He didn't reply for a while, but when he did, her heart clenched at his text.
Why?
Because I want to kiss you
She typed the words and hit send faster than she could rationalize what she was saying. But she wanted to since he trailed his eyes down her body with an appreciation that made her toes curl.
Minutes ticked by with no response. Her phone buzzed, but it was only a reminder from one of her apps. It buzzed again, but it was merely an email and she grew frustrated. She wanted to see Oliver's response, not some crappy ad to Candy Crush.
Buzz me in
His text sent her in a frenzy and she quickly rushed to her front door where the panel sat embedded into the wall.
Once Oliver let her know he was in the elevator, Ava counted to twenty before ripping open her front door and pacing out into the hallway until the elevator dinged.
He stepped out, still in his work clothes, and looking quite surprised and worried about her already waiting for him.
Ava didn't wait, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him into her condo where she shut the door behind him and crashed her lips against his.
She expected hesitancy or for him to even pull away. He didn't. No, her reserved servant boy didn't waste a moment to pull her in close, hands trailing their way from her hips, across her bare back, and tangling themselves into her hair.
Her dress still hung from her body, her skirt freely flowing around her ankles, high heels long gone, and jewelry safely put away. Like Oliver, she hadn't thought to change before he came.
Did you have a good evening?" Oliver pulled away, his breath still fanning her face as he spoke.
Its getting better." She grinned against his chin, pulling his head towards her so she could resume kissing him.
Oliver tried to pull away, a smile tugging at his lips and amusement making his eyes lighter when she refused.
"Ava." Still, she refused, hands removing his bow tie and messing with his hair as she returned her lips to his. "Ava." She sighed, pulling away.
"Yeah?" He laughed at her disgruntlement, his reserved demeanor gone.
Oliver didn't say anything. He brushed back some tendrils of hair, letting his fingers trace the shell of her ear. It traveled from her ear and across her jaw to trace her bottom lip. The light in his eyes darkened and while before she wouldn't have labeled his eyes a teal, they were now.
Ava kept her hands fisted in his shirt. His eyes danced over her in a way he hadn't done before and she wondered if he'd be bashful of his actions later.
"I hate that hair gel..." She eyed the strands still slick with gel that stuck about despite her earlier attempts to rid him of it. It stuck to her hands and stained his shirt.
Oliver chuckled, moving away from the door to get her a towel and clean his hair and shirt of gel.
"You'd look better in jeans too. Granted, you could just go bare. That'd really make my night." A grin split her face at his red beet face. The return of his bashfulness.
He gave her his back for the comment while he cleaned his shirt. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her front to his back and kissing his clothed shoulder.
"Do you have work tomorrow?"
No..." His reservations were fully back now.
"Would you stay for good coffee?"
"I'll stay for you." That earned him a peck to the lips.
Ava turned away to change, but Oliver stopped her, sputtering out his request for her stay in her dress. She giggled as the red in his cheeks failed to dissipate.
As she made a pot of coffee. Oliver untucked his shirt and removed the gel from his hair, much to her delight
"Better?"
"Much."
Ava handed him a coffee mug and headed to the couch. She sat by the end where she could tuck her legs underneath her and lean back into some decorative pillows. Oliver joined her, sitting a bit more proper in his seat next to her.
He toyed with the edge of his mug, indecisiveness playing across his face.
Ava said nothing, watching and waiting for him to speak.
Oliver set his mug down without taking a sip and reached over to take hers from her hand to place next to his. He gently took her hand, tugging her over until she was snuggled up to his side. His stoicness confused her as it contrasted to his intimate touches.
He tilted her chin up to capture her lips in a soft kiss. Tamer than before.
"Relax." Ava smiled against his lips, massaging his tense shoulders.
His face remained stoic, however. His touches light against her skin. The only thing that gave him away was his eyes, dark with turmoil.
"I wanted to kiss you too," he whispered.
"I kind of figured." She smiled, biting her lip to stop her laughter.
"And I don't want to mess this up." His fingers swept across her cheek and combed through her hair, barely smiling when he encountered a tangle and Ava helped free his fingers. "We barely know each other."
"That's the point in dating, yeah?"
"I haven't asked you out yet. Not really." Amusement returned the light to his eyes.
"Well, I'm asking you out." Oliver's eyes widened in surprise. "So, will you go out with me?"
After a moment, he chuckled, pulling her in close to kiss her. His arm wrapped tightly around her waist and sat her on his lap. Her hands tangled in his damp hair, enjoying the feel of gel-free hair.
"You ever went mini-golfing before?" He thumbed her bottom lip, a bit distracted.
"I have." Oliver sat back, relaxed against the cushions.
"Wanna go, then? Dinner and putt putt?"
"Sure." He grinned, teeth and all.
His face glowed from his bright smile, eyes crinkling in happiness. He stole her breath so easily it almost wasn't fair.
Then, he leaned down, eyes closing as he kissed her with every intention of leaving her breathless with lips swollen and eyes dark with lust.
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