Brayden’s leg bounced furiously. He had definitely done too much. Undeniably too much. He sat on the corner of his new couch and glanced around the room franticly. Too many roses, too many petals, too many candles. The music was too loud – No it was too quiet. He felt the intense urge to rip his hands through his hair, but he couldn’t mess that up too. His shirt was too pressed, not a wrinkle in sight. A tie, he was wearing a tie. Never in all his life had he ever been so nervous. It was insane, he was going insane and Lillian would be able to tell in a second. Brayden triple checked that he had blown out all the candles, cursing himself for lighting them to check “the vibe”. He couldn’t change his mind now. He had to leave to pick Lillian up for their reservation. With a grimace and a sigh, Brayden shut the apartment door behind him.

It had been so long since Brayden had been in love. He couldn’t remember ever feeling this nervous, even when he lost his virginity, and he’d still been finger shaking, lip trembling nervous then. Brayden supposed he’d never exactly had the liquid to be so, romantic? In the past. This was a brand new type of vulnerable. Tapping his forehead against the steering wheel of his truck he berated himself for being so overwhelmingly stupid. Gathering his nerve up, Brayden forced himself out of the truck and up to Lillian’s front door. Knocking twice swiftly before letting himself in.

“Yo.” Alex nodded at him passing into the kitchen. He stopped and did a double take. “Are you wear a tie? And dress pants.” Humour dancing in his eyes.

Brayden just looked at him imploringly, he could feel the panicked lines on his brow. He felt like he was going to sweat right through his shirt. Alex clocked his panic quickly and grinned wider.

“What are you so worried about man? That Lily won’t like you? I don’t know if you know this but she’s in love with you. Moron.”

Brayden could literally not form words. His mouth opened and closed a few times, but nothing would come out. Coherent thought was well beyond his reach. Alex made a drastic decision next.

“Alright.” He said mostly to himself. He marched over to wear Brayden stood kind of stupidly in the doorway. “You have another 5 seconds to snap out of it before I smack the shit out of you.”

When Brayden didn’t answer, just stared at him wide eyed, Alex shrugged his shoulders and grabbed Brayden’s arms shaking him roughly for a moment. Alex tapped Brayden’s face a little roughly a few times, when Brayden finally stopped looking so glazed over.

“Dude?” Alec muttered.

“Yes?” Brayden whispered back finally looking at Alex instead of through him.

“Calm the fuck down. Lily is still Lily. Whatever over the top bullshit you’re freaking out about right now she’s going to love, she’s weird and girly like that. I mean, you’re wearing a tie for fucks sake. She going to be drooling all over you.” Brayden nodded along slowly. “That’s right, stand up straight. She’ll be coming up those stairs any minute now. You’re being beyond ridiculous right now.” Alex said tapping Brayden’s cheek once more for effect and propping him upright.

“What if one day she doesn’t love me anymore.”

A dark part Brayden had forgotten about in his chest whispered.

“Dude. As long as you don’t stop loving her, and showing up for her, she won’t go anywhere. Trust me.” Alex looked directly in Brayden’s eyes.

Brayden didn’t realize he’d said that out loud.

“Stop freaking out.” Alex demanded.

“Alright. I’m okay.” Brayden huffed. He came back to himself, squared his shoulders, shook out his arms and nodded at Alex. “Whatever you do, do not tell Lily about that.” Brayden implored.

“I’ll save it for the wedding.” Alex shrugged.

Brayden groaned but finally started to relax. He was being ridiculous. It wasn’t even the first date he’d taken Lillian on anyway. He was being unhinged.

“Good, because I can hear her coming up the stairs.” Alex whispered before disappearing down the hallway and out of sight.

She came around the corner in a rush. “I’m so sorry. I’m running late I couldn’t figure out what to wear. You said formal and honestly, I -”"You look stunning.” Brayden whispered.

And she did. The red dress fell to just above her ankles. Strappy silvery heels glittered on her feet, blood red toes yet again. The square neckline and corset style top making her chest sit high, shoulders back, thin straps over them. Brayden thought she was glittering slightly. Her hair curled loosely down her back, tucked behind one ear. And if she wasn’t beautiful enough a blush starting in her chest started to rise into her cheeks. She smiled prettily at him. Brayden couldn’t really help it. He took the last few steps towards her, pulling her lips towards his.

“You’re going to mess up my lipstick.” Lillian warned, pulling back slightly.

Brayden hesitated for one second. “Fuck your lipstick.” He rumbled closing the distance between them. He could taste the lipstick on her, feel it on his lips. In his best effort he tried not to smear it on her face too much. “You’re so beautiful Ann.” He whispered against her lips before pulling away, panting lightly, to press their foreheads together and look into her eyes. “And I’m very sorry about the lipstick.” He murmured, brushing a red smudge off her lower lip.

“Its fine.” Lillian breathed back, dazed.

“You have a little time to fix it.” Brayden whispered letting her go. Lillian floated to the closest mirror assessing the damage and repairing it.

She turned towards him, gesturing him over with evil little smile. Turning towards the mirror Brayden found his own mouth slightly reddened. A smear of her lipstick over his lips.

“Damn.” He muttered trying to push it off with his thumb.

“Well, if it isn’t the consequences of our actions.” Lillian grinned. She grabbed his tie, pulling his face down to her level.

Brayden grinned at her, letting her drag him down. God if she kept grabbing his tie like that, he might have a problem.

“You look very… You look really nice too.” Lillian whispered as she cleaned up his face.

A few swipes of something cold and wet she’d pulled out of her bag and the red had disappeared. Brayden grinned smuggly back before grabbing her hand and pulling her out the door. His nerves from earlier floated away as he was helping Lillian into the truck. Alex had been right. He had nothing to worry about.

“Brayden!” Lillian yell-whispered at him as they approached the restaurant. “THAT is the Fairmont.” Her panic rising. “The QUEEN stays at the Fairmont.”

“Why do you think I said formal? Can’t have you dining with the Queen in a miniskirt.”

“Ben!” Lillian hissed.

“The Queen isn’t currently staying here, is she? No. I have made us a reservation; you look the part. Don’t worry. You’re gorgeous, so when people stare it’s not because they think you don’t belong here. I swear.”

Lillian squared her shoulders back. “I do, at least, look the part.” She said with a nod, taking Brayden’s arm and letting him lead her inside.

“I am really glad I didn’t plant that kiss on your neck in the car.” She muttered as they crossed into the foyer.

“What? Why? We still have time.” Brayden cocked his head confused.

“I wanted to leave a lipstick stain on your neck, I thought we were just over dressed for The Keg and it wouldn’t matter.”

“Well, I think you might have made the right call this time.” Wobbling his head slightly side to side. “Usually, I’d be all for slutty shenanigans but that maître de looks like he’s 100% business.” Brayden replied barely more than a breath as they approached the scary man.

“For Pine.” Brayden smiled at the man.

“Bienvenue, thank you for joining us tonight, monsieur, mademoiselle. Claire will be your waitress this evening, if you’d please follow her to your table, et bonne soiree.” The man bowed.

“Merci beaucoup.” Brayden and Lillian chimed back before hurrying after Claire.

“He spoke French.” Lillian whispered.

“He spoke French.” Brayden confirmed, grinning down at Lillian tucked into his arm.

After settling into their seats and ordering their dinner Brayden grinned widely at Lillian over her wine glass. A red lip stain on the glass where it had touched her lips.

She eyed him suspiciously. “What?”

“I have something for you.” Brayden smiled, placing and pushing soft blue velvet box across the table. “I know I gave you something on Saturday, but let’s be honest that’s really more for me.” He winked. Brayden had given her a lingerie set and had told her to wear it tonight. He could just see the red lace poking out of the top if her dress. “We couldn’t have dinner on the 14 th because I was working, and you let me have our dinner today, this is just a thank you.” Brayden smirked at her, sipping his own wine.

Lillian eyed him some more before pulling the box towards her and pulling the lid open. Inside was a dainty gold chain with a small flower in the centre, each petal its own diamond. Lillian gasped and looked up at Brayden tearily.

“I know you wear silver, I know. But you’ve been talking about trying gold and maybe switching so I thought I’d get you something to jump start your collection.” Brayden crooned across the table.

“Ben, its beautiful. You shouldn’t have. Thank you.” Lillian answered faintly.

“Can I help you put it on?”

“Please.” She nodded.

Brayden stood gracefully from his seat, walking around the table, taking the necklace and securing it behind her. He left a gently kiss on the slope of her neck before whispering in her ear.

“Any chance you’re thinking of me fingering you under this table like we talked about last time?” Brayden watched the blood flush her skin from her chest all the way up her neck.

“Me too.” He whispered, kissing behind her ear swiftly before retreating to his side of the table.

Before he could even finish settling in, he felt Lillian’s bare foot travelling up his leg. He jumped lightly before his brain focused in on the feeling of her foot travelling up and down his leg.

“Punishment.” Was all she said at the look he gave her.

Brayden held back what felt eerily like a whimper and focused back on the glass of wine in front of him. He just nodded with a cocked eyebrow at Lillian smiling.

“After the lovely presents I’ve gotten you.” He replied.

Lillian shrugged and continued. Eventually they fell back into easy conversation.

By the end of dinner, Lillian’s shoeless foot was tucked under her, her dress flowing and draping around her and the chair. They were laughing and chatting freely. The glow of two glasses of wine surrounded Lillian. Brayden leaned across the table to feed her the last bite of his chocolate cake. Brayden wasn’t sure exactly how she did it, but she made eating off his fork look ridiculously seductive and if she was trying to seduce him, it was working. He’d been rocking something fierce since she’d slid her foot up his pant leg. If he didn’t have explicit plans on sleeping with her already, he would’ve been working in overdrive trying to figure out how he was going to get her in his bed.