Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 508 -

*Tallon*

Like crystals at the bottom of a deep lake, the woman's eyes drowned out everything around me until she was all I could see. Her long brown hair fell around her face, framing it with a gorgeous curl at the end, and her plush lips were a deep pink, just enough to complement her complexion.

It was unbearably warm where my hand connected around her waist, the heat of her skin seeping through her thin shirt, and I wondered briefly why a beautiful woman such as her would be here on such a cold night in such thin clothing. But the thought passed as soon as it came as I felt a jolt of electricity surge between us, traveling from my bare skin to hers. The hair on my arms lifted and I shivered at the feeling, all of the words I had planned to say evaporating, leaving me speechless.

Everything around us had faded into a blur, leaving only her eyes on mine, the warmth of her skin through her clothing, and god, how easily I could wrap my whole hand around her waist, supporting her. She was so light, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from her.

"I-" She stammered, just as shocked and fascinated as I was. Her voice was so angelic, like bells running on a sunny day. I was starstruck. I didn't even realize I was leaning forward, my eyes flickering to her lips.

Her breath hitched, her eyes looking just as stunned as I was, but I could feel her leaning up as well, moving just the slightest bit toward me until-

"Hey, shut the goddamn door, will you?"

The moment shattered like a baseball flying through a glass window.

I reeled back, my whole body warming up as my cheeks flushed a deep red and I tore my eyes from her to whoever had shouted. One of the tattooists, by the looks of him, had a scowl on his face, staring at us expectantly. "Sorry," I said at the same time as she did.

My gaze whirled back to her in sheer surprise. I could see much of the same expression mirrored in her own, and her cheeks had the slightest hint of a blush on them.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to hold onto you." I coughed in embarrassment, gently letting go of her and the door. It slammed behind me, ringing the bell above and shoving me inside lest I get stuck between it. This only served to push me even closer to her.

She blushed a deep red as I was squished into her. I flushed as I felt her round, perky chest push straight into me. She stepped backward, gently folding her hands around her waist defensively, and shame hit me.

"I didn't mean to do that," I told her, hoping she understood that it was the damn door's fault and not mine. Awkwardly, I stuck both of my hands behind my back, hoping it made me less of a threat in her eyes but the moment I did so, I could feel the glass pane against my hands.

The cold was biting, and all the heat I'd felt from her body disappeared in a flash. I frowned, wishing I could grasp that warmth of hers and bottle it up for myself... take it home and store it for a cold day like today. Or maybe I could just take her with me....

I shook my head, brushing away those dangerous thoughts. Like a seesaw with only one player, that was a very slippery slope, especially since I'd just met the woman, for god's sake. There was no reason to be feeling like this.

But then she smiled and fuck, I was lost again. Her blue eyes glittered under the lights, and there was a sweetness to her that was like a drug pulling me in.

"It's okay," she whispered, her voice so light and airy. "It was my fault. I should've looked where I was going."

"No, it was my fault, I shouldn't have " I began, not able to take my eyes off of her.

Until the same tattooist from before gave a heavy sigh and said, rather loudly, "We get it. It was both of your damn fault. Now are you going to continue making goo-goo eyes at each other or did you want a tat?" My original purpose of coming to this store had completely fled my mind, but despite what I had originally wanted to do... I knew I'd found something more interesting.

"I was just looking," I said casually, then I glanced at her through the corner of my eye. "Unless you were here for one."

She jumped in surprise, eyes wide as she fervently shook her head. "Oh, no. I was just here for my friend-" She paused, a look of confusion on her face, and then turned to the tattooist with a shy, guilty look. Another woman around her age, with blonde hair and a freshly taped-up tattoo, was staring at us with interest. She smiled amicably despite having been forgotten this whole time.

"Oh, that's all right, I was just beginning to think I was invisible is all." She laughed, jumping off of the recliner and heading toward us. "So who's your tall, dark, and handsome, Natalia?" Natalia-such a beautiful name-blushed. "Alina," she protested, trying to remain quiet.

But I only found it adorable at how red her cheeks were.

"He's not my anything. I just accidentally ran into-um....."

She turned to me with a helpless look, eyes wide and pleading.

I was very tempted to tease her, to leave her hanging. I wanted to know how deep that blush of hers could get, how far it could travel down her body. Did it go all the way to her I choked on the thought. "Tallon. My name's Tallon," I told her, avoiding eye contact. "And I'm really sorry about the whole-door issue." I waved vaguely behind me.

"Oh no." She shook her head, beaming up at me with that adorable smile. "You saved me from a really bad fall. I can be such a clutz sometimes, so thank you." She reached out one of her thin and delicate hands, "My name is Natalia." "Unusual name for these parts," I smirked, taking her soft hand in mine, "but beautiful."

"Tallon's not so common, either," she said softly, just low enough that it sent shivers down my spine. "But it's a handsome name... quite fitting, actually."

And while we were absorbed with each other, her friend glanced between us with a knowing smirk and butted in with a rather loud, "And I'm Alina, if you hadn't guessed."

I laughed. "Nice to meet you, Alina, Natalia."

The way her name purred off my tongue was unintentional, but I could tell both women noticed, by the playful roll of Alina's eyes and the adorable blush that spread across Natalia's nose.

The tattooist behind us cleared his throat, giving us a pointed look, and I spotted the opportunity.

"Well, as an apology for running into you, would you mind if I bought you drinks?" I suggested with a calm smile, hoping it didn't come across as creepy.

"No apology needed," Natalia smiled brightly. "But I'll take you up on that offer. Alina?"

Alina side-eyed her friend, a smirk on her lips and she covered her mouth with her hand, flashing her long colorful nails as she pretended to yawn.

"I'm actually kinda tired," she lied, rather badly at that. "I'm gonna check into the hotel. But you two go on. You're the one he bumped into, after all." "I'll make sure she gets back safe then," I told her friend with a grin. "Where are you two staying?"

"Rosewood," the two women answered simultaneously.

I blinked in surprise. "What a coincidence." I grinned. "That's where me and my friend are staying too."

"Wow, really?" Alina faked a surprised gasp, grinning, "Then you make sure she gets back to me safe and sound, all right?"

"Of course," I chuckled and the tattoo artist sent us one last glare as the three of us walked out. Alina went on her separate way, leaving me and Natalia alone.

"This way then," I grinned at the beautiful girl at my side. I took the road to the bar, hyper-aware of her by my side.

"So, you're not from around here?" Natalia asked quietly, looking up at me with those big, beautiful eyes of hers.

"No," I chuckled, "I live in Florence. I'm just here for a vacation."

"I'm the same," she giggled. "I'm actually from America, but I'm studying abroad this semester. We were just doing a bit of last-minute sightseeing before school started." "Oh? Where in America are you from?" I asked with a grin. "Let me guess. California?"

"New York City." She laughed.

"Darn, I was so close." I said, grinning when I got another giggle out of her. "What about your family? They from New York City as well?"

Her smile dimmed a bit as she answered, "No, I don't... really have any family."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay," she reassured me with a smile. "It was a long time ago. I'm more focused on the future than the past."

As we rounded the corner, I spotted the bar we had just frequented and the bartender was outside with a cab. He shut the door, no doubt with Vinny inside.

"Are they closed?" Natalia asked with a small frown.

"Of course not," I lied, turning my gaze to the dark bar room.

The light had just been turned off by the looks of it, with still a faint glow from the neon. As he spotted us coming, he paled.

"I'm sorry, sir, are you closed?" Natalia asked politely to the man, who glanced at me.

I sent him my fiercest glare, just out of her vision, and shook my head slowly. He swallowed, uncomfortably.

"No, the light is just broken." He sighed, looking on the verge of tears.

He led us into the deserted bar, the room spotless from when I'd last been here, and I had to give him props for that. He stepped behind the counter with a desolate look on his face. "What can I get you?"

"Hmm, I'll have a shot of vodka, please," Natalia said with that innocent face of hers.

Both the bartender and I turned to look at her with an incredulous look.

"Really?" I laughed, pleasantly surprised, "Don't women normally order fruity drinks?"

"And don't guys usually order something boring just to sound cool?" she smirked back. "Let me guess. Whiskey on the rocks?"

I glanced at her with wide eyes. That had been exactly what I had ordered before. I'd never thought of myself as predictable.

I took my seat next to her, giving her a mischievous grin as I said, "No." Turning to the bartender, I said, "I'll have a strawberry daiquiri."

She laughed, and I noticed with increasing joy that she had a dimple on the right side of her cheek. I had to stop myself from touching it.

Our drinks came and just as I'd imagined, Natalia was amazing. She was funny and bright and sweet, but she gave just as much as she got, falling into a comfortable routine. But as fun as it was, everything had to end eventually.

I doubled the tip for the bartender, which he looked incredibly exasperated about regardless, and I walked Natalia back to the hotel, constantly talking. She was fascinating on every level, like she was tailor-made for me, and I couldn't stop myself from being drawn deeper into her.

I was a string and she was wrapping me around her fingers faster than I could blink. When we reached the hotel, Natalia gave me a slip of paper, biting her bottom lip with a shy look before she dashed off to her room.

I glanced at the piece of paper, a number written there in loopy handwriting, almost too perfect to be real. Underneath it was, 'Call me-Natalia.'

I headed back to my room in a daze, clutching the paper in my hand like it was a holy grail. By the time I walked back into the room, Vinny was still up.

He glanced at me as I passed through the room, completely and utterly dumbstruck.

"What's wrong with you?" Vinny asked, raising an eyebrow, surprisingly sober considering how he had been acting earlier.

"I just met the most beautiful, amazing woman," I gushed, a stupid grin on my face. I told him everything, spilling every detail about the fateful encounter as I got ready to crash for the night.

Vinny stared at me with a weird look once I was done ranting.

"Isn't she just amazing?" I sighed, leaning back on my bed.

"I guess," Vinny said, but then he added, "I don't want to be the bad guy, but be careful, Tallon. You never know where enemies are lurking, and I don't know, this all seems really coincidental."

I sobered very quickly, thinking about it. He was right in a way. It was odd how things had just unfolded so quickly, but I didn't think she was an enemy.

"I hope not," I said quietly, "because I really like her already. And maybe it's not a coincidence. Maybe it was just meant to be."

"Like fate?" Vinny asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Like fate," I grinned, nodding as the idea cemented itself into my mind. Right. It wasn't a coincidence but an act of fate that had brought us together.

I held onto the rope I called 'fate' as I dangled over the pit called 'love,' I couldn't see the bottom.

I could only hear her sweet voice calling my name as I fell into a deep slumber.