Our True Names [Part 5] [MF] [Slow Burn]

[Part 5: Of Molten Gold]

Samira didn’t expect to hear from him, at least not for several hours. But five minutes after she had sent him the photo she had taken earlier that night, he responded with his own. It was a breathtaking shot of the sun casting its first light on the towering buildings of the city. A second message followed.

*Meet me at Stone & Harrison. 8pm tonight. You won’t regret it.*

Samira was equal parts excited and uneasy. Regret. He could never guarantee that she wouldn’t one day regret whatever this connection between them would lead to. But she wanted to know more. She had to. *Stone & Harrison…* A quick search online informed her that it was a fine dining establishment, lauded for a unique daily menu which utilized specialty imported goods. *Fancy…* Samira’s sense of unease deepened. While she had a great appreciation for beautiful clothing and jewelry, as a student who still lived with her parents, Samira didn’t allow herself to purchase such things, nor did she have the means. After all, what would be the point? Showing up to Biology 323 in Louboutins would hardly garner her any favor with her gleefully acerbic Czech professor. Samira sighed. *What am I supposed to wear to a place like this? How will I pay? I don’t want this to become something else…* She picked up her phone, the thought of cancelling filling her with sadness. *No. I can’t do this again. Not to him. Not to me.*

Though it was still quite early in the morning, Samira called one of her closest friends, Amanda. She had met Amanda during freshman orientation where they had both signed up for a weekend ceramics class. Their friendship grew over mounds of clay and the disturbingly phallic objects Amanda preferred to create. Unlike her other premed friends, Amanda was a breath of fresh air. She still hadn’t declared a major and was truly treating college as an opportunity to explore her interests. Samira, on the other hand, had harbored the dream of becoming a doctor since she was a child. College wasn’t a time for personal discovery, but rather a necessary pathway to her end goal.

“Samira? Is everything okay?”

Samira smiled. Her friend sounded so groggy, no doubt hungover from a night out.

“I’m fine, Amanda. I’m sorry for calling so early… I just really needed to talk to someone.”

“Oh honey… I’m so glad you called me! I felt like you were being distant all week! I wasn’t sure what was going on… What happened?”

Samira sighed. Another difference between herself and Amanda was their experience with men. Amanda was so irreverent and gutsy. Nothing ever stopped her from going after a guy she wanted. Samira never felt that same kind of agency. Instead, the moment any interaction with a guy turned remotely flirtatious, she tended to detach and distance herself.

“Amanda… I met someone.”

“WHAT! YOU MET SOMEONE?! Who?! How? Where? Tell me everything!”

Samira laughed at her friend’s reaction, though she wasn’t entirely surprised. Amanda had made it her personal mission to introduce Samira to every guy she knew, but Samira expertly evaded everyone.

“I’ll tell you everything, I promise. Want to meet for coffee? There’s a cute new place I wanted to try.”

“Drop me a pin. I’ll be there in 30! Samira! I don’t know how you kept this all to yourself for a whole week. See you soon, love!”

Samira sat down on her bed, her phone warm in her hand. Mentioning Alex to someone else made it so much more real.

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“So you two have a date tonight! How exciting!” squealed Amanda, her bright blue eyes sparkling.

“Indeed we do.”

“What are you going to wear? Stone & Harrison is a bit uppity. My brother had his birthday dinner there. It cost a small fortune.”

Samira nodded. “That’s the problem. It’s so expensive. I’m not sure what kind of precedent this would be setting for us. For whatever this is. It’s probably nothing.”

Amanda put down her mug of coffee and looked at her friend with an uncharacteristically stern expression on her face.

“Don’t you do that. Don’t minimize this. You never like ANYONE. Something about him drew you in. You’re going to go tonight and you’re going to have a fabulous time and you’re going let him fuck you senseless.”

“Amanda!” Samira blushed and quickly looked around at the rest of the cafe.

“Sam. The place is empty. We’re the only idiots who woke up early on a Saturday morning and trotted through the snow to get here.”

Samira giggled, amused by her friend’s blunt words.

“Is that… do you think that’s what he wants? To… fuck? ”

“Isn’t it what you want too? Can’t stay a virgin forever. Let’s go to mine. You can raid my closet!” Amanda grinned and stood up, pulling a bright pink hat over her messy blonde curls.

Samira got up slowly, placing her mug carefully on the table. *Virgin.* She had never been ashamed of her lack of experience. At least not until that very moment. He would have expectations. *What if I can’t meet them?* The question would continue to reverberate through her thoughts, even as she and Amanda looked for the perfect outfit together.

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Alex was early. He had tried to slow down, tried to take his mind off their… date. But he was fully dressed and ready to go by 7:15pm. While he always took pride in his appearance, something instilled by his father from a very young age, Alex took particular care to dress well this night. He had put on a freshly pressed white shirt, a deep burgundy tie and a navy suit which fit him perfectly. Earlier that day, he had also polished his dark brown leather shoes, something else his father had taught him to do. There was nothing left but to hope that he had the right words for Samira.

At the restaurant, Alex found himself checking his watch obsessively. The delicate dials informed him that it was 7:58pm. He wondered if she would be on time or if she’d be late, or worse… if she wouldn’t show up at all. Alex shook his head. *No*. *She wouldn’t do that to me. She isn’t like that.* Before another worrisome thought could plague him, Alex saw her enter. He watched her speak to the maitre’d and glance in his direction until finally, *finally* her eyes met his.

He stood up and smiled as she walked towards him. *Fuck. She’s so stunning.*

“Alex,” Samira exhaled slowly. “Hi.”

“Samira. Please, let me take your coat.”

Like last time, he stepped behind her, watching her delicate fingers undo the belt of her ivory coat. He pulled it off her shoulders and turned to hand it over the young man waiting to place it at the coat-check. Alex turned back and breathed in sharply. Samira had pulled a champagne-colored shawl off her shoulders and draped it over one arm while her other hand gently replaced the tendrils which had escaped her beautifully coiffed hair. Her shoulders and much of her back was bare except for a thin line of gold which hung down her spine, drawing the eye down to the curve of her ass. Alex stepped in front of her, desperately needing to see more of the off-the-shoulder gown. The fabric was like molten gold. It pooled at her feet, hinted at the shape of her thighs and pulled in tightly at her waist, fitting snugly over her breasts. He realized that the line of gold down her back was part of a delicate chain which encircled her neck as well. The simple necklace was offset by gold filigree earrings encrusted with tiny pearls. Alex stepped back, suddenly aware that he had been staring at every inch, every curve of Samira’s body for some time. He looked into her eyes and again, he was stunned by her undeniable beauty. She had lined her eyes with black, her thick long lashes accentuating her mesmerizing dark eyes. Her sweet rosy lips were slightly parted and it took everything Alex had to not pull her close and kiss her right there.

Alex cleared his throat, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. His cock had stiffened at the sight of her, at the thought of everything he wanted to do to her. But this was neither the time nor the place.

“Samira. You are…breathtaking.”

He watched the color rise in her cheeks, her dark eyes sparkling. *Fuck. I want her so much.*

“Thank you” she whispered, sitting down at the table.

Alex smiled and pushed the menu towards her.

“I hope you’re hungry. I’ve been here a few times so I know what’s good. I could order for you if you’d like.”

Samira’s brow furrowed for a moment. *He wants to order for me?* She remembered Amanda’s words. Her friend was insistent that she be open to new experiences. Samira smirked to herself. *Maybe if he orders terribly, he’ll be less perfect. Less everything.*

“I’ll take you up on your offer, Alex. Order away.”

Alex grinned. He knew a challenge when he heard one.

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Author’s Note: Let me know your thoughts! :)

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Source: reddit.com/r/eroticliterature/comments/kpzb20/our_true_names_part_5_mf_slow_burn