Chapter 11: Food for Thought
Elijah carried a bunch of shopping bags to the car, raising the boot and placing them in effortlessly. To Elijah's pleasure, Hayley had soon succumbed to the temptations of a shopping spree.
She watched him intently now and he noticed.
"What?" he looked at her suspiciously and she grinned.
"Nothing." She replied elongating the sound.
Elijah raised an eyebrow and Hayley chuckled.
"You just look so oddly domestic." She told him and he smiled. Her head tilted and her lips pursed slightly.
He walked over to her all flawless and intensely hot. She struggled to not swoon. He leaned down and pressed a kiss onto her lips relaxing all her limbs. Her hands found themselves around his waist but suddenly he withdrew, his own firm fingers curling around her waist and holding her back.
She opened her eyes which expressed her disappointment.
"Trust me, it's intolerably difficult to stop." He whispered and she immediately knew he meant every word.
They stood still for a few seconds, frozen in the same position, tension pulsing in the air.
"But we are in a parking lot." He gazed around, pretending as if he was realising this just now.
Hayley laughed.
"Come on, I'm sure you are hungry." He then told her, gesturing towards the car and Hayley's eyes lit up at the thought of food. "How did he know?" she thought slipping to the car.
Elijah shut the door, and walked around to the driver's side.
"What do you wish to have?" he asked.
"Anything." Hayley replied. She was elated by fact she was with him, that was enough.
Elijah frowned at her vague response.
Hayley thought about what she felt like having but found she was too distracted to think.
"Okay, somewhere, that varies, you can choose when we get there." He spoke and she nodded in agreement.
He started up the car and pulled out routing towards a restaurant.
Hayley fiddled with the radio choosing some music she liked. She found she could not stop smiling. The day seemed too good to be true.
As the upbeat but relaxing music played she felt as if she was a fictional character living in a dream world.
"Maybe things can be good." She thought.
Not too long after Elijah pulled up and she realised they had arrived.
She looked at the entrance at her eyes widened.
"This place must charge a fortune." Hayley breathed.
Elijah scolded her with a look.
"I told you not to worry about price." He spoke sternly.
Elijah stepped out of the car handing over his keys to an employee wearing a white tux. They young man started to walk over to Hayley's door though Elijah gently gestured him aside opening the door himself.
Hayley stepped out almost nervously.
"You both deserve the very best." Elijah hummed to her as he guided her to the entrance.
Hayley smiled.
She then looked at the other customers arriving. They all looked so elegant, even if they were dressed casual.
"Elijah, I" Hayley spoke, looking down at her outfit.
Elijah chuckled.
"You look perfect." He reassured her and they stepped inside together as the glass doors slid open.
Another worker dressed the same as the one outside offered his hand and Hayley watched confused.
Elijah peeled of her jacket and handed it over, re-clasping her hand.
Hayley rolled her eyes.
"This way." Elijah spoke, leading her to a table. He pulled back the padded chair and she took a seat.
A waiter handed them a menu.
"Order whatever you like." Elijah instructed her.
Hayley spent a few minutes browsing through the menu before she chose.
"What about you?" Hayley asked, as the waiter disappeared.
"I'm perfectly full." Elijah replied.
He stared at her and she could feel the blood rise to her cheeks.
Not too long after, her meal arrived and she tucked in to Elijah's delight.
"Have we been starving you?" Elijah teased.
It was awfully amusing watching her eat.
His phone buzzed on the table and he lifted to inspect it. It was a text from Rebekah.
We'll be back tomorrow, and just to mention. Klaus is in a strangely good mood, please let us try and not ruin it.
Hayley watched him as he read.
"It's from Rebekah, they'll be back tomorrow" he told her, placing the phone in his pocket. He then gestured towards her plate.
Hayley eventually finished every morsel with no discomfort.
"Would you like dessert?" he asked even though he knew what her answer would be.
Hayley's eyes lit up and Elijah smiled.
The waiter disappeared once again after leaving her a dessert menu.
Hayley's eyes wondered down the list eventually selecting something chocolatey.
She was completely convinced that her daughter would have an intensely sweet tooth.
"What are you thinking?" Elijah asked her curiously as the waiter brought back her dessert insanely fast.
Hayley thought about whether her baby would be a good topic for discussion, she knew the child would remind Elijah of his brother.
"How today has been the best days I have had in a while." She spoke, it was true, nonetheless.
Elijah smiled at her answer.
"I'm glad." He replied.
Hayley finished her treat.
"Shall we?" Elijah asked and she nodded.
Hayley waited in the reception her coat, folded over her arm as Elijah returned after paying.
They both then walked over to the car which awaited them.
The driver passed over the keys to Elijah who handed him a generous tip.
As they took their seats they both felt a pinch of disappointment knowing that they would not be able to do anything like this again after Klaus's return.
Elijah drove ahead stopping at the curb to fix something the driver probably had changed.
As he looked back up they caught each other's eyes.
Elijah reached over and wiped the corner of Hayley's lip which had been slightly dotted with chocolate.
The familiar chemistry grew into the atmosphere, tingly through them.
Elijah tried to regulate his breathing...
Hayley's heart thumped.
She could not help it. She couldn't repress it.
She pressed open her seat belt and shifting forwards in her seat kissed him.
Elijah completely surprised, fell back into his seat as he felt her lips crushing against his.
Soon however, he felt the impulses inside him rise and his hands clutched her eagerly, his lips matching hers. He knew she was worried about going back, about having to hide how they felt. Neither of them wanted that. But they had no choice.
Elijah's gave into the kiss they were both in need of. Stroking her hair and trying to tell her it would be okay. He would feel her anxiety pouring out. The fear of not seeing him.
"Hayley –" Elijah gasped eventually placing her in her seat.
"Thank god, no one had been around." Hayley thought.
Elijah clutched the steering wheel, still breathing heavily and then checked the mirrors beginning to reverse.
"I'm sorry." Hayley breathed, hoping she hadn't gone too far with the impulsiveness.
Elijah cupped the side of her face and she knew instantly that it was okay.
He then spun the wheel and began to drive.