Tia POV

I have thirty minutes before I am to meet with Zavala.

"You look very pretty Tia." Lazarus complements as he twirls around my mirror.

"Thanks, Laz." I glance at him and then turn back to the mirror. "I really want to try and look nice tonight."

I apply a light smear of clear gloss on my lips and rub my lips together to even it out. After my hair is braided I turn to the dress hanging on my room divider. It really is beautiful, and I am fairly certain that no one would guess that it started out as a t-shirt.

I appraise the new style. It is cut and sewn to hug every curve of my body perfectly. Hatti also took advantage of the ripped front to make a plunging neckline that she took fabric from other sections of the shirt to make three bands from my midsection to my bust. She also managed to make open shoulder cap sleeves. I couldn't be happier with the end result. The only thing that could possibly make it better is the look on Zavala's face when he sees me in it.

I slip the dress on quickly; taking care not to rip it anywhere. That done I put in my silver stud earrings, strap on the shoes Hatti loaned to me, and strut out the door.

I recall Ikora once stating that Zavala has a sweet tooth so I make one stop in route to his apartment to pick up a box of chocolates for us to share.

I can not help the smile that is glued to my face right now. I am really excited about tonight.

As I walk I receive catcalls and wolf whistles from other people as I pass; the most shocking being from Jotun and Sentinel who looked to be in the middle of a strategy game. I blow a kiss to my friends and continue on my way.

I arrive in front of the lift that will take me up to Zavala's floor and press the call button when I hear someone clear their throat behind me. I glance over my shoulder and see the man I have been looking forward to seeing standing behind me wearing a dark blue dress shirt with the first few buttons undone and smart black pants and belt.

He looks scrumptious.

I feel my face and lower belly heat at the sight of him.

"Good evening Tia." He rasps.

"It is a good evening indeed Zavala." I grin.

"Are you going up?" I tease with a wink.

Zavala chuckles takes my hand and kisses my wrist before responding "Absolutely."

The bell dings signaling the lifts arrival. Zavala hooks my arm through his own so my hand rests on his forearm. He leads us into the lift and presses the button for his floor.

"You look radiant my sweet." he rumbles while also devouring me with his eyes.

"You also look rather wonderful tonight," I respond as I trace my fingers down the line of buttons on the front of his shirt.

He captures my hand and entwines our fingers while simultaneously moving me back until my back presses against the wall of the lift.

I feel the fire of passion lite in me once more as he leans down to kiss me and I meet his kiss with vigor. My arm, that I am holding our chocolates with, gets thrown over his shoulder and his free hand grips my buttocks rising me off the floor when he presses our bodies closer together.

This man could stop time with his kisses.

Unfortunately, our rendezvous is cut short when we feel the lift slow. We correct ourselves and each other before the doors to the lift opens.

Zavala takes my hand and leads me the rest of the way to his door. He unlocks the door quickly and pulls me in shutting the door and pressing me against it continuing our heated kiss from the elevator. His kisses are addicting.

He lifts me up by my upper thighs and I wrap my legs around his hips effectively pressing us closer together. Zavala pushes us away from the wall and begins walking into the room with me latched to his front and our lips fused together.

My back hits cushy soft pillows and Zavala creates a path of kisses over my throat drawing a sigh of bliss from me.

My hands find their way inside of Zavala's shirt and I trail my nails along his sides to his ribs and then to the waistband of his pants. I trace the skin at the edge of his pants and he recaptures my lips pulling my hands away, pinning them above my head, and pressing his hips into my own.

He is completely responsible for the high pitched moan that escapes me from the friction between us.

He grinds his hardening bulge against my aching core.

We are wearing entirely too many clothes.

I begin to unbutton the front of Zavala's dark shirt with one hand and reach for his belt with the other. Our eyes meet again and we are both of the same mindset.

Lips clash once again in a heated battle but before I am able to unlatch his belt our moment is interrupted by a bell chiming in his kitchen.

He presses our foreheads together and smiles the cutest cheesiest smile which makes me smile because in that moment he shows his adorable side.

My stomach growls loudly when I get a whiff of the wonderful smells wafting from his kitchen area, causing us both to laugh and pull ourselves away from one another.

I follow him into his kitchen and sit on a stool he indicated situated at a tall table that is set for two.

"Is there anything I can help you with," I ask watching him stoop to remove a small dish from his oven.

He looks over his shoulder and allows his gaze to roam my body from head to toe and shaking his head. He turns away and points at his refrigerator, "If you could bring the bowl of capese and bottle of wine to the table, I will bring the wine glasses and main course momentarily."

I purposely walk behind him to get to his refrigerator so as to drag my nails down the middle of his back. He growls but otherwise doesn't take his attention away from what he is doing. I grab the bowl and bottle of wine and walk back to the table. "Everything smells so delicious." I compliment and retake my place at the table. I move the box of chocolates to the end of the table.

"I am glad you approve." he places the dish between our plates. "Nova and I found some recipes in a data cash while exploring other continents; this is my favorite so far," he informs me. He opens the bottle of wine and fills our glasses. "This is a wildberry wine that I also make myself." he takes a sip and continues, "The only other ones who have tasted my wine are Ikora, Lord Saladin, and the Speaker; I do hope you like it."

I take a small sip from my glass to taste and then a slightly larger sip because I enjoy the sweetness. "This is wonderful thank you," I confirm. He smiles sweetly and I help him dish up the food.

"This smells even better now that it is on my plate," I comment and then I realize that I don't know what it is called so I ask.

Zavala chuckles, "It's called lasagna. It was very popular in Italy." He takes a bite and I do as well. I hum in appreciation and close my eyes. It is like a maelstrom of flavor! The creaminess of cheeses and sauce combined with the spice of the meat and tender pasta.

I am experiencing heaven in the form of food.

I open my eyes to see that Zavala has that look about him again. The one he had the day before in Hatti's apartment. I feel like I am about to become his dinner or better yet desert.

I clear my throat as my face heats up, "The lasagna tastes heavenly, thank you for choosing to cook it tonight." I praise with a blush and lift my glass to have another sip of wine.

We get through the rest of our meal with light small talk about the different foods we have both tried that we have liked and disliked and our experiences with our fireteams.

An hour or so later...

"... and when Cayde turned back to check on Amanda she had a bug in her mouth!" I laugh aloud as Zavala relates a story from Amanda's childhood. "Ikora thought Cayde was gonna have kittens with how he flipped out." We chuckled together and he continues wistfully, "He did a good job raising her, he made sure she had a good head on her shoulders." The pride in his voice makes me smile warmly at him and when he looks back up I cover his hand with my own.

I pull the box of chocolates between us and he stands to take my hand in his own as we move to his living room. He sits on the floor in front of his couch and pulls me into his lap.

He kisses my cheek and then opens the box of chocolates.

This is by far the best date I have ever had.

I smile and then steal the piece of chocolate he is about to eat. Laughing I kiss his lips and then feed him a piece of chocolate. He captures my thumb and forefinger into his mouth sucking away the melted chocolate and then recaptures my lips with his own.

Definitely my best date ever.