Page 47 of Into The Light

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Emilia. I hear a happy birthday is in order?”

“Wow, I can’t believe you came here just to do my hair. And yes, thank you. It’s my birthday. Thirty today.”

“Dirty thirty,” Mark said with a smile.

Rocko strode around me, flipping through my waves of dull-colored hair. “Tell me, what color would you like?”

“Well, I normally go for a little deeper color than my natural mousey brown. But why don’t you just color my hair however you think it will look best. You’re the expert, right?”

“Oh, be still my heart!” Rocko clutched his chest and glanced to Mark. “Free reign? I should only charge you half... but I won’t, of course.”

“Of course,” Mark joked back. “Now, get to work on my girl.”

It took a few hours for Rocko to complete the coloring. With no mirror and Mark refusing to give me a hint, I could only wonder what I would look like when I saw my reflection. Rocko finished with the large barrel iron and I saw a glimpse of the deep shades of auburn and a rich ebony brown twirled at the tips of my hair.

“Now can I see?” I begged when they stepped back and admired me side by side.

“You have one more treat. Delia!” Mark shouted.

A leggy blonde strode into the room, a big duffle bag dangling from her arm.

“Emilia, meet Delia. She’s here to do your makeup.”

“She’s doing my makeup?” Another thing I’d never experienced. Though I appreciated the thought, I wondered for what purpose. Once they left only Mark and Aiden would see me.

Aiden.

The kiss.

Oh, my God.

It flashed through my head for the umpteenth time that day. After an entire day being pampered, darkness threatened to return, and with it my awkward reunion with Aiden. Seeing him again meant he’d latch those beautiful lips onto my neck and drink my blood. And I’d have to fight the euphoric feelings that would inflame my already burning desire to kiss him again. Nothing but pure torture awaited me after he awoke. Happy birthday to me.

Delia made quick work of my face. Mark instructed her to keep my natural beauty but to just accentuate my eyes and lips. She put the last touches on my face, then stepped back to examine her work.

“Perfect,” Mark said while he rubbed her back. “She looks perfect.”

“Can I see now?” I asked, nerves and excitement bubbling inside my belly.

“Almost.” Mark held up a finger. “Just one more thing. Thank you everyone! Please escort yourselves out. We appreciate you being here!”

I thanked them as they left, then Mark led me up the stairs to my room where he’d laid out a beautiful dress on the bed. Black lace covered the bodice which blended into the white skirt blooming below it. A pair of black strappy pumps sat balanced beside it.

“Mark,” I gasped and hurried to touch it. “It’s beautiful.” The soft fabric felt heavenly on my fingertips.

“Go ahead. Put it on. When you’re all done, we’ll do the big reveal.”

He turned his back and I slid my robe to the ground. It was a bit awkward standing naked in a room with Mark, but I knew he wouldn’t peek. I pulled the dress over my head and tugged it down past my hips.

“Mark? Can you zip me up?”

He turned around and tugged on the zipper. The black lace bodice hugged every curve like a second skin, and the fabric fell off my shoulders, leaving them bare. The white satin folded into large, soft pleats around my hips and fell to just below my knees.

“The shoes. And then you’re nothing short of perfection.”

He didn’t need to tell me twice. I pulled the black Louboutin’s onto my feet and secured the silver buckle at my ankle. I stuck my feet out to admire them. Black leather crisscrossed its way around my feet coming to a stop just above my ankle. My red nail polish popped from the open toe and matched the bottom of the shoes to perfection.

“Those are the Malefissima. They are pure shoe perfection.” Mark placed his hand over his heart while we both stared at them in awe. “Come.”