Black
It wasn't impulse, it was everything I'd been holding back since last night. My skin burned so hot I felt like I was burning from the sensations she was producing in me.
For a moment, I thought she was going to hit me or pull away, but I didn't give up until she responded.
When her arms wrapped around my neck, I released some of the pressure I had on hers, finally letting go and holding onto her waist.
Her lips were the best I'd experienced in years. My hands moved down to her thighs to lift her up and wrap her legs around my waist. I walked over to lean her against one of the trees. Her heartbeat kept pace with mine, so fast, so strong.
An electric shock ran through us when her teeth bit my lower lip, causing her to let out soft moans.
We separated in search of oxygen. Her eyes remained dilated. Again, my hand wrapped around her neck to make her stare at me.
"Listen carefully," I said between gasps of air. "No one but me can touch you like this. Do you understand?"
Her eyes sparkled with bewilderment.
"You can't impose anything, nor can you say you can't do it one day and kiss me like an animal the next." Her hand wound around my hair, giving it a gentle tug. "I'm not your toy."
The last words came out through her teeth; I was hurt, and I deserved to be rejected outright.
"You're not, you never will be."
"What guarantees me that tomorrow you won't change your mind and go back to thinking it's not right?"
"I won't. She cut my hair first. I'm here, and no one will take me away from you. Not even me. If this is my chance, I won't waste it."
With the hand she still held in my hair, she pulled me toward her, pressing her lips lightly against mine.
"Are we together?" I asked when her lips left mine.
"We're together." She patted my shoulder lightly with her hand. "Can you put me down now?"
I gently lowered her, watching her movements. She stepped away from me to pick up her sword.
"I take it we won't be training?"
"I take it you won't tell me who that was last night?" She rolled her eyes in obvious annoyance. "No, don't do that."
"Do what?"
"That's it, roll your eyes. Don't do that."
She did it. She rolled her eyes as soon as she finished saying it. In two long strides, I reached her, colliding with my lips even more savagely. Something
incomprehensible came from her lips; I was devouring her the only way a man should devour a woman. With my hands on her shoulders, I separated us and held her in place so she would give me the attention I required.
"Now do you understand?"
Her gray eyes darkened, resembling pits from how dilated they were. She nodded slightly, licking her lips.
"Let's go home."
We began walking back in silence. She was no longer trailing behind me, but keeping pace with me, at my side.
I know there's no undoing what I've done and that we'll have problems when she finds out about my father, but I can't let her think that man is someone important to me. I just want to protect her and keep her as far away from him as possible.
I was about to lose myself in my thoughts when her voice brought me back.
"He's my manager. We're friends too."
I didn't need to ask to know who she meant.
"Because I'd never seen him before?"
"Before they knew they'd found me, they were always watching me?"
"Answering questions with questions." No, not always.
"We don't always see each other. He returned from his three-month trip last night. I've known him since I was a child. Sometimes we go out to eat or to parties."
"And you always let him kiss you so close to your mouth?"
I saw her about to roll her eyes, but instead she sighed.
"No, and before you ask, does he have feelings for me beyond friendship?"
"Don't tell me," I said sarcastically. "By the way, when are we going to your mother's? We still owe her dinner, and I've never broken my word."
"Do you really want to go?"
"We want to go. Heclares will come too."
"We can plan a dinner tonight. I have to talk to Mom about it, but I'm sure it won't be a problem." I remained silent for a second. "That way I could get a picture of us."
I raised an eyebrow at that last bit.
"Alessandro came to take charge of denying the relationship rumors." Instead, I said a picture on my profile would be enough for confirmation. The last bit came out in a whisper.
"So... you're using me."
He burst out laughing, filling my chest. It was the first time he'd laughed like that around me.
"No. You have to give me your phone number so I can confirm dinner." He paused for a second, as if reconsidering something. "Do you have a phone?"
"I do."
When my lips smiled at him at the end of the walk, I could see how screwed I was becoming because of this girl.
~°°~
"Would you hurry up?"
"I'm coming, all I need are the shoes."
Heclares was running around in his room, moving around looking for something to wear. He was late because of a nap that stretched into three hours.
I went down to the living room to give him some space and make him feel a little pressured.
Milosh was resting his feet on the coffee table, the TV on, watching who knows who.
"Are you sure you don't want to go?"
His eyes flicked up from the TV when he heard my voice.
"No, I'm fine here."
"Nothing strange has happened these past few days? You see, the soul-eaters were released. Why didn't you mention it?"
I couldn't help but ask. When he arrived, he told us a lot about Noctisvael, but this one slipped out. He didn't warn us that those creatures were released."
"Because I didn't know," he shrugged. "Madam Isabella has done nothing but go from home to work. I've been in charge of making sure nothing happens to her, just like you asked."
"Shall we go?" asked Heclares, who had come downstairs and was waiting by the door.
I resumed my walk to the exit, finding the Mercedes she owned.
"We need to sort out my car."
"And while that's happening, I'll do the honors," she said, tossing me the key, which I caught in the air.
The entrance to Annia's house looked majestic amidst so many lights, despite its rustic structure.
We got out of the car to let the few schoolchildren who were at the entrance get in. The entrance opened before I rang the bell, revealing a pair of girls.
Both were dressed casually but elegantly. Lucía approached Heclares, signaling for him to follow her. They were both smiling and whispering as they disappeared through a door.
The girl in front of me was nervous; I could see it. With small steps, she approached until she placed a kiss on the corner of my mouth, a gesture that brought a smile to my face.
"Do you know she'll ask you a lot of questions?"
"I know. It's okay, relax." So... Where is she?
"In the kitchen, helping Genoveva make sure everything's perfect."
"Will you let me in or leave me here all night?"
Her cheeks turned red.
"Oh, I'm sorry." She took my arm to follow her, but her nerves were so pronounced that I stopped halfway. "What's bothering you? Why are you so nervous?"
Her eyes searched for something, or was she avoiding me? I wasn't sure.
"It's just that we have another guest."
"It's okay." My hand ran down her arms, gently caressing her. "It's just dinner."
"I don't want things to get awkward."
"Dinner is served."
A deep, completely unfamiliar voice said. My eyes went over Annia's head, meeting the manager-friend who was giving kisses. He scanned me up and down, not hiding his annoyance.
The feeling of Annia's hands squeezing mine, which I had inadvertently let go of, brought my attention back to her, where she whispered, "I'm sorry."
This was definitely going to be a long night.