Chapter 14 A Kiss in the dark
Chapter Fourteen
A Kiss in the dark
Olivia's POV
Before the sun set, drums were sounding loudly throughout the Redcreek grounds. From my window, I observed people busy with everything, all enjoying the festival to the fullest. The Pack Festival is a sight to be seen.
I sat down on my bed and let my mind wander to Ryder as it always does. His face flashed before me - sharp eyes, tempting lips and cute eyebrows. It was like I was what he had been waiting for, for a long time. I imagined his big callused hands, the heat of his body, his voice turned down when he spoke to me alone. My pulse quickened. I could not hold back any longer.
At that moment there was a knock on my door, which brought me back to the present.
Opening the door, a maid came in and greeted me "Princess." She said "Your father wants you to go to the festival." Alpha Tristan is already there."
My stomach twisted. “I’ll come down soon,” I replied.
The maid nodded and left.
Finally, after closing the door, I stayed away from the stairs. Instead, I slipped into a darker dress, which would blend in with the night, and tucked my hair in a loose manner; it wouldn't catch the lights. I waited until the sound inside the hall faded, and slipped through one of the side passages to the outside.
The night air closed around me, cool and sharp, the smell of smoke, food and the familiar smell of my pack. I was close to the edge of the festival, staying in the shadows, my heart pounding with each step I took away from my safety, the safety I was supposed to choose. I said to myself I just want to be free for a moment.
I felt him before I saw him.
The pull hit hard and fast - a rush of heat that made my breath catch. I turned and Ryder was standing near the trees, half concealed by dark branches. His body was relaxed but alert. He looked so hot. His eyes found mine and all else disappeared.
"You shouldn't be here," I said moving closer.
"Neither should you," he said and his voice was low, close enough I felt it on my skin.
I smiled despite myself. “I thought I was careful.”
“You were,” he said. “But I always find you.”
And the space between us vanished. His hand slipped to around my waist, firm and sure, pulling me into the cover of the trees. The noise of the festival was muted and gone, replaced by the sound of our breathing - uneven and close. He looked down at me as if he had held back for too long and then his mouth met mine.
The kiss was hot and messy, there was nothing gentle about it. His lips were urgent on mine, tasting, claiming and I gave him back with all I had been holding back inside. My fingers curled up in his shirt, pulling him closer, needing to feel that he was real, that this was not a dream.
His hands moved over my back, slow and deliberate as if he was memorizing me. I gasped into his mouth when his thumb touched naked skin. The sound made him groan a little and the vibration shot right through me. I kissed him harder, biting his lip and he responded with a sharp inhale and a deeper kiss that made me dizzy.
"Olivia," he breathed my name heavy between us.
I pressed my mouth to his jaw, his neck, feeling his pulse jump under my mouth. His hands were tight, his body reacting without thought, and the air around us was thick, charged like the night itself held its breath. I could feel the degree that he wanted me, how close we both were to forgetting everything else.
A sharp crack echoed nearby.
We froze.
Footsteps pounded their way in the dark close enough for me to hear the scrape of boots against dirt. Tristan's voice was sharp and resentful through the trees. “I know you’re hiding out here.”
My blood went cold.
Ryder was fast, pulling me deeper to the shadows, his arm around me firm, protective. He bent close, his mouth was brushing my ear. “Don’t move.”
I nodded, heart beating so hard it was loud. Tristan appeared, torchlight beaming off his face with his eyes searching the area. His expression was tight, his patience thin and fear clawed up my throat when he took a step closer.
“Princess,” Tristan called. “This isn’t funny.”
I held my breath.
Ryder made a distracting sound, just enough to draw the attention away from us. Tristan turned toward it, cursed under his breath and stalked off in that direction, steps heavy, angry.
I heaved a sigh of relief. Tristan seeing me with Ryder would have turned into a complete chaos.
Silence rushed back in.
Ryder rested his forehead against mine, his breath warm and uneven. "Go," he said, but his hands did not let go.
“I don’t want to,” I whispered.
“I know,” he said. “Neither do I.”
He kissed me again, slowly, like he was pouring all of the words he couldn't say into that one moment. I returned the kiss, my hands slipping under his jacket, feeling his muscles and heat, craving more, always more. His fingers followed my jaw, my neck, my collarbone and a spark went through me every time he touched me.
I moaned into his mouth, enjoying every bit of the kiss. I just didn't want it to stop.
We only pulled apart when the festival noise came on again.
His eyes were full of affection as he planted a kiss on my forehead and said, "I'll be coming for you. I promise.”
I nodded, taking a step back, pushing my legs to the light. I didn't look back until I came to the edge of the crowd, with my lips still burning, with my body alive with him, knowing this secret could not be hidden forever.