Chapter 18 Not Just An Escape
The night air was cold, biting at my skin, a deep contrast to the warmth of the ballroom. I shivered as my gown flowed with wind, the slit flapping against my leg.
Without a word, Barth covered my exposed shoulders with his white tuxedo jacket. I inhaled a breath, feeling the warmth and his intoxicating scent on the jacket.
“Where are we going, Barth?” I whispered, my breath hitching as he led me towards a building at the edge of the estate which I had never knew existed up unto now.
“Some place where I don’t feel the need to pretend and you wouldn’t have to as well,” he muttered. He slowly opened the door, the moonlight shining through the window but I still couldn’t make sense of the inside of the building until he turned on the lights.
I felt blinded by the lights and it took me few seconds to get my eyes adjusted to it as I stared around. The room smelled of expensive leather. There was gym equipment lying around as well as his hockey gear.
It was silent here, the party music was only a faint hum in the distance.
“You have a private gym?” I said with a chuckle as he turned to face me, his eyes were dark and unreadable and it gave me the chills.
“Of course. I’m expected to be the best so I have to train every day and besides you, no one else has been here.”
My mouth formed an “oh”. I didn’t know how to feel about that. Knowing that no one else has been here apart from me made me feel somewhat… special.
His breathing became haggard as we stared at each other. Slowly, he raised his hand, his thumb grazing my cheek and I closed my eyes feeling the irresistible force pulling me towards him ever so fully.
“You look… incredible tonight, Yvonne. I meant what I said earlier. You are killing me…”
I opened my eyes and stepped closer, gulping down hard as the jacket slid down one shoulder. “You are the one who said we have to stay away. You told me you were ruined.”
“I am,” he rasped, his other hand found my waist, pulling me against him and my cheeks flushed red. His touch was electric making me sigh with longing. “But tonight, I don’t care about the rules.”
He leaned down, his lips grazing the sensitive part of my neck, sending a jolt of pure fire through my veins. I closed my eyes relishing in the pleasure as his mouth worked from my neck down to my shoulders.
One of his hands slid down, his fingers finding the high slit of my dress. I let out a soft gasp as he brushed them against my bare hip, his touch was both gentle and desperate.
I leaned into him, my hands tangling in his dark hair, pulling him closer. The world outside seemed to have disappeared. There was only the sound of our breathing and the faint sounds of his lips placing kisses on my body.
He moved his lips to mine, a hungry and demanding kiss that tasted a mixture of both wine and whiskey. This time, none of us were holding back.
I could feel it all.
The tension.
The emotions.
His tongue worked in every place in my mouth and danced with mine and I moaned into the kiss as he deepened it even more, sucking on my lower lip.
His hands moved higher up my thigh, his touch becoming possessive.
My heart hammered against my ribs. I wanted this. I wanted him. All of him. Even the ruined parts. At this point, I didn’t care about anyone or anything anymore. But as his hand moved towards the zipper at my back, I suddenly pulled away.
My breathing haggard as I stared into his eyes which were filled with lust and longing for me and I shook my head.
This isn’t what I truly wanted.
I wanted him.
But not like this…
But he didn’t get the message. He leaned in again to dip his head to the hollow of my throat and I pressed my palm against his chest.
“Barth… please stop…” I pleaded with a soft voice.
He froze, his forehead resting against mine, his chest heaving. “What? Is it too much?”
“No,” I shook my head, whispering as I stepped out of his reach, clutching his jacket around me. “It’s not enough. This isn’t how I want it to be, Barth. You don’t get this version of me yet, not until you are ready to show me the real you. The one without the violence and the lies…”
I turned towards the door, avoiding his gaze, my heart breaking even as I stood my ground.
“Goodnight, Barth. Merry Christmas.”