Chapter 12
Act II, Scene IV: Padua Heights, Finsbury Park
Titan
K alina disappeared in a flash of gold.
I turned her down like an idiot. What was I thinking?
Groaning, I rubbed a palm over my face. I couldn’t leave things this way? It wasn’t fair to her, but she never gave me a chance to explain myself. To tell her she deserved more than a practice fuck.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and thought about what I could say.
Kalina…|
21:10
No, she’d panic.
Kalina, I’m sorry. Can we talk? |
21.11
That made it seem like she was at fault. Nothing was going to work over text. I stared at my screen for ages as I tried figuring out my next move.
I could call her. I dialled her number and as soon as it rang, an echo came from the changing room.
‘Shit.’ I dropped the call and hurried over to it. She wasn’t going to miss the lehenga, or the clothes she’d come in, but she’d need her phone.
And I needed to see her. I needed to make this right.
I turned all the lights off, yanked on my boots, grabbed my jacket and helmet at the door, and rushed out. I had no idea what I was going to say when I showed up, but it would come to me.
All the traffic lights were red, the people on the road were manic, and it was pissing with rain. What would usually take twenty-odd minutes took closer to thirty-five.
When I finally pulled up outside the house, the front door was ajar, and my heart sped up. I sprinted across the pavement, skipped all three steps, and shoved the door, a little harder than intended, and it bounded off the skirting with a loud bang.
A small scream sounded from Kalina’s room followed by some cursing.
‘Kalina?’ I dropped my helmet and rushed toward her open bedroom door.
She appeared in the doorway, the gold dress fluttering around her. ‘Titan? What are you—’
‘The door was open, are you okay?’ I reached out to cup her arms, and scanned her face for any sign saying otherwise.
‘Shit.’ She shook her head. ‘It didn’t swing shut when I came in.’
‘How long have you been home?’ It couldn’t have been too long if she was still dressed.
I looked down the passage. Nothing seemed off.
‘A few minutes.’
My gaze was still fixed on the darkness at the end of the house ‘Is Scarlet here?’
She shook her head and I released my breath.
‘Give me one second.’ I’d hoped she’d forgive me as I didn’t comply with her no shoes rule and stomped down the passage and turned all the lights on in the kitchen, lounge, and Scarlet’s room. Everything seemed okay.
They were okay.
I undid my jacket and dropped it beside my helmet near the door. I took in Kalina’s appearance fully. From her pink cheeks to the rise and fall of her chest. Her hair fell down the front of her shoulders and over the bodice of the dress. She looked like a fairy and under the dim entryway lights, her eyes shone a honey colour.
Okay, but remember why you came here .
‘I’m glad you’re okay but, we’re probably going to have to talk about security and safety,’ I said. ‘But first, we need to talk about what happened.’
Her cheeks deepened to a crimson shade. ‘We really don’t need to. I wasn’t thinking straight. Maybe I’m dehydrated. The studio lights were warm. You don’t need to respond to what I said.’
I turned to shut the front door then stepped toward her. ‘You don’t want me to explain why?’
‘No, I think you made it clear you don’t think of me that way.’
I groaned and brushed my hand through my hair in frustration. ‘Really? That’s what you think?’
She crossed her arms over her chest. She was not backing down. ‘Titan, you don’t have to be on when we’re alone. Can we forget this happened?’
‘I’m not going to forget it, and I’m not going to leave until you understand I hesitated because you deserve more.’ I took another step toward her. ‘You deserve everything and not a practice session.’
I took another step and she backed up into the wall and yelped. Her hand tightened against her chest and a small humming sound started.
‘Shit,’ she cursed and her eyes went wide. I looked down at her clasped hand at the bright pink peeking through her fingers.
Every sane and rational thought I’d had on the way over disappeared. I smiled as she opened her hand and fiddled with the buttons on what I could now see was a bullet vibrator.
She looked about ready to disappear into the floor as she squeezed her eyes shut.
‘You couldn’t even wait for a response…’ I was trying to hide my elation. ‘How worked up were you, Kalina?’
She scoffed. ‘I was not worked up. I came to the realisation that this had less complications.’
I clutched my chest. ‘Ouch.’
‘I don’t want to talk about this. You said you didn’t want to—’
I closed the distance between us. ‘I didn’t say I didn’t want to. I said you deserve more.’
Her throat worked as she swallowed hard. ‘What if this was all I wanted right now? I didn’t ask to date you.’
‘Things would never be the same if I kissed you. Really kissed you. Or tasted you.’
I wouldn’t want to stop.
‘You’re right. We shouldn’t.’ Her voice shook.
‘But…you do like your rules. What was it you said to me?’ I lifted her chin and she let out a small gasp before I tilted her head back. ‘Teach me, Titan.’ I whispered.
It was too late now, and there was no going back on what I’d said.
Not when she stood there looking at me like that. Her breaths ragged and her pupils blown. I brushed my thumb over her parted lips. She inhaled and I stroked a featherlight touch from her collarbone down her arm hanging beside her. I took the vibrator from her palm and silenced her protests with a look.
‘Tell me, Kalina, if I hadn’t shown up,’ I said and leaned down beside her ear. ‘How would you have made yourself come?’
Her sweet floral scent seemed to emanate from the spot behind her ear. I wanted to place my lips there.
‘I…’ Her exhales came out in shallow gasps.
‘Let me guess…’ My knuckles grazed the opening of her dress and I leaned back to meet her gaze. ‘Like this?’
I turned it on to the lowest setting, and ran it up her thigh.
She bit down on her full bottom lip.
I stopped midway and ran my hand back down.
She protested, ‘Keep going.’
I pulled my hand away from her completely.
She sighed and said, ‘Think of it as a lesson. It doesn’t need to mean anything else.’
I shook my head. ‘You said you want more than this.’
She levelled me with a look. ‘I’m telling you what I want right now.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes,’ she pleaded.
‘What’s off limits?’
‘No kissing. I don’t need your help in that department.’ She pressed her red lips together and tempted me more than ever.
I laughed. ‘Deal. You’ll tell me if you want me to stop, okay? At any point.’
She swallowed hard and nodded slowly.
‘Enthusiastic. You have to say it.’
‘Yes,’ she breathed.
‘Good.’
I traced the device along her waist and between her breasts.
A shiver ran through her.
‘No kissing?’ I leaned down and placed my lips on her neck. ‘How unfortunate.’
She let out a soft moan when I replaced the kiss with the vibrator. Massaging her neck gently before moving down to her collarbone.
‘Kissing is too intimate,’ she sighed.
‘Did you just Pretty Woman me?’ I laughed and ran the device down her waist to her thighs again.
She gasped. ‘Impressed you knew, but yes.’
‘More intimate than what I plan to do with my fingers?’ I reached down and undid the four small buttons at her waist. ‘This dress was such a great investment.’ I pulled it apart and took in the sight of her without the obstruction of the beaded fabric. The bodysuit clung to every single delicious inch of her. I wrapped my hand around her waist and squeezed.
‘Do you want me to touch you?’ She bit down on her bottom lip.
I had to hold back from pressing my lips against hers. I wondered if she’d taste like cherries.
‘No.’ I shook my head. The thought of her touching me right now made me want to explode. ‘Let me take away some of the frustration I caused.’
Her laugh was quickly swallowed by a breathy moan as I ran the vibrator up between her thighs, and turned it on when I reached the thin fabric of the bodysuit.
Fuck.
I wanted her.
Denying it was pointless. It was a pressing need, but I wanted to find out what made her tick. What she liked and how she liked it.
‘Slow?’ I asked, pushing the little device forward. I placed my other hand beside her head, using the wall as leverage. ‘Or fast?’ I increased the speed once.
‘Yes…’ She moaned.
‘Both?’ I slipped the fabric aside with my thumb. She was so wet already.
She leaned her head back. ‘Mmm hmm.’
‘Do you like this?’ I asked, using the vibrator to circle her clit. ‘Being teased?’
‘I…do…’ Her words were drawn out now.
I groaned and leaned my forehead against hers. ‘That made you so wet.’
Her moans increased and she reached out to wrap her hand around my arm, pulling the vibrator forward. Showing me what she wanted.
I was achingly hard now.
I pulled my hand away slowly before turning it off.
‘What are you…’ she panted but I put the vibrator in the pocket of my jeans.
‘As much as I would have loved to watch you come, I’d much rather you did it on my tongue.’
Her eyes went wide, her skin had a slight sheen to it, and I wanted to see how far the pink flush travelled.
‘You heard me, dimples.’ I knelt down in front of her, pulling her dress apart so I could admire her body again.
She had the curves and angles I worked hard to recreate in the studio with light and shadows. Like fucking art.
‘Kalina, you’re so sexy.’ My eyes roamed to her ample breasts. I itched to reach out and touch them and my impulses won when I cupped her through the thin fabric.
She sucked in her breath.
I continued the trail down to the dip in her waist until I reached her hip and squeezed. She let out a small laugh.
‘Ticklish.’
‘Noted,’ I replied with a grin.
I stroked my thumb between her thighs, marking my next target, and she sighed. I reached for her knee, and pulled it over my shoulder until her body shifted against the wall.
The softest, sweetest moan escaped her.
‘There it is,’ I said.
‘What?’ she replied, blinking rapidly.
‘The sounds I knew you’d make. I’ve dreamt about this Kalina, and it cannot even compare to the real thing.’
I kissed the inside of her thigh.
‘You…have?’ she stammered.
‘Dreamt about your sighs and your moans.’
She moaned as I kissed higher up.
‘I’ve dreamt about tasting you.’ I tugged the fabric aside.
Then my mouth was on her.
‘Better than I imagined,’ I said against her skin.
She let out a soft cry.
Slow and gentle strokes made her moan, but fast and hard licks made her tremble. Her hands found purchase in my hair and pulled me closer.
‘Don’t. Stop,’ she bit out.
‘Wouldn’t dream of it,’ I murmured. I thrusted a finger inside of her, curling it.
‘Slower…’ she sighed.
‘Like this?’.
‘Mmm hmm…yes...’
I snuck a look up at her.
Her eyes closed, her skin flushed pink, and her lips parted. She was stunning.
And I was ruined.
‘That’s it,’ I said, encouragingly. She was getting close.
‘I’m…’ she gasped.
‘I’ve got you.’
She curled her leg and pulled me closer as she came. My name dragged on her lips as her breath shuddered.
She released the back of my neck, much to my dismay.
I placed a kiss on her stomach before I stood. With my arm around her waist, I held onto her and rested my forehead against hers as she caught her breath.
‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes…’ Her voice was soft and breathy.
‘You were so good.’
She held back a smile and the little hollows in her cheeks appeared.
‘I…need a minute.’ She wobbled on her feet, and without a second thought, I scooped her up into my arms.
‘Take all the time you need,’ I said and walked over to her bed before sitting on the edge.
We sat in silence as her breathing stabilised.
She didn’t move from the spot on my lap, and toyed with the buttons on my shirt.
‘Thank you.’
I chuckled. ‘Why are you thanking me? I should be thanking you.’
‘Wow. I’ve never…’ she drifted off.
‘Never what?’
She smacked her lips together.
‘I think we’re too far gone for modesty.’
She laughed. ‘No one’s ever gone down on me before.’
I shook my head. ‘What?’
‘I don’t have as much experience with sex as you do. Hence my request.’
I tilted her chin up until she met my gaze. ‘Was it good?’
She nodded.
I smiled. ‘Then I’m happy.’
‘What about you?’
‘Not today. One thing at a time.’ I brushed her hair away from her face.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes. Rest up—and hydrate—You’re going to need it.’
‘What do you have planned?’ Her eyes widened.
I laughed. ‘Wouldn’t you like to know.’
‘Most lesson plans are available beforehand.’ She hopped off my lap. ‘Be right back.’
She padded out of the room and the bathroom door shut a few seconds later.
The scent and taste of her was all over me and I still wanted more.
I was so fucking screwed.
Scarlet’s voice came from outside and I made it out of Kalina’s doorway as she stepped out of her room.
‘Hi,’ she said. ‘Saw your bike outside. What are you doing here?’
I tried not to think about Kalina and what we’d been doing. ‘Just finished with Kalina.’ I couldn’t help myself.
‘Oh, the photo-shoot.’
‘Yeah, that.’
Kalina walked out of the bathroom and planted a smile on her face. ‘You’re home.’
‘I am…why do you sound disappointed?’ Scarlet let out a laugh. ‘You look beautiful by the way.’
‘Thank you.’ Kalina lifted the skirt of the dress and swished it around. ‘And no, not disappointed. I wasn’t expecting you until later.’
‘Finished up early. Lucky me.’
‘Yeah,’ I added, dryly. The one time I was counting on Scarlet being out late.
‘I’m going to put the kettle on, are you staying?’ Scarlet asked.
Both of their gazes landed on me.
‘Not tonight. I have some work to do.’
‘Cool cool, see ya.’ Scarlet carried on down the passage.
Kalina checked she was out of earshot before she looked at me. ‘You’re not staying?’ She fidgeted with her hands.
‘With my sister down the hallway? A terrible idea.’
She pursed her lips. ‘Fair.’
I smiled. ‘Besides, this was the baseline.’
‘And?’ She tilted her head to the side.
‘No notes.’ I winked at her before I turned to leave.
I spent the rest of the night replaying our encounter.
Remembering every sound and every touch.
It was like scratching an itch and now, I wanted more.