Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
TYNAN
The fucking guy was clinging to Alina like a tick.
I could sense his impatience to get closer to her.
His empty eyes dared to look at her throat and delicate jawline.
He was careful not to stare at her breasts, but I knew what was on his mind.
The sudden interest in her, the unprovoked friendliness.
My heart was beating like mad, I took a deep breath thinking about wrapping my hands around his neck and squeezing hard enough to get my point across. No one was allowed to look at her like that.
“Ty?” Gabrielle tugged my sleeve and I returned my attention to her.
Gabrielle had not changed much over the years, her eyes still looked at me like I was someone she admired.
But, I knew better. I had stopped seeing the young and inexperienced girl, a friend who was always by my side.
All I saw now was a tired woman with her new life in the capital and a husband she had not learned to like.
“Thank you for listening to me,” she said and I nodded, not caring enough to respond.
My gaze returned to Alina. She was so beautiful in her dress, her locks spilled over her shoulders and down her back.
I could not help staring at her hair shimmering all shades of red and copper.
She looked like she did not belong to the mortal world, her lips moved and she looked up.
Our eyes locked. I could only hope that she did not know what I had been thinking about.
I could clearly imagine playing with her hair, like I did back in the hotel.
I still fantasize about raking through it with my fingers, her flushed face, and the eyes that would be the death of me.
Her full, soft, lush lips. I clenched my jaw and adjusted in my seat.
I knew that I was not much better than that pitiful moron lusting over her.
The difference between us was that I was never going to do anything about it.
She deserves someone better than me and as much as I wanted her, I would never cross that line.
In the meantime, I focused on the familiar dancing couple.
Frid was dancing with Victor, but suddenly both of them stopped.
At first, it seemed like the truce between them had come to an end.
I could plainly see Frid’s eyes bulging out of her head, but then Victor moved closer and kissed the girl.
For a moment I thought I was just seeing things.
Frid stood motionless, and when Victor moved away, I could see that she could not come up with anything to say.
I smirked, watching them as Victor’s hands landed on both sides of her face. He kissed her again, but this time her arms wrapped around his neck. He finally made his move.
I glanced back at Alina, who sat with her head down. As if feeling my stare, she moved her head up and our eyes met. I could not be sure that I was able to conceal what was on my mind. I wanted her so bad that everything around me made absolutely no sense.
“I’m so unhappy.” Gabrielle placed her hand on my forearm and I made a conscious effort not to shrug it off of me.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed a new movement. It was Alina. She was navigating toward the exit, and there was no way in hell I would let her go through the fields at night all alone.
“I have to go.” I stood up.
“You seem to have no time for me anymore,” Gabrielle whimpered.
I only glanced at her, before walking away.
In no time, I was by the entrance and when I pushed the front door open, I could hear the hurried steps of the girl ahead.
I matched Alina’s stride as we walked through the fields. She misstepped, and I caught her by the arm one more time.
“Here. Why don’t you give me your hand?” I asked, holding her elbow.
“Thank you. I can walk on my own,” Alina said and I could not help smiling at her defiant tone.
She was so irresistible when she was mad. She had no idea how much I loved her fast changing moods, her softness and strength. Just walking with her through the wilderness made me feel more than I ever felt with any other woman.
“Does it mean that you’re together now?” Alina asked, and it took me a moment to understand what she meant.
“Together?”
“Yes, you and your . . . Gabrielle,” Alina spoke in a forced tone.
“No.”
“Then why . . ? You know what? It’s not any of my business,” she added.
I tried to see her eyes, but I could only make out the outlines of her face in the light of the moon.
“Why are you so concerned about me and Gabrielle?” I asked.
“I am not.”
“Alright,” I said as we approached Grace’s cottage.
Not surprisingly, we were the first ones back at the house.
I walked to the table, searching for a candle, when Alina bumped into me.
I steadied her shoulders and she stilled in my arms. I could not help inhaling her amazing scent of wild flowers and strawberries.
She was so gentle and warm. Perfect in every way.
I could not deny myself any longer, my fingers tangled in her locks and I leaned down, placing a light kiss on top of her head.
Behind us, the door swung open. My hand stilled on a dagger, but my eyes quickly recognized the couple kissing in the doorway.
“I fucking want you so bad.”
“Victor . . .”
“The bedroom.”
“What if they come back?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll hear them.”
I was still clenching the dagger when Victor burst through the door to our bedroom and kicked it closed behind him.
“Oh,” Alina whispered.
“I have no place to sleep tonight,” I said.
Just then Victor appeared in the doorway, stumbling in the dark as he walked into the girls’ room and searched for something, swearing when he bumped into things.
“Got it!” Still not looking in our direction, he returned to his lady.
When the door behind him closed again, I switched my gaze back to Alina. She stood quietly by the table.
“You can stay in our room,” she said.
Me and her, confined in a tiny space, in the same bed. My hands on her thighs, holding her tight, moving her closer. I swore under my breath. Maybe I could have shared a room with her in the very beginning, but now we played a completely different game, and the stakes were much higher.
“That’s not a good idea,” I responded.
“Because of your fiance?”
“What?” I scowled, completely forgetting about Gabrielle.
“I understand.”
“I seriously doubt it.”
“You want to be with her.”
I could not say anything for a long time, just watching the outlines of her face in the dark.
Finally, Instead of responding, I walked into the second bedroom.