Chapter 25 #2
"She must be fine, just exploring the neighbourhood," he says, without taking his eyes off me. Then, in a low tone, to himself, he adds: "She must have just been scared by something."
My stomach tightens, and the guilt for worrying him burns under my skin.
"Do you live nearby?" he asks casually, but there's something in the way his eyes scan my face that makes my heart pound in my chest.
I smile slightly.
"In a way, yes. For now..."
He frowns, a curious gleam dancing in his eyes, but he doesn't ask what my words mean. Instead, he bites his lower lip and takes another step towards me.
I almost die.
Heavens, how handsome he is...
"And you?" I return the question, even though I know the answer, just to keep the conversation going.
"Yes," he says, nodding towards the end of the street. "Right there."
"Ah, it looks wonderful, at the foot of the forest..."
"Yes."
There is silence for a few seconds, and I feel nervous as he looks down at my dress. The same one as yesterday. Exactly the same outfit. I hold my breath, trying to hide it, and then let out a nervous giggle, smoothing the fabric with my sweaty palms.
"I'm not doing the walk of shame or anything... I mean, I didn't spend the night with anyone..." I stop, feeling completely embarrassed, and try to explain myself again, thinking of some excuse. "It's just... a uniform."
He shakes his head, frowning, and mutters:
"I wasn't thinking about that, um, you didn't need to explain."
"Well, I wanted to explain," I shrug, feigning indifference, but inside I'm screaming at myself for being so dumb.
My nervousness increases, and I feel a heat rising to my cheeks. When the anxiety tightens, the first thing that comes out of my mouth is:
"Have you been going to Pandemonium?"
I already know the answer, of course. He hasn't been going out after work, except for that night when he went after the source of the evil energy.
He spent the whole day out, searching through everything he could, and only returned to the cabin late at night, exhausted and immersed in his own thoughts.
And that idea makes me feel a kind of jealousy.
He shakes his head, his expression softening a little.
"No, the last time I went to the tavern was the night I saw you. And I see no reason to go back."
"Why not?" I raise an eyebrow. "Did Char change the drinks menu since I left?"
He shakes his head and seems to hesitate for a moment before answering.
"No. Actually, now that I know you won't be there, I have no reason to go..."
I bite my lip to try to hold back the broad smile that threatens to appear, but it's impossible to contain my happiness.
"Oh, so you were going because of me, were you?" I ask, with a mischievous smile, a hint of defiance on my lips.
He looks back at me, a slightly shy smile playing on his lips, and it affects me in a way I didn't expect. Seeing that imposing, powerful man blushing because of me is exciting...
It's exciting to know that I have that power over him.
"You were the best thing about that place." He takes a step closer, his gaze becoming more intense.
"Better even than the beer?" I joke to hide my nervousness.
He raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth pulling into a more confident smile.
"Definitely." The tip of his tongue slides over his lower lip, and I'm mesmerised.
Suddenly, my smile fades, and silence settles between us, thick and heavy, as if the air around us has become denser.
We stand there, just looking at each other... and something inside me begins to stir.
I feel an overwhelming need to get closer, as if an invisible magnet is pulling my body towards him.
I want more of him. I want to feel his big, firm hands on me, I want to lose myself in the warmth of his touch, I want to purr against his chest, sink into the warm, masculine scent that emanates from him. ..
My body acts before my mind can process it. One step back, a disguised stumble, and I gasp softly when I feel his hands fly to hold me.
His fingers, warm and firm, close around my waist, stabilising me. The touch is instant, intense, and sends a pleasant shiver down my spine. He holds me with a firmness that makes me dizzy, pulling me towards him, as if he knows that, deep down, I am completely surrendered.
My eyes rise to his, and my mouth goes dry as I realise how close we are. His chest brushes against mine, and his face is mere inches from mine. Mark opens his mouth slightly, his wolfish eyes sliding down to my lips.
My heart races.
I hold my breath, waiting, wanting so badly to feel the pressure of his mouth on mine that my whole body burns, feverish, my cheeks on fire.
The silence becomes almost unbearable, and I tilt my face slightly upwards, my lips begging to merge with his.
Then, just as he leans in, his mobile phone rings.
Mark lets out a quiet curse and runs his hand through his hair, visibly irritated, before pulling the phone out of his pocket.
"I have to take this."
"Of course," I whisper.
He turns his back to me and I close my eyes for a moment, frustration like a bucket of cold water as I take a deep breath, trying to calm down.
He answers quickly, the conversation is short, someone says something and he just replies with one sentence.
"I'll be there in ten minutes."
My stomach sinks with the feeling that the moment we were about to experience is disappearing like smoke.
When he comes back to me, I force a smile, but I feel the muscles in my face tense up. He frowns and puts his mobile phone in his pocket, pulling his hair again with a heavy sigh.
"Sorry, I need to get back to work."
I nod, trying to hide the disappointment that overwhelms me, and respond in the calmest voice I can muster.
"All right."
He takes a step back, hesitates for a second, as if he has realised something.
"If you see my cat..."
I don't think twice before answering, saying the first thing that comes to mind.
"She'll be fine, I saw her heading towards your house before you arrived."
I point to the gate of the cottage, only I don't look like a stalker because he indicated where he lived earlier.
"Thank you," he says, but before turning to leave, he speaks again, his voice deeper. "I hope we bump into each other again."
I smile so much that my cheeks hurt.
"I hope so too."
He starts to walk away, heading towards his car, but then something inside me compels me to act.
"Wait!"
He stops before getting into the car and turns to me, his gaze attentive. My body tenses up. I fiddle with the hem of my dress nervously, but I know I have to do this, that I can't let this chance pass me by.
"I have something to tell you... but I didn't have time, so it'll have to wait until the next time we see each other."
He stands still, his eyes fixed on me, intense, curious.
"Then I hope that day comes soon."
"Yes, I'll be around..."
"In the right place at the right time," he replies.
"Exactly." I blink.
He gives a quick, slightly enigmatic smile and finally turns away, getting into the car.
I stand there, watching him leave, a bittersweet taste in my mouth, the promise of a future encounter hanging in the air between us.
I can't put off my destiny any longer.
I need to tell the whole truth and break this curse once and for all.
But by the Stars...
I hope that doesn't mean losing him.