He stood up, placing his hand on her shoulder pulling her back from Brennan. But he did not have to do more than just touch her, because when she turned around to see him her arms immediately dropped from around Brennan. Instead she cradled his head in her hands, and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him.
For a moment he remained stagnant. Just tasting the champagne on her lips as she kissed him, and then like a dam breaking he took her in his arms and held her even closer. Forgetting everything but her.
Soft and warm and sweet. Unlike any other he had received, not born from lust, nor was it seeking anything in exchange. It came from a deep place inside, finally unable to continue to hide in the utter euphoria they both felt. He could have lived in that kiss.
And then it was over. All too quickly she came back to her senses, flying away from him. She was shocked at herself. Never before had she ever lost control like that. But the strangest thing is that she wanted to do it again.
Looking up at Zeven, his face was unreadable. There was nothing. The only thing of note was the slight drop of his lower lip. He blinked a few times, his brows slowly drawing together. Finally he closed his eyes all together and squeezed them shut. Forefinger and thumb reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose.
If her first outburst hadn't gotten everyone's attention, this had. All eyes were on them, a mixture of expressions flooded the room.
Her embarrassment fueled her next move as she pushed through the crowd to get to the black board the men had previously been studying.
The commander refused to move out of her way. He was taller than her, her heels long since abandoned. But she didn't pay him any attention, her mind was swarming with a million thoughts all trying to jump out her throat. She grabbed the chalk from his hand and turned to the board, words already falling from her lips.
Wiping off the board with her forearm, the white chalk shown in contrast to the black of her dress. Hastily she began to draw on the board. Labeling the mountain ranges and valleys in her chicken scratch. The lines were croaked and wobbly, her manic state taking over.
As she continued to talk, she soon commanded all the attention in the room. Outlining her proposal for peace between Ametade and Tamsia the fervor began to wear off and she stood up even straighter assuming her princely facade. But this time it was not fake. There was no pretense in her, it was an honest display of her true nature.
Zeven also found himself enraptured with her. Being sucked into her sterling grey eyes. She looked at him and smiled a small smile before continuing to explain. He pulled his gaze away from her looking around the room at all the others. Most of them were also engrossed in what she was saying. Some taking notes others unable to look away.
But then he saw the commander and noticed where his gaze was directed.
And then Zeven realized that he had designed her dress too well. It accentuated her figure, following all the right lines as it clung to her. He couldn't ignore the way his eyes raked over her..
He shrugged off his jacket, taking it in one hand as he crossed up to where Chris was currently standing. Without a word to her he draped it over her shoulders. It completely encased her, dropping off her shoulders.
He sucked in a breath as she gripped its edge and looked up at him. It wasn't enough. She was still incredibly eye catching. He went as far as to begin buttoning the front shut.
Chris wiggled her arms into the sleeves, not wanting to question him in front of others. Even more so after her own outburst earlier. She caught his hands as he flustered on the last button.
"Why did you take away the show?"
Zeven took a deep breath wondering if he could rationalize murder. Alas, he could not and Chris hadn't seemed to pay any attention to his comment so he slowly made his way back to his chair. Keeping his eyes fixed on the commander. It was clear that he did not take well to Chris commandeering the meeting.
"Why should we take orders from a girl?"
"First off, I'm a woman so write that down. Secondly I put in a considerable amount of time in a comparable field.
"If you are so strong I should be no challenge."
With her back turned the commander charged at her. Without even looking she flipped him over her shoulder and onto the floor.
No one made any comment as the man laid on the floor gasping for breath.
She resumed her explanation without hesitation. Filling in all the details previously missed, even taking on questions and concerns from the other men in the room. Utilizing their knowledge to further her plan.
No one knew exactly how long they had all been there once Chris finished. But when she was done there was a detailed plan for achieving lasting peace between the two countries.
Despite her femininity, all the men looked at her like a leader, like royalty, like a prince. Showering her in compliments and handshakes. Offers to join the war conferences in the future, he even heard several of the men trying to recruit her as a tactician. He hated all of them for trying to take her away from him, yet at the same time he felt a connection with them for wanting something they could never keep.
Even the commander stopped to talk to her. He didn't apologize, much to Zeven's chagrin, but he did stick out his hand for Chris to shake. An acknowledgement of her skill.