"As much as I'll ever be." He tightened his grip on her hand, and she could tell he was nervous.
Several people approached them to express their commiserations and congratulate Kim on his achievements.
Kim had to leave Delilah and make his rounds. Delilah got a glass of wine from a waiter before retiring to the balcony for some alone time. She admired the view, the moonlight bouncing off the surface of the pond below.
"You're beautiful."
Delilah turned around, surprised to see Morian standing behind her.
"You? "What are you doing here?"
Morian had been admiring her for quite some time. He drank in her presence, her sight lighting up his entire body with desire and longing.
"I could ask you the same?"
"Um, I'm here with-"
Kim interrupted them before she could finish her sentence.
"There you are, my love, and I apologize for having to leave you."
Kim kissed Delilah, and she smiled.
"It's fine," Delilah said.
Kim looked at Morian, who didn't seem pleased with what he had just witnessed.
"I remember you; you were the doctor who treated Lilah when she was sick. "Is it Morgan?"
"It is Morian, and yes, it is I."
"Enjoying your night?"
"Yes, the event is nice, and I'm here to support a friend. Stanley is also being honored alongside you," Morian explained.
"Ah sweet, well, excuse us, doctor," Kim said as he took Delilah's hand in his and led her back into the party.
Morian stood there watching them rejoin the party. His entire body was consumed by rage, and his jealousy was brighter than any star that night. He was irritated because there was always someone in his way. It took every ounce of self-control he could muster to keep him from ripping Kim's heart from his chest and feeding it to his dark hounds in the nether realm. He knew Kim was a stubborn spirit who was also madly in love with Delilah. He would deal with this new impediment to his relationship with Delilah.
"Are you okay?" asked Delilah as she and Kim rejoined the party.
"Yes, why wouldn't I be, I'm here with you." he smiled and kissed her cheek.
"You seemed a bit weird with Morian."
"It's just that…" before he could complete his sentence, he was called to the stage to receive his award.
The entire hall roared, cheering and clapping. Kim went up to the stage to give a speech.
Delilah smiled and clapped proudly for Kim's achievement.
"He is a very charismatic speaker," Morian said as he stood beside her.
Delilah's body tensed up at the nearness of Morian. He wore a strong woodsy fragrance mixed with the sweet but subtle scents of cinnamon and jasmine, and she could smell him. He stirred up something primal and carnal within her. He was dressed in a black tuxedo and a dark shirt, with a gold necklace on his collarbone. His beard was freshly shaved, and she could detect the faint odor of his aftershave. Every time he took a sip from his wine glass, she noticed his gold cufflinks; he looked dapper and divine.
She swallowed and then replied; "Yes he is."
"I had no idea he was your lover."
Delilah felt his eyes intensely on her face. She hesitated to look at his face, but eventually turned and looked up at him.
"You never asked."
"It didn't occur to me seeing as we had other things on our minds the last time we saw each other," Morian said as he clenched his jaw, his eyes darkened as he looked at her lips and then into her eyes.
Delilah's throat tightened and heat rose to her cheeks as she watched his piercing stare move from her lips to her cleavage and back again. She didn't need a mind reader to figure out what was going through his mind at the time because the same things were going through hers. The kiss they had the other day by the lake consumed her every waking moment; it was electrifying. Morian's mere presence made her feel alive. His eyes were filled with a fiery desire that could burn down the entire universe. Delilah felt it, and how much he communicated with his eyes both excited and terrified her.
"I beg your pardon, you kissed me."
"Any louder and everyone here will hear" he whispered to her softly.
His eyes wandered back to her cleavage once more.
"That's a lovely necklace you have on. It's a very unique beautiful stone"
"It was a gift."
"Your lover has good taste," he replied as he clenched his jaw once more, peering deeply into her eyes.
Delilah swallowed; "I didn't get the necklace from him; it was from someone else."
"Ah I see, another poor bastard hoping to win your heart. Whoever he is, his taste is impeccable,"
Morian replied with his eyes still fixed on the necklace.
Delilah looked around aware of the many people around.
She whispered; " Dae-Jung is my boyfriend; I didn't tell you because you never asked and the subject never came up." She replied defensively, she felt guilty about these unspoken feelings she was developing for the doctor while being in a relationship with Kim.
"Forgive me, I didn't mean to offend you." he placed a hand on his chest apologetically.
"But you did."
"I only meant that it sucks to know I have competition when it comes to winning your heart."
Delilah looked into his eyes; she and Morian had shared a moment by the lake the day before. That left her perplexed; the last thing she needed was for her mind and heart to split in two. And Kim had his heart set on her, she would not let whatever was going on between her and the Doctor ruin their relationship. The tension that erupted between them was on par with volcanic lava. She melted in his presence, and it took everything she had to keep her cool when all she wanted to do was rip his clothes off and let him have his way with her.
Morian's eyes glowed with desire; her neck and shoulder tensed; and her heart began to beat faster.
"Morian,I "
Before she could finish her sentence, she noticed Morian's eyes looking behind her. She turned to see Kim, who had a sour expression on his face. He could tell Morian wanted Delilah, she went to Kim right away before things got out of hand; she gave him a kiss and a sweet smile to assuage his suspicions.
They walked away together, Delilah looked back at Morian who raised his glass of wine and smiled goodbye at her.