Malvina:
Dark eyes, soft hair, strong arms, now I can add soft, warm, intense lips to the list that has been keeping me awake since a few nights.
A hand settles on my back, securing me in place and the other wraps around my hair. I am pressed against his strong body with him devouring my lips.
He sucks in my lower lip while leaving my upper one tortured, then he repeats the same cycle. The grip on my hair tightens, and in some dark corner of my mind, I want it more.
Matching his pace? Impossible. No one has ever kissed me this passionately and I don't know what to do. I try to breathe, but he devours more.
I feel like I'm running out of breath, but I don't seem to mind. I don't know why. I should push him away, but I know I would be cruel to myself. Is it appropriate? I don't think so. Do I mind? I don't think so.
He pauses and pulls away a little. I inhale a sharp breath, both relieved and disappointed. Relieved, because I can breathe again. Disappointed because the warm feeling is gone.
No one speaks, no one moves. His hands are still adamant about their previous position. Exhale, inhale.
"Is it inappropriate, Miss Ashford?" He whispers into the space between our lips.
I don't answer but look at him in his eyes. Desire and a hint of pain.
As if starving, his lips touch mine again, barely even there. One more centimeter forward and we can go back to doing that, all over again.
Is it me or him, I don't care, we find ourselves back to it, lips against lips, breaths intertwined. Push him away. The only thing you know about him is his name. No. I don't want to...It's stupid but, I just don't.
This time we pull away and I take a step back. He straightens his tie, which looks like it has been pulled. Did I do it?
He takes notice of my unspoken question.
"Don't worry about it, love. I liked it." He adds to my embarrassment.
I clear my throat. "Put something on your hand, before you get an infection."
"Sure." He looks at the handkerchief around his palm. "It's a no then." He nods his head.
"What do you mean?"
"The answer to my question." He smirks as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
I lick my lips, unable to say anything. What do I say? Yeah, I liked it too?
"I apologize. I shouldn't have done that?" He says suddenly it a soft voice.
Apologize? Does he regret it?
"About the kiss?" I find myself asking.
"No. I would rather kiss you until you have to beg me to stop. I am rather sorry for the way I behaved with you back there." His steady voice, but suggestive words send a shiver through my entire body.
"What-"
He comes closer, and places a palm against my face, while the other caresses my wrist, the same one he grabbed back there.
"I apologize, my love. Sorry for hurting you."
My face must be the shade of a newly bloomed China rose, bright red. Before I could process everything, he said at the last minute, he added again.
"Red suits you." He smirks, more like smiles. Shit, I was right.
"Malvina." Ronan? Shit! I push his hand away, startled, and stumble backward. I didn't look at him, acting as if we weren't just devouring each other's mouth just a moment ago.
"Ronan, I-"
"Who is he?" He cuts me off and stands beside me. He pulls me behind him by my arm.
"Ronan, it's nothing. Come with me I will explain everything."
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"No! Absolutely not." I stop speaking before I make this even more messy than it already is. "It's- I will explain." Ronan turns away and faces Adrian in a defensive manner.
"Who are you? What's your business with my sister?" Adrian chuckles at his words and then looks at me, I stare back at him not knowing what to say or do.
"Adrian Reed." His eyes turned towards me. "My business with your sister is-" He looks straight at Ronan "-personal. Quite personal actually."
"I need to talk with my sister. If you could leave?" Ronan adjusts his frames.
"Ronan, is it? Well, it's been a pleasure meeting you." He smirks. I mouth 'Leave' but he just ignores me and focuses back on Ronan.
"Can you leave Mr. Adrian?" I step in before he says something else.
"It's Adrian to you, my love," Adrian adds.
"It's nothing you should worry about, okay?" I say to Ronan, choosing to ignore what he just said.
"Mr. Reed." Ronan turns to face him "I am not sure if I can reciprocate the same."
"I am sure there will be more opportunities." Adrian shoves his palms in his trouser pockets.
"Sure. You both are consenting adults. Whatever my sister does in her private life, it's not my concern. But you see, her private life has a great impact on her daily life and mental health as well." He turns his face toward me and raises his brow, "She has a habit of choosing the wrong men. The last one was a cheater." This boy. "And the one before that was borderline abusive. Ronan!
Adrian's eyes turn to me, and he raises a brow.
"I had to break his leg with a baseball bat, and it was a mess and everything for some time." Ronan shrugs, then looks at me, "Do you remember, Mev?" This little shit. I will see him once Adrian leaves.
"As her brother, I just cannot let her keep on making mistakes, can I?" He gives me an overly sweet smile and then turns to Adrian.
"Don't bother my sister."
On the other hand, a dark shadow covers Adrian's face. He looks like he wants to kill someone. I gulp at the dark aura oozing from him. What is wrong with him? Why is he so mad? Ronan's words must be pissing him off.
I pull Ronan by his arm and drag him beside me.
"I told you, it's nothing to worry about." I hiss.
"Nothing to worry about? My sister kissing a literal stranger in broad daylight, it's nothing to worry about?" Ronan huffs.
"I will tell-"
"Stop bothering your sister, Ronan. You are already past the age to throw such tantrums anymore. "Adrian's voice cut in.
Before I can stop him, Ronan takes a step closer to him. His bodyguard, whose name I still don't know, steps forward immediately, but Adrian just raises his hand and gestures to him to stop.
"I suggest you stop messing around with my sister," Ronan says calmly.
"It's a privilege that you are her brother." He then steps forward and places a hand on Ronan's shoulder. "Good job. A brother should always be protective of his sister, but I suggest you keep that young blood energy in check. It's not every day you get a free pass."
He puts his shoulder, turns to me, and smirks, "We are not done yet, darling." Then he leaves.
I turn to Ronan, and he looks at me, disappointed and storms off.
"Ronan! Listen to me. I can explain-" I ran after him.
He stops mid-step, "Explain what? That you magically fell in love with him?" He continues walking till we reach the room throws his bag on his bed and turns towards me.
"Did he force you?" He looks at me, dead in the eye. "If he did, I would kill him. I don't know who the fuck he is or what he does, if he wronged you-he will pay for it." I shake my head. I have never seen him this angry before.
"No. No he didn't."
"Look, I am not mad at you or anything, just so you know." He puts a hand on my shoulder, "I just don't want you to get hurt or get into trouble, Malvina. Men like those, it's better you stay away from them."
"I know." I say softly.
"No you don't." He sighs "I cannot stop you sis, but be careful, that's all I can say."
"Ronan I- Its not-"
"Let's see how this one ends." With that he leaves the room, leaving me with my chaotic thoughts.
Lost in my thought, I slump down on the bed, but suddenly I feel a weird sensation, like someone is watching me. It's the same feeling I had, back in front of the restaurant.
I swiftly turn around and glance at the window but there is no one.
Someone is watching me?