The guy's nostrils began to flare as if he smelled blood. He grabbed me by the shoulders and roughly turned me around. His hot fingers passed over me.
On the wound.
"You need to be careful." The voice flowed like a pleasant wave. So low, hoarse, and ingratiating.
I wanted to move away, but the guy didn't let me. His fingers continued to wander over my bare skin. I held my breath, these touches were so pleasant.
Gillian, show him your true bold character. Don't let a stranger touch you, even if you feel good right now. Push him away, immediately!
His hand, squeezing my shoulder, loosened its grip, took advantage of the moment, and twisted away. The defense lessons that I attended at my mother's behest taught me a lot and helped me out more than once.
Finding myself face to face with Asher Christian, I didn't lower my gaze. I can stand it. The eyebrow of my opponent in the game of who would be the first to look away rose in surprise. The guy expected that in front of him was a shy girl, like daddy's girls usually are in our company.
"Thank you very much for your concern, but I don't need your help."
"As you wish." A mask of indifference appeared on her beautiful face.
She nodded and hurried away. While my composure is with me, I need to return to the guests. As soon as I appeared inside, I realized how alone I was, no one even noticed my absence.
Feeling like a stranger is a normal state for me. Since childhood, I have had the feeling that my place is not here, somewhere in a parallel world or maybe in the past.
Only not in my memories do I know that I am loved, dear, and needed. Lucky is the red-haired girl in the reflection of my mirror. Surrounded by love, loyal friends, and the warmest parents that every child dreams of.
In a specially designated reception room, another whim of my father, I spent another hour. Iris was spinning around, forcing a smile when no one was looking, making funny faces. Her disappearance at the beginning of the party found a reason when I noticed one of the sons of my father's business partner looking at her. They couldn't take their eyes off each other.
And I was constantly looking for Asher. He would appear, then evaporate like a ghost. The look of his black eyes would burn, but I would continue to look at him without embarrassment. I can't explain it, but neither my body, nor my thoughts, nor my blood seemed to be under my control.
I was looking against my will. I stopped myself from trying to follow the guest more than once. In the end, I couldn't stand it and went up to my room, out of harm's way, it's not appropriate for a girl to behave like that.
My bedroom reflected an emptiness in my soul as if it were not mine, but a hotel room where I was staying for a while.
Suddenly, a new vision appeared before my eyes. A large room furnished with antique furniture. The bedroom is decorated with wallpaper with various patterns of green in the form of flowers and leaves.
An abundance of flowing fabrics and velvet create an atmosphere of pomp, but the silk bedspread with ruffles and the canopy veil on the double bed add airiness. The boudoir is in the same color scheme as the wallpaper.
I froze in place, afraid that the memory would evaporate. I turned to the mirror, it was in the same place as in my bedroom, only mine was on the dresser, and hers was full-length, in a thick wooden frame and with carved elements.
The beautiful image in the mirror pulled me along. I came closer. She was wearing a silver ball gown, a multi-layered voluminous skirt hid her figure, although partially. She tucked a lock of red hair behind her ear, but in reality, she tucked her own, but the girl repeated the movement.
Suddenly the vision began to change. I was already hugging someone and laughing with happiness. An extraordinary feeling. The one I'm clinging to, or rather the redhead, hugs me back tightly. My whole body responds to the invisible lover. But just a moment and everything is back to reality, my head is spinning a little. I had to close my eyes to stop the dizziness.
I took a deep breath and opened my eyelids, in front of me, near the window, stood Asher. I looked around in fear. How did he get in?
The guy is silently watching me as if he was not the one who invaded the young girl's bedroom.
"Why are you here? Leave immediately." If my father finds out and decides to marry us, I'll go crazy.
"I'm the only one who didn't give you a gift."
"You didn't have to come to my room."
"There are too many people downstairs." He snapped.
Asher came up. She raised her head to see his eyes. Black, bottomless.
"Turn around, I'll help you put them on."
"I can do it myself." I was scared, he hadn't touched me yet.
His eyebrows drew together, clearly indicating that the guest wouldn't back down.
There was no way out, I obeyed. The main thing was for him to leave quickly. The guy took something out of a velvet case, a thin chain of white gold with a gray teardrop-shaped gem fell on his neck. Delicate and graceful.
I involuntarily touched the gift. The shade was exactly like part of the iris of my eyes.
"Very beautiful." He fastened the small lock and moved his hands to my shoulders.
"Gillian suits you."
I wanted to throw off his burning palms because from somewhere deep inside, previously unknown sensations began to awaken.
"Thank you for the gift!"
He nodded. "With your permission." Asher bowed and left the bedroom.
His manners are a little strange for our time, but for some reason they are pleasant and there is a feeling inside as if this is how it should be, this is how it should be. It seems that I am strange, not him.
***