A dangerous game

Matchu part II

He opens a window and pulls himself through. There is a little platform he can stand on. It is the roof of the attic.
He pulls me up as well. I stand very close to him and he doesn't move for a little too long to be a coincidence.
Then I know, this definitely is a date. The idea makes my heart flutter with excitement.
The roof is angled, but not entirely. On the top, it is flat for about a meter broad.

The platform we are standing on is only a meter and a half below the rooftop.
Hector hands me his jacket and his blazer. Then pulls himself up on the rooftop and I watch how his back muscles flex under his white blouse.
He turns around a gives me a hand.
But I hand him his jacket and blazer, leaving him a bit startled
I am a good climber and climb up effortlessly.

Still, I end up very close to him.
Not nervous at all he pulls me into his embrace, my back to him.
I can feel his slow heartbeat on my back.
He lowers his head so his lips are near my ear.
'Now watch this' he says.
As he says it I watch the sun go under, the whole town is glowing gold but now it slowly loses its color as the sun disappears.

Then after five minutes when I think the sun will be completely gone any second, the whole town lights up bit by bit.
A million lanterns are being lit.
Some raise to the sky, only to stop and hang shining midway.
'Those are bound onto mini hot air balloons,' Hector whispers in my ear. 'And bound to street lanterns, only letting them up for a few meters.'

'It is absolutely beautiful.' I stutter.
This whole day has been amazing.
The darker it becomes, the more bright the lights shine.

Under us, the bar is starting to get busy.
'Let us go down before you get cold up here.'
I don't think I could easily become cold, standing so close to him. But I agree.
He pulls his hands back that were laced around my waist.

It is only then that I realize Davir hasn't tried to stop him once.
Not when he grabbed my hand nor when he stood too close to me or pulled me into an embrace.
He did tell me he is "disgusted by my presence", but still it is a bit unusual.
Maybe it is because he is not attending the festival or is far away and just didn't notice.

The stairs end behind the bar so the first face we see and sees us is the bartender. 'Hector! My boy! Did you enjoy the view?'
'It was memorable as every year Filip! Thank you so much for opening your home to us.'
He embraces "Filip" a man looking to be in his fifties in a tight hug.

'Will you be staying here tonight?' Filip asks.
Hector nods, then introduces me as his study partner.
'Don't let me hold you two up for too long, what will you have? I will bring it to your table.

'Beer please.' Hector looks at me. 'Make that two,' I smile.
Hector spent quite some money on me so I continue saying 'drinks are on me tonight!'

'Hahahaha, she is a cute one isn't she?' Filip looks at Hector who looks at his feet for a second.
'Sweet Mara, drinks are on the house tonight.'

As we walk to the table I ask if the drinks are always on the house when it is Matchu.
It earns me a wonderful laugh. 'No, they are on the house because it is me.' Hector says.
I wonder what he had done to become such a friend to the bartender that his drinks are free.

We talk there for two hours over mostly beer.

'Hector! I knew I'd find you here!' a young man with short dark brown hair enthusiastically walks up to us. He is followed by two other people, under whom a girl.

'You must be Mara! We heard a lot about you.'
I turn to Hector who turns a little red.
'You sure must be amazing, Hector canceled his plans with us for you.'
Now he turns an even deeper red.

The girl starts giggling. I realize she is a bit drunk.
'Shut up Esmee, give the poor boy a rest.'

'Come, sit with us.' I invite them, the girl immediately takes a seat. The boys look a bit hesitant but as Esmee is already sitting down they can hardly turn away the offer.
'We still need to eat dinner, how about you?' I ask.

I notice how the other man, who also has brown hair but a different texture, looks at me worried.
He is a wolf, I think. I don't know how I know but I do.
He is giving me an almost disapproving look I think. But it only lasts for half a second. Then he grants me a wide smile.
'Nice to meet you, yes let's eat together.'

I like his friends, they are kind and funny and welcoming.
Esmee also tells me Hector told her I am really smart. So I have a massive ego boost for the rest of the evening. The brown-haired boy, the first one, is called Omad, he has a deck of cards with which we play for most of the night.

I lost track of time, but at a certain point, Hector asks if I want to go for a walk.
I nod.
When I leave the table I realize I am a bit drunker than I thought.
Hector puts an arm around my shoulder and I let him.
For balance he says. But not loud enough for others to hear.

We say goodbye to his friends and walk into the lighted street.
Tonight we can't see any stars because it is too bright.
We walk in silence for a minute and it makes me realize how close we are.

'Thank you for this year's wonderful day,' I look up at him. In his eyes moves something that has me gulping.
'It was my pleasure,' his voice seems lower and huskier, probably because of the alcohol and the shouting he did during the fanatic games we played.

We reach a beautifully decorated fountain. In its water are little boats floating, carrying candles.
His words still hang in the air.
'It is beautiful.' I mention the fountain.
'You are beautiful.' I can hear it is the drunk him speaking, though he speaks it truthfully.
He is building up the tension between us.
He has this way of looking at me, that makes me pleasantly uncomfortable.

'What do you like most about  Matchu?' I ask to get out from under this tension.
I feel like he is a little too close now. Although I don't want to step away from him.
He lowers his head so he is close to my face.
'It is my favorite thing about Hemsburg because I thought I might take you here.'
A massive grin forms on his face. I can't help but blush.

He leans in, even more, his eyes giving him away.
His soft lips collide with mine. He is more sensual than I expected.
His hands push against my lower back, closing the distance between us.
It is my first kiss. But Victoria told me what to do so I feel at ease.

He makes me feel at ease.
He deepens our kiss and I moan ever so softly for him. Because I want him to know I enjoy him.
His tongue leaves a delicious taste in my mouth.

He pulls back a little looking into my eyes. Grinning softly.
'Thank you for coming with me today.'
'It was my pleasure.' I tease him.

'I don't even know your last name, will you tell me?'
Without thinking I answer him, 'Highland.'
I see something in him click.
His eyes widen.