At first my mouth was unresponsive under his. I was shocked after all. The only thing running through my numbed brain at that moment was that Marco DeSantis was kissing me. Me of all people! I couldn't believe it. If my hands weren't trapped between our bodies, I would have pinched myself to assure myself that this was really happening and wasn't all a dream.
And then his tongue probed the contours of my mouth and I lost all conscious thoughts. I gasped slightly and he utilized the opportunity to delve in more deeply. The kiss was everything I could have ever dreamed off and more. It was a clash of tongues entangling in fierce passion. Sizzling sparks erupted all over me, I felt like I would explode from the intensity of it. I wondered vaguely how our clothes hadn't caught fire by now. It was a damn miracle.
He angled my head better for deeper penetration as he nibbled on my lower lip softly. It was so hot, my knees wobbled and his hand tightened around me, further crushing me to his body. I wasn't complaining though, I didn't think my legs could support my weight at the moment. I threaded my hand through his hair that was really as soft as it looked. I felt breathless, both literally and figuratively.
His hungry mouth left mine and started a trail of soft kisses and light bites down the length of my neck. I swung my head back in ecstasy, biting my lips as he began kissing the tops of my breast. Right now, I wasn't thinking. I was just feeling. The emotions coursing through me threatening to drown me under.
He raised his head up looking down at me with eyes darkened with lust. "Let's go to my room." His voice was gruff, his accent coming on thicker. "I'll make you feel so good." He planted his lips into my mouth once more, giving me a hard, dangerous kiss that promised just how good he could make me feel.
He was so busy kissing me, he didn't notice how my body tensed up at his words, my brain clearing through the thick fog of lust that had clouded my senses.
I was letting Marco DeSantis kiss me. The man who had actively pursued and flirted with me, turning me on in unimaginable ways, and in the same breath announced his engagement with another woman, my best friend's former girlfriend who he is still in love with by the way. And what's worse I was enjoying it!
That thought alone was enough to make me jerk away from him like he was a burning flame and his touch would set me on fire if I stayed in the circle of his arms any longer.
A slight frown marred his beautiful face, his midnight blue eyes still glazed from the explosive kiss we had shared. I took a step back away from his intoxicating aura that threatened to swamp me under, shaking my head in a pathetic attempt to get rid of the cobwebs of lust in my head. Because that's all it could ever be lust. There was nothing else, nothing more. Now if only I can convince my rapidly beating heart of this fact.
"Scarlett, what's… what's wrong?" There was bewilderment and desire and a trace of something else in his voice… desperation perhaps?
I pressed my hand to my temples, shutting my eyes tightly. I didn't want to see his face. "I can't do this."
"Scarlett…" He made to touch me.
"Don't!" I shrieked. He stopped immediately, a hurt look on his face. "Don't come near me." I didn't know what I had do if he touched me.
"Look Scarlett, there's something that I have to tell you. It's about my engagement—"
"I don't wanna hear it. I don't really care about you and Audrey’s relationship or any other woman for that matter. There's no reason for you to tell me anything. Your life doesn't concern me."
His eyes blazed with fury as he processed my words. Suddenly, for the umpteenth time that night, I found myself pressed against Marco's lithe body. My hand reached up to Marco's chest instinctively to steady myself. I could feel the tense, hard muscles beneath his shirt. His beating heart. The way his chest rose and fell with every breath. This was soon becoming a delicious habit…
Oh my God Jones! Get your head in the game! My subconscious dragged me out of my lust-induced stupor.
Marco studied me with narrowed eyes. "What the hell are you trying to Scarlett? That you feel nothing when we are near each other like how we are now? That you don't feel those sparks igniting your very being when we touch? When I touch you?" His voice had turned husky with desire. He leaned in close to whisper in my ear. I shivered down to my toes. "When we kissed just now, didn't you feel that same intense attraction, that electricity zap through you making you feel like your whole body was on fire, didn't you Scarlett? Tell me you felt nothing and I'll back off right this moment. Tell me, Scarlett."
What could I say? I felt all of those things and more. It's like when I'm with Marco, I come alive. It doesn't matter if I'm angry or happy, I just experience strong, violent emotions when I'm around him. His touch made me melt into a puddle and I feel exhilarated with him. And don't get me started on how I feel when we kiss.
But this couldn't work. And could I really stay with a man who's engaged but wants to sleep with another woman?
"No." This came out as a strangled moan. I cleared my throat. "No." I repeated more firmly. "I won't tell you anything because there's nothing to tell but if you insist then, no, I do not feel anything for you except utter repugnance for you. Here you are, an engaged man yet you still want to sleep with me a woman that's not you're fiancee. Quite frankly, I pity the woman who has to marry your cheating, lying self. And let me make one thing clear to you, I have a boyfriend, Tom Reid, and I… I love him. A lot." Which was true. I did love Sam not just in that way. He flinched back as if I had physically slapped him, breaking away from me abruptly.
I hadn't meant any of the things I had said obviously but I needed to crush whatever was going on between us so that there would be absolutely no hope of ever coming back together again.
My guise almost broke when I saw the expression on his face. Then all too quickly, that cold mask he so often put on for the world was back in place. At least, I could deal with this version of Marco.
He jerked his head, grounding his jaw together. "Then I guess this is goodbye then. I wouldn't want to burden you with my repugnant presence any longer," he said brusquely. There was ring of finality in his words. Then he turned, without looking back and left.
And things were over before it had even begun.
When he left me alone on that darkened corner of the room, I felt bereft. Like I had lost something precious to me. There was this gaping hole in my chest that I didn't even realize was there in the first place. Which was weird because I and Marco never had any relationship to begin with. Not even friendship.
But, what if I had given us a chance? Hadn't pushed him away with my words? Maybe he would have left Audrey for me? Immediately that thought entered my head, my inner feminist screamed. What was wrong with me? I couldn't believe what I was thinking! Where had my self respect gone? Women were not some toy that a man could use and discard whenever he liked. I would not stoop that low for any man, no matter who he was. I guess in a way it was good I pushed him away. If I was thinking such dangerous thoughts because of him now, I wonder how it would be later. I would be a clinging girlfriend or even worse a nagging housewife. No, this was for the best.
My phone rang, shaking me from my trance-like state. I picked it out from my purse, glad of any distraction from my thoughts. I blinked back the tears that had, without my permission, pooled together in my eyes to be able to see the screen clearly. I wasn't even aware I was crying. Which was just so lame.
It was Tom calling.
I answered it anxiously. "Hello, Tom? Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you! You have a lot to answer for when I meet you. How could you just leave the party without me?"
A light chuckled drifted up to me through the line. "Hey, hey hold your horses. This isn't Tom, it's Sam. You know, the handsome bloke you spoke to earlier."
I rolled my eyes. "Of course, I remember who you are. But why are you with Tom's phone?"
"Oh right. That's because I'm with Tom now."
Now that I could listen clearly, I could hear heavy bass music booming from the background, and a particular slurry voice that wasn't making much sense.
"Gimme da fone, Amy… talking with her… me talk..." Then a hiccup. "Sam boy, foneee." It sounded terribly familiar though.
"Wait a minute, where are you guys?" I asked even though I knew I wasn't going to like the answer.
"Er, we are just at a... you know..." he trailed off uncomfortably.
"Sam..." I gritted out. "Where the hell are you two?"
"A club but it isn't how—" he rushed to say but I had hanged up already.
Oh, Tom was so gonna get it this time!
★★★
Sorry for late update. I had fun writing this chapter though, weirdly enough...