Chapter 14 - Lady in Red
Sam was bored and brooding as she stared at the couples in the dance floor. All her friends were dancing. Liz and HB had left. And she didn't want to think about him.
- So, why is such a pretty girl not dancing?
She was surprised when she turned and saw Ben Daimio staring at her.
- Hi! - she said smiling. - Well, the boy this girl wants to dance with doesn't want to dance with her.
- Pity. - he says, sitting next to her.
- I didn't know you were here.
- I came with the president escort. It is nice to see you.
- Yes, it really is. - she smiled.
- How are you?
- You mean after being almost raped in an African jungle or having my heart broken?
- Either, I guess. - he said.
- I'm well. And you? - she smiled softly
- You mean after losing control of the beast and killing several Africans?
- Yes.
- I'm dealing with it.
- I'm glad to know. - she said enjoying his company - Can I ask you a question?
- Sure.
- How do you deal with it? I mean the beast. Couldn't you just drink the potion forever? Couldn't you just live a normal life?
- Hum. I guess it would be possible if I really wanted. Problem is: I keep the beast locked and hidden inside, but it is still a part of me.
- I see. I totally understand.
Ben had to go, they said goodbye and she was alone again. After a while, her favorite song came on and she felt as desolate as she had in high school when nobody would dance with her. Ethan choose this moment to approach her and ask her to dance and she accepted just because of the song. He pulled her very closed to him. She stepped back.
- You know, - she said while they were dancing. - Andrea really likes you.
- And I really like you. - he answered.
- Ethan, - she sighed - she is my friend and I don't want to hurt her feelings.
- So, you want me to stop seeing her?
- No! I just want you to stop flirting with me. Can't we just be friends?
- Can you just be friends with him? - he asked bitterly, to Abe's direction.
- That's none of your business.
- Well, me and Andrea is none of your business too.
- I know. I just mean...
- I know what you meant. Andrea is a nice distraction. But don't think I would not turn her down if you'd ever give me a chance.
- You're an asshole. And that's never gonna happen. I don't like you that way.
- Well, I wouldn't count on that. - he said staring at Abe's direction.
She returned to her chair pissed and stared at the couples on the dance floor some more. But she was tired and pissed. Her feet were killing her and she had had enough of that stupid ball, so she decided to leave.
Behind gauze curtains leading to the door was the buffet. The waiters weren't passing food and drinks anymore, but the table was still full. She took another glass of champagne and put a canape in her mouth. It took a mouth full of them for her to realize she was starving. She hadn't eaten anything all night. So she decided filling her belly before going to bed.
Someone appeared by her side approaching her. She didn't need to look up to know who it was. She would recognize him anywhere, in any way. Sam didn't even know he was still here. And honestly didn't want to. Her night was already as bad as it was.
She kept her head down and stared at the food. He extended his hand to her, palm up in invitation. She stared at his hand. Could she turn him down? Could she walk away? She knew the answer before she asked the question.
She swallowed the rest of the champagne in one gulp. And took his hand.
"I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight.
I've never seen you shine so bright.
I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance.
Looking for a little romance.
Give'em half a chance."
Another song had started. Lady in red. She liked that song very much, and now it would be spoiled by this moment. When they were at the dance floor, he took her in his arms and pulled her close. She put a hand to his shoulder and stared passed it. She was mad at him so she kept looking away or down. Even in her high heels, he was still a palm taller than her.
"I have never seen that dress you're wearing.
Or the highlights in your hair that catch your eyes.
I have been blind.
The lady in red is dancing with me.
Cheek to cheek.
There's nobody here.
It's just you and me.
It's where I want to be.
And I hardly know this beauty by my side
I'll never forget the way you look tonight"
They didn't say anything. They just danced. Throughout the dance, they got so close that she could put her head on his shoulder. It was better than looking into his eyes anyway.
"I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright
You were amazing
I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side
And when you turned to me and smiled
It took my breath away
I have never had such a feeling
Such a feeling of complete and utter love
as I do tonight"
She tried to concentrate in not stepping on his feet, although he deserved it. And was constantly distracted by the hand in her naked back. The tension between them was unbearable. She couldn't take it anymore. Tears were threatening to flood her eyes.
"The lady in red is dancing with me.
Cheek to cheek.
There's nobody here.
It's just you and me.
It's where I want to be.
And I hardly know this beauty by my side
I'll never forget the way you look tonight"
As soon as the song was over, she walked away from him, leaving him alone on the dance floor and running to the exit. She couldn't let him see her tears. Couldn't. But he followed her. Once she was passed the curtains, he reached for her arm.
- Sam, wait! - he said.
- I want to be alone.
She tried to escape from him, but she never could. Tears were falling down, when he turned her around, back into his arms, and kissed her with all his passion and mighty. She was startled at first. They were behind the curtain, but there were people all around, and he didn't seem to care. She couldn't help it but to respond to his kiss. It wasn't sweet and loving, but passionate and strong. A lover's kiss. She pushed him back a bit, but he kept her close inside his arms, kissing her cheek and neck.
- You said... we shouldn't... - she said shaking as he continued to kiss her.
- Don't ever listen to what I say. - he said breathless - ever.
And he returned to kiss her mouth. They didn't know how long they stood there behind the curtain kissing, but suddenly some people came to the food table and they had to break the kiss. He didn't break his embrace on her, though. The people didn't seem to notice them, but obviously they couldn't continue being there.
Samantha fear this would turn into another embarrassing situation between them, but this time Abe took her hand and walked away. And she followed.
As they left the gym, he stopped to kiss her again, against the gym door. Until they were started but a couple of agents leaving the ball. So they continued down the corridor. He stopped to kiss her once more on the corridor leading to the elevator. And also, when the elevator doors closed. (It took a while before one of them remembered to push their floor button.) And twice on the corridor leading to the library.
Once they reached the golden doors, Abe opened them and entered, but before she could follow him in, he stopped and turned, still holding her hand. She stared at his eyes for the first time tonight. They were both slightly disheveled and out of breath. She didn't need to read his mind to understand what he was asking.
Sam got scared. After all they been through, she knew exactly what would happen if she entered the library, and was scared of the consequences. Scared of what it would mean to him.
She knew exactly what would happened if she said no as well. He would kiss her hand and bid her good night. Maybe even walk her to her dorm and kiss her by the door. But, could she turn him down? Could she walk away? She knew the answer before she asked the question.
She responded by going back inside his arms and kissing him again. Suddenly, her back was pushed into the golden door and his body was all over her. He kept kissing until she ran out of breath and then he proceeded to her neck, making her moan softly as he found a sensitive spot.
He noticed she was uncomfortable in her shoes, so he kept kissing her down her body until he lost courage and knelt in the floor, helping her to take off her heels. Sam was trembling so much, she didn't know how she kept standing.
When he stood back up, he resumed kissing her and pull her from the doors, holding her to him and leading her to the stairs. But they didn't got farther than his tank, where Sam found herself pressed against by his body. Hissing and arching as her hot back met the cold glass. She was holding tight to him, arms around his neck pulling his as close as possible. Without her heels the height difference made things harder for then, even with Sam on her tip toes, so he lifted her up, her tights around his waist, his body pressing intimately against her. Like that he got better access to kiss her collarbone and neck line.
She suddenly felt the need to feel his skin on hers, so she started to unbutton his shirt. Which he took off as soon as she was done. She moaned when his skin touched hers and exposed her neck to him. He felt bold and started running his hands all over her body. To her naked thighs around his waist, to her waist and fabric covered breasts and neck. He started playing with the string holding her dress up and waited for her permission. She nodded nervously. As soon as he pull the string, the fabric fell heavy to her hips. He put her down to let the fabric go all the way to the floor.
Sam got shy, her arms came up to her breasts and her eyes went down. She was only in her panties in front of him. He didn't waste much time staring, although he wanted to. But he didn't want to her get uncomfortable or nervous. He was nervous enough for both of them. Abe lifted her head to stare into her eyes and kissed her face murmuring how beautiful she was. She put her hands to his waist and started caressing his naked torso and back, noticing how he trembled every time she caressed his dorsal fin.
She found herself pushed into his tank glass again. His body so close she could feel his arousal. He assaulted her neck, moaning as she caressed his back over and over. His hands were all over her body, caressing and holding and squeezing.
It was her turn to be bold, she put her hands to the front of his pants and started to undo them. Abe froze with his lips on her neck, but didn't stop her. She pushed his pants down and was surprised to find out he was not wearing any underwear or even his swimming shorts underneath. For a second, she didn't know where to put her hands. Fighting her nerves she decided on being bold again.
Abe groaned against her neck, flattening both his hands against his tank and kissing her sensitive spot. Sam's body exploded in goosebumps. He took her hands away from him and pick her up again. This time only a piece of cloth between them. He started towards the staircase, fully decided to get to his bed this time. But Sam, holding tight to his neck started kissing his gills, which was his undoing. He lost his balance and laid her down on the stairs. Sam laughed, the most erotic sound he ever heard.
He wanted to continue up the stairs, but she didn't seem to care. Their kisses become more passionate, their hands bolder on each other's body. Until he grabbed her panties and took them off as she lifted he hips.
They stared into each other's eyes while he started pushing against her. It was intimacy as they never experienced before. Her hands were to his back, in a soothing caress. His hands were in fists beside her head, he knew that if he touched her he would lose all his control.
He started entering her slowly, but didn't expect to find her so aroused, which cause him to slip all the way in. He moaned loudly to the sensation. And Sam caught her breath. All at once, she started trembling and shaking, her muscles spamming around him and she climaxed. Her hands locked in his back, fingers pressing on his skin, her head fell back in a long moan. Abe had to concentrate a lot not to lose it.
He hold her as he waited for her to stop shaking and he had never seen her more beautiful. Her eyes unfocused, her lips red from his kisses, her cheeks flushed, her hair stuck to her damp skin in some spots, a soft perspiration all over her body. Her body got even slicker than before and Abe had difficulty in holding back.
When she returned from her climax and her eyes focused again, she whispered to him not to stop. He started pushing and retreating from her in a rhythm he didn't even know he was familiar with. All their instincts took over and they hold each other all through it. He wanted to pay attention to every detail, to every touch that make her moan louder, but he couldn't. He was too lost to pay attention. But when he started going faster, he knew she liked it for the way she hold on to him. Her legs pressing around his waist. He started going faster and faster, and she broke down again, climaxing in little sounds that brought on his own climax. He followed her into the abyss, and suddenly he wasn't there anymore. He could only see starts in his eyes, a strong light and a pleaseant burning all over his body. He was floating somewhere.
And then, he was back to reality, panting and still holding on to her thighs. She caressed the back of his head and his back as he laid against her body. Out of breath as well. He hold himself in his forearms, relieving her of his weight. He kissed her, this time softly and loving, and rested his head on her chest.
- I'm sorr...
- Please, don't say it. - she asked breathless.
He picked her up again and this time made it upstairs. He laid her down on his bed and followed her. Accommodating by her side with his arms around her. She fell sleep as soon as he laid her down and he followed her.